The effects of hospital noise.

Noise is an environmental stressor that is known to have physiological and psychological effects. The body responds to noise in the same way it responds to stress and overtime can impair health. Research clearly shows that hospital noise levels exceed noise level recommendations and has the potential to increase complications in patients. What is less known is the effect hospital noise has on nurses. The purpose of this article is to discuss hospital noise and its effects on patients and nurses. Because nurses spend more time in hospitals over the course of their career, they experience most of the burden from excessive occupational noise levels. Nurses must advocate not only for a healthy work environment but also for a healing environment, for themselves as well as for their patients.