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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to improve health care workers' working environment.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to educate themselves how different noise level can affect ones health.
Purpose: The purpose of this evidence based project is to record and evaluate the noise level in the critical care setting by using a dosimeter to improve health care workers' environment.
Background: The effect of noise pollution to patients and healthcare workers has been extensively studied both healthcare and industrial setting. Therefore the PICO question for this particular project is: Does the use of dosimeter as standardized equipment to record and evaluate the noise level in an acute critical care setting will improve the working conditions of the health care workers?
Interventions: This project utilized evidence based practice to support changes by making use of the best evidence. Thirty staff nurses in the critical care unit in New Jersey who are involved in the recording, analyzing and evaluating the noise level participated in this evidence based research project. Staff Self Report Questionaires was used before and after incorporating dosimeter to examine the effectiveness of noise level detector in improving the workplace condition of the healthcare workers.
Outcomes:The paired sample t test revealed that there is a significant improvement in the healthcare workers' working environment using dosimeter as a means to record the noise level. The result of the analysis for all outcomes measures indicated that there were significant differences between noise level monitored and noise level not monitored. This means that using noise level monitor is effective in improving the working condition of the healthcare workers, enhance critical thinking, reduce stress and promote a healthy work environment.
Implications/Recommendation: Increased staff satisfaction with noise level kept at minimum level, promotes staff retention, prevents hearing loss. Further research needs to examine wethere using dosimeter as a standardized equipment in critical care setting reduce the incidence of medication error, work place violence and staff burnout.
See more of: Evidence-Based Practice Sessions: Oral Paper & Posters