Hospitals aren’t known for promoting relaxation. But thanks to Columbus Regional Healthcare System’s new “Quiet Hours” policy, the hospital has become, at least for a couple of hours each day, a little more peaceful.
The irony of hospitals has always been that, while uninterrupted sleep is essential for healing, no one gets any rest in a hospital. By their very nature, hospitals are bustling, fast-paced places. Phones ring. Nurses and doctors are in and out of patients’ rooms. Blood pressure and temperature is checked. Meals get delivered. And all of it happens quickly. But having hours set aside for peace and quiet is a practice that’s been gaining momentum in recent years. Starr Duncan, RN and coordinator of the project, says it’s an idea whose time has come.
As of July 1, everything has been getting calmer and quieter in all inpatient areas of the hospital each day from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m., and again from 2 a.m. until 4 a.m. Lights are dimmed, doors to patients’ rooms are closed, overhead paging is reduced, ringer volume on phones is decreased and hospital rounds come to a halt – unless there’s a critical need.
“We heard from our patients that they have few uninterrupted, peaceful moments in the midst of a stressful experience,” Duncan said. “We knew we had to do something to improve that. Patients have loved the new policy.”
Prior to the daily quiet hours, nurses check on patients to ensure all their needs are met, so rest time can actually be restful.
Family members and friends are encouraged to visit outside quiet hours. If visitors are at the hospital when quiet hours begin, they’re encouraged to spend the hour in a family/visitor lounge.
“The quiet hours give everyone – staff included – an opportunity to refresh and rejuvenate,” said Lynda Sanders, RN, the director of the hospital’s family birthing center and pediatric unit and facilitator for the Quiet Hours project.
The staff knew quiet hours would benefit patients. But they have been surprised by how beneficial the quiet time is for them, too. It’s not as if they suddenly go off duty from their typical 12-hour shift. But it does give staff time to catch up on reviewing patient records and documentation duties.
Sleep and rest are essential for good health and healing. So Columbus Regional is making time for rest.
