Abstract
This study aimed to determine the optimal standing position for nurses from the patient’s perspective, i.e., the position where patients feel it is easiest to talk with a nurse at their bedside. Twenty-three subjects acted as simulated patients. The subjects were asked where it was easy to talk with a simulated nurse. This research was conducted according to a quasi-experimental design.
The average distance between patients and nurses was 134.7±26.9 cm. Of 23 patients, 30.4% indicated that they preferred a distance less than 120 cm (i.e., within their personal space), whereas 26.1% preferred a distance of 120-130 cm. A majority of subjects (65.2%) reported that it was easy to talk to a nurse standing at a position 45±10° relative to the top of the patient’s head.
The conclusions were as follows : 1. The position where patients thought it was easy to talk with a simulated nurse was 120-130 cm from their head, near their feet. 2. About 70% subjects preferred an orientation of 45±10° relative to the top of their head. 3. If conversations were repeated, closer positions were preferable. 4. The position that nurses think is optimal may differ from patients’ preferences.
