Another form kept in a binder in the nursing station is a copy of the client’s personal safety plan (Figure 3). Prior to painting or other physical changes to the rooms, photographs of each room were taken (Photo 1) to later use as a comparison to the end product (Photo 2). The infection control nurse was consulted to identify any infection control issues with the items for the rooms, and the safety manager was consulted for any fire safety concerns.
The committee decided that the identified outcome data to measure the impact of this initiative would be to compare the average rate of occurrence per 1,000 days of the client care categories of seclusion and restraint, client-to- client assaults (CTCA) and client-to-staff assaults (CTSA), and self-injurious behavior for the 4 full months prior to the implementation of the comfort rooms to the next 4 full months after to the implementation. Table 1 shows data for the mouths of July through October 2010, and Table 2 shows data for the months of December 2010 through March 2011. November 2010 data were not used since the rooms opened mid-month. Additionally, a form was developed to monitor whether the client required an extra dosage of medication within the 30-minute time frame prior to and after using the comfort room. The purpose of this monitoring tool was to assess a possible positive relationship in decreasing agitation if extra medication were used in conjunction with the comfort room.