MANAGEMENT OF WARD/UNIT
Management of ward space
• Healthcare service is one of the basic needs of human. The demand for ward
space and equipment in hospitals keeps rising especially in government
hospitals
• Managing the space in the ward/unit is one of the important factors that can
ensure that the ward/unit’s activities run smoothly
• Hospital ward is a block forming a division of a hospital for the provision of
accommodation to patients who need a similar kind of care or are
dependent on others because of their illness
• Types of wards:
1. General wards
2. Specialized wards (maternity, pediatrics, psychiatric, geriatrics,
oncology, NICU etc)
Factors to consider when designing a ward
• Movement space
• Number of beds in a room
• Bed spacing
• Position of nursing station
• Category of the ward
• Ancillary rooms
Ward space
• Ward space is made of; patient space, nursing space, and corridors
• Patient space equipment differs from one facility/unit to the other
depending on services provided in that particular facility/unit
• Common equipment that can be found in this space are beds, side lockers,
side tables, side chairs, over-bed tables/heart tables and curtains
• Modern trend of designing and managing ward space is to have cubicles
with limited beds in each cubicle
• The nursing space include the nurses’ station which is an area that should
have space for counters and storage. The nurses’ station should permit the
nurse to have visual observation of all happenings in the ward
• The corridors should remain open devoid of corridor traffic
Common forms/pattern of ward design
• Nightingale ward
• Rigg’s ward
Nightingale ward
• This is an open ward containing 25-30 beds
• Patients’ beds are located in two row in a long
rectangular ward
• Nursing Station, Doctor’s room and others facility at
one end while washrooms at the other end
Nightingale ward
Nightingale ward
• Advantages:
• Good visibility
• Easy to construct
• Possibilities for good ventilation
• Disadvantages:
• This is the noisiest type of ward
• No privacy for the patients
• High risk of cross-infections
Rigg’s ward
• It was first made in Rigg hospital in 1910 in Copenhagen
• Ward is divided into small compartments separated from each other with
each compartment having 4-6 or more beds
Rigg’s ward
• Advantages
1. Privacy of patients is attained with this pattern of ward design
2. Patient beds not visible to outside visitors except for visiting hours
3. Gives a more clean and tidy look
• Disadvantages
1. Communication between nurses and patient becomes more difficult
2. Patients deprived of direct observation from nurses
3. More nurses are required
4. Costly to build and maintain
Provision of safety and comfort at the ward
1. Involve patients in their care
2. Ensure employees are trained on hospital safety and
regularly updated on policy changes
3. Encourage compliance to safety protocol
4. Undertake periodic performance review
5. Establish rapid response system
6. Encourage the practice of patient-centred care
7. Promote a culture of zero tolerance to violence
against health workers
8. Ensure appropriate and fair duration of working hours and rest
breaks/days
9. Provide access to mental well-being and social support services for
health workers
10. Ensure availability of personal protective equipment (PPEs) at all
times in adequate quantity and appropriate fit
11. Ensure adequate training on appropriate use of PPE
12. Ensure availability of adjustable beds
13. Ensure proper lightening at the ward
14. Ensure floor is kept dry