Objective: To explore the implications of the single family room (SFR) care environment of neonatal intensive care units (NICU) compared to Open-bay, Combination and Double-occupancy configurations, focusing on family experience, neonate outcomes, staff perceptions, cost and environmental design. Study design:This study uses a multimethod design with 11 Level III NICUs. Space allocations, construction costs, staff preferences and perceptions, and occupant behaviors were evaluated.Results: SFR NICU design provides solutions for increasing parent privacy and presence, supporting Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance, minimizing the number of undesirable beds, increasing staff satisfaction and reducing staff stress.Conclusion: The analysis of this study suggests that there are benefits to SFR NICU. This study is an initial, comprehensive effort, the purpose of which is to spawn future, narrower, in-depth studies focused on SFR NICU design.

Art is assumed to possess therapeutic benefits of healing for children, as part of patient-focused design in health care. Since the psychological and physiological well-being of children in health care settings is extremely important in contributing to the healing process, it is vitally important to identify what type of art supports stress reduction. Based on adult studies, nature art was anticipated to be the most preferred and to have stress-reducing effects on pediatric patients. Nature art refers to art images dominated by natural vegetation, flowers or water. The objective of this study was to investigate what type of art image children prefer, and what type of art image has potentially stress-reducing effects on children in hospitals. This study used a three-phase, multi-method approach with children aged 5-17 years: a focus group study (129 participants), a randomized study (48 participants), and a quasi-experimental study design (48 participants). Findings were evaluated from three phases.

The results of this empirical study support the conclusion that improvements in the restorative quality of break areas may significantly improve nurses' satisfaction and stress reduction, potentially leading to improved care for the patients they serve.

Critical care/intensive care, lighting, nursing, quality care, work environment.