Cultivating Calm: Applications of Biophilic Design for Reducing ICU Nurse Burnout and Stress

Nurses working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) frequently encounter high levels of stress and burnout, leading to a significant number leaving their jobs after only 1 year. Several studies suggest that hospitals must take action to prevent nurse burnout to safeguard their well-being and that of their patients. This study’s objective is to examine potential applications of Biophilia (exposure to nature through biophilic design) to reduce ICU nurse burnout and stress levels. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study compiles evidence supporting a plausible causal relationship between biophilic environmental design features and nurse stress and burnout, with implications for design practice. The findings indicate that incorporating outdoor green spaces, as well as optimizing the physical design of the ICU, workstation, and break room, can play both a direct and indirect role in influencing nurses’ emotions and reducing stress levels. These design implications can be used as testable hypotheses for future empirical research.