Sightlines in the Nursing Station: Visible, But Not Surveillance

The nursing station should be able to see the patient rooms and corridor, but it should not make patients feel watched. The approach is to break down a single large counter into several dispersed small workstations, closer to the rooms they serve; lower the counter height, use open rather than glass partitions; and achieve visual transparency through the shape of the floor plan (curved or branching corridors) rather than by being elevated. Nighttime lighting is two-tiered: sufficient light on the work surfaces, and low, non-glaring illumination in the corridor and patient room directions. Nurses also need a small, temporary rest corner where they can sit down and not see patients or family members. Shot from the corridor, clearly showing the openness of the workstations and their relationship to the patient rooms. Avoid: a single large counter, glass partitions, uniform lighting throughout the area at night, no rest area for staff.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

護理站要能看見病房與走道,但不該讓病人覺得被盯著。作法是把單一的大櫃檯拆成數個分散的小工作點,靠近它們服務的病房;檯面高度降低、以開放而非玻璃隔間;視線的通透靠平面的形狀(弧形或分岔的走道)而不是靠居高臨下。夜間的照明分兩層:工作面有足夠的光,走道與病房方向維持低照度不刺眼。護理人員也需要一個能坐下、看不到病人也看不到家屬的短暫休息角落。從走道拍攝,工作點的開放與病房的關係清楚。避免:單一大櫃檯、玻璃隔間、夜間全區照明一致、沒有工作人員的休息位置。