Everyone feels better after a good night's rest. When we're not feeling well, all we want to do is stay in bed. Unfortuantely, for the sickest of the sick, a good night's sleep can be almost impossible to get. Intensive care units are full of beeping machines, staff working all night long, and frequent examinations and tests. All this chaos and noise is hardly a good environment in which to recuperate.
Increasing numbers of intensive care units are taking steps to correct these problems. Noise monitors are put up in the halls to signal a light if staff is getting too loud. Dedicated quiet times are being established during which tests and examinations are minimized.
Sleep deprivation has been consistently been shown to have detrimental affects on sick patients. These steps are a good start to ensuring people get the rest they need to recover.
Source:
Dennis CM, Lee R, Woodard EK, Szalaj JJ, Walker CA. Benefits of quiet time for neuro-intensive care patients. J Neurosci Nurs. 2010 Aug;42(4):217-24.