Teamwork and social cohesion are key: Nurses' perceptions and experiences of working in a new decentralised intensive care unit

Background Decentralised nursing stations (DCNs) have gained popularity in new hospital designs owing to their positive impact on patient safety. However, the nurses' working environment and continuity quality of care is limited. Objectives The objective this study was describe perceptions experiences a decentralised intensive unit (ICU). Methods Twelve months after establishment ICU tertiary teaching Sydney, Australia, prospective cross-sectional survey registered nurses undertaken. Nurses' were evaluated using 56-item questionnaire comprising nine domains optional open-ended comments. Quantitative data analysed SPSS, version 25. Qualitative used enhance quantitative data. Results A total 128 responded questionnaire. mean scores for overall job satisfaction, teamwork, social cohesion, care, 3.02 (±0.91), 2.78 (±1.05), 2.68 (1.02), 2.60 (±1.01), 3.48 (±0.88), respectively, maximum obtainable score 5. Overall explained by be direct result physical layout DCN ICU. Nurses believed influenced ability interact with other staff impacted teamwork cohesion turn reflected current satisfaction. Conclusions Implementation model whereby members are rostered together pod period time, along team-building exercises, recommended improve within Further research required produce robust evidence generalisability.