Applebaum and colleagues developed a 36-question survey to examine the effects of noise, light, odor, and color on nurses' job stress and satisfaction. A total of 285 surveys were distributed to nurses at a 500-bed level I trauma center in New Jersey. The 116 respondents were full-time RNs involved in direct patient care in one of the following inpatient medical-surgical departments: orthopedics, cardiac, oncology, thoracic, geriatric, or neuroscience.

Survey results showed an inverse relationship between noise, light, and odor and perceived stress. A direct relationship was found between color and perceived stress. Data also demonstrated a direct relationship between perceived stress and job satisfaction, which, according to the authors, indicates that increased levels of job satisfaction counteract stress. However, higher perceived stress was also directly related to an increased intention to leave the job, as was job satisfaction, which the authors explained by noting that the decision to leave a job is based on many factors.

The authors note that the study implies the importance of including nursing staff input when designing hospitals and nursing work spaces.