Noise Levels

Brianna Fanning
Dominga Needham
Anthony Ortiz
Vanessa Rushing
Plan Why
- Patient complaints of noise
and unnecessary
interruptions during
hospital stay
- Noise has negative
consequences to health2,4
How
- Education of staff and
environmental alterations
 Where
Plan
- Medical Surgical floor

When
- Interventions implemented
for 3 months
Do ๏ Lowering alarm monitoring
volumes at night3,5,6
๏ Responding quickly to
alarms, call bells, and
phones3,5,6
๏ Educating staff to be
mindful of noise
volumes3,5,6
Do ๏ Reducing volumes on
phones and IV pumps3,5,6
๏ Closing doors during rounds
and at night3,5,6
๏ Initiating quiet time for an
hour during the day shift1
Study ๏ Effectiveness of quiet time1

๏ Effectiveness of
environmental
alterations3,5,6

๏ Effectiveness of
education3,5,6
Act

๏ Posting signs around the unit

might be effective in reiterating
protocols for appropriate noise
levels
Act

๏ Scheduling in-service trainings

may better equip nursing staff
with the understanding of
consequences associated with
high noise levels in acute care
References 1. Applebaum, D., DrPH, RN, CIC, NE-BC, Calo, O., MSN, RN, &
Nelville, K., PhD, RN. (2016). Implementation of Quiet Time
for Noise Reduction on a Medical-Surgical Unit. The
Journal of Nursing Administration, 46(12), 669-674.
doi:10.1097/NNA.00000000000000424
2. Basner, M., MD, W. B., PhD, Davis, A., PhD, Brink, M., PhD,
Clark, C., PhD, Janssen, S., PhD, & Stansfield, S., PhD.
(2014). Auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on
health. The Lancet, 383(9925), 12-18.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61613-X
3. Connor, A., & Ortiz, E. (2009). Staff Solutions for Noise
Reduction in the Workplace. The Permanente Journal,
13(4), 23-27.
References 4. Morgan, J. (2015, August 20). Hospital puts noise-reducing
strategies to the test. Retrieved from
https://www.hfmmagazine.com/articles/1949-hospital-
puts-noise-reducing-strategies-to-the-test#
5. Richardson, A., Thompson, A., Coghill, E., Chambers, I., &
Turnock, C. (2009). Development and implementation of a
noise reduction intervention programme: A pre- and
postaudit of three hospital wards. Journal of Clinical
Nursing, 18(23), 3316-3324. doi:10.1111/j.1365-
2702.2009.02897.x
6. Taylor-Ford, R., Catlin, A., Laplante, M., & Weinke, C. (2008).
Effect of a Noise Reduction Program on a Medical— Surgical
Unit. Clinical Nursing Research, 17(2), 74-88.
doi:10.1177/1054773807312769