ABSTRACT
AIMS: To explore and analyse the current bed management processes and understand the perspectives of nurse managers on mixed-gender accommodation in a regional hospital in Australia. BACKGROUND: Mixed-gender accommodation was introduced to help manage the increasing demand for hospital beds. Yet, some health services identify same-gender accommodation better aligns with patient-centredness. METHOD: This qualitative research was conducted at a public hospital in regional Australia and focused on the experience in the general wards. Eight nurse managers were selected using purposeful sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews and thematically analysed. RESULTS: Three main themes were identified: current admission processes-managing admissions, bed allocation considerations, patient involvement and managing mixed-gender rooms; impacts on patients-participant views, patient experience and bathrooms; and barriers and facilitators-capacity, infrastructure, safety and risk, bed swapping and organisational factors. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates a lack of structure and patient-centredness with mixed-gender allocation processes. Local organisational guidelines are suggested to support improvement in patient-centred inpatient hospital accommodation. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The findings of this study will help nursing leaders drive positive change concerning bed allocations and support advocacy for patient rights. Future studies should explore the patient perspective of mixed-gender accommodation.
