The Role of the Nurse Administrator in Healthcare Services and Healthcare Built Environment in Southern Nigeria

Gloria Tonye Dikibog

Published on: 2021-12-06

Abstract

The concept of healthcare built environment has been underrated which is responsible for deplorable design of most healthcare facilities in Southern Nigeria. The Role of the Nurse Administrator in Healthcare Services and Healthcare Built Environment in Southern Nigeria is a descriptive and observational capstone project, a study conducted using telephone interview method with self- structured open ended questions for a cross- section of nurses in the clinical, educational and administrative areas in the three states (Bayelsa, Edo and Rivers state) of Southern Nigeria. The study aimed to create awareness of this role among nurses, influence the decision in evidence base healthcare built environment to improve the safety of patients and healthcare providers, clinical outcome for patients and job satisfaction of nursing staff. Total respondents were thirty five (35), nurses 30 (85.7%) (28 (93%) females and 2 (6.7%) males); medical doctors 3 (8.6%), civil engineer 1 (2.9%) and architect 1(2.9%) all males. Data collated for healthcare built environment used by nurses revealed: 46.4% are without specific built nurses’ toilet, 39.2% are without cloak room, 21.4% use patients’ toilet, 28.6 % are without nurses’ station, and only 10.7% nurses stated they are comfortable with the purpose built and ideal healthcare environment and how it has affected them positively. For Nurse Administrators’ role (Table 2), 7.1% represent the nurses and attend meetings, 10.7% are involved in decision making, 3.6% contributed in healthcare built environment design and only6.7% of the nurses have actually influenced built environment planning design. Research has also shown a strong link between the design of healthcare settings and outcomes experienced by patients, staff, and families. Hence the need to create the awareness and include nurse administrators and clinical nurses as frontlines to ensure their voices are heard in influencing decision among other professionals in creating innovative design in healthcare built environment to enhance workflow processes, work environment outcome, patient and provider safety and outcome