The changing 'shape' of the nursing station
Ann Wakefield
Lecturer in Nursing, Visiting, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
PP: 148 - 157
Abstract
The Nursing Station is a puzzling structure fulfilling a variety of roles throughout the day. At times, it resembles a communal market place with staff standing around chatting. Yet, once a shift commences, regulatory characteristics emerge to control a person's entry and exist from the ward, by ensuring that they have an authentic reason for being there.
This paper juxtaposes the role of the Nursing Station with Strauss et al.'s (1964) notion of shape. In this way, is intended to examine in detail how the Nursing Station can influence the normal and natural flow of work within a ward.
Keywords
surgical nursing; nursing station; ward shape
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