The intensive care unit (ICU) is a healing environment that is often plagued with disturbingly high levels of noise. The exposure to environmental noise generated by monitors, mechanical ventilators, and even other health care professionals often goes unnoticed by critical care clinicians, but it can have injurious effects on their health. Despite the effects of environmental noise on the health of critical care clinicians, a significant proportion of previous noise research in the ICU has primarily focused on patient or family outcomes. There are few studies that have examined the impact of ICU noise on the health of critical care clinicians.

To examine the effects of ICU noise on the health of critical care nurses, the authors conducted a cross-sectional observational study among nurses in pediatric ICUs. The authors collected data on ICU noise levels, sources of noise, and the relationship between ICU noise levels and the health outcomes of...

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