Ergonomics helps shape a 21st-century nursing bag
THE black medical bag used by district nurses for decades has been the subject of a make-over to help it meet the needs of 21st-century practice and patient safety.
The science behind the new model will be explained at the Ergonomics Human Factors Conference in Stoke Rochfordlater this month, when designer David Swann presents his paper NHS at Home: A co-design research project to develop a 21st-century nursing bag.
His polyproprene moulded case will not only dramatically reduce the transmission of infections such as MRSA because it is easier to clean, but it also provides an integrated treatment space and modular drawers.
For clinicians, the patient’s home provides an extremely challenging environment to work in. They are often faced with confined and compromised conditions and use kit bags designed for a non-healthcare context
The decision to come up with such a radical design was driven by the very different working practices of community nursing staff today. Not only has there been a shift to treating more people in the community, but nurses are making many more visits to different patients in a working day.
Swann, a PhD student at the Royal College of Art and a subject area leader for 3D Design at the University of Huddersfield, worked with staff from NHS East Riding of Yorkshire to first identify the clinical and design performance requirements of a new bag, and then to produce a concept demonstrator to meet those needs.
He said: “For clinicians, the patient’s home provides an extremely challenging environment to work in, as every home is different. They are often faced with confined and compromised conditions and use kit bags designed for a non-healthcare context such as camera bags, plastic tool boxes and luggage cases.”
As well as the usability issue, the project also aimed to solve concerns about hygiene and the possible transmission of drug-resistant infections. The fact that bags are often carried in car boots and then put on the floor of patients’ homes was a particular area of concern, especially as there are presently no National Patient Safety Agency guidelines for the cleansing of nursing bags.
The design of ubiquitous nursing bag has been impervious to change for more than 100 years, which suggests current bags and storage solutions are outdated -21st-century professionals using 20th-century kit
Swann said: “Previous studies have captured the presence of drug-resistant infections inside and on bags used in practice facilitated by the use of absorbent materials. The design of ubiquitous nursing bag has been impervious to change for more than 100 years, which suggests current bags and storage solutions are outdated - 21st-century professionals using 20th-century kit. A radical redesign has created a new bag fit for the challenges of the 21st Century.”
A validation study revealed that the new bag increases productivity through modularity and standardises the patient experience in an inconsistent setting.
Economic analysis suggests this bag could save healthcare providers up to £1,600 per nurse, per year and interest in the project is now accelerating regionally, nationally and internationally.
The team is now looking for help to commercialise the product so it can be rolled out to the NHS.