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Our 23 bed adult unit nursing station has not been enclosed since it was remodeled 15 years ago. The height of the desk is higher than most other medical nursing stations, which does help to prevent access to equipment behind the desk, but there is nothing enclosing it. We have really not had any major problems with this. The benefits are far greater than the risks.

Our unit was enclosed with plexiglass from the counter up to the ceiling for years. When the unit was remodeled, the plexiglass was done away with. Many staff members were sure that this would result in more patient vandalism (of computers, etc.) and violence toward staff, but this hasn't been the case, with a few fairly mild exceptions. Occassionally, a patient will try to knock over a computer monitor, or pick up papers or other things from the desk, and once someone threw juice at a staff member over the counter, but the ability to interact with and be more available to the patients has far outweighed any increase in staff vulnerability.

Kelly, Our unit is in a small rural hospital, 14 beds, adult, locked, inpatient unit. Our nurses station is not enclosed and I argue regularly to keep it that way. While I have to agree there does present some risk, I also believe the therapeutic rapport is enhanced. If I worked in a city hospital where there was more violence, gang activity, and hard drug use I would then prefer an enclosed station. That said, during our last Joint Commission inspection I was told to make the gated doors higher and they wanted me (recommended) to at least install a partial clear partition between the counter top and ceiling. I'll be interested to see what others say about this issue. Jerri