Requirements for Welfare Dormitories for Nurses at Siriraj Hospital: A Case Study of the 8-Rai Dormitory (Building B, Nurses Residence)

Abstract

Nurses’ dormitories are an important welfare provision due to shift-based work schedules and emergency duty calls required in their work. Accommodation located near hospitals helps reduce commuting burdens, improve safety, and enhance residents’ quality of life, which contribute to work efficiency and the retention of nursing personnel. However, existing nurses’ welfare dormitories often fail to adequately respond to residents’ needs and living behaviors, leading to problems such as insufficient storage, inappropriate space usage, and inefficient spatial organization. These issues reflect a mismatch between the original spatial design and actual residential behaviors.

This study examines the 8-Rai Nurses’ Welfare Dormitory (Building B) at Siriraj Hospital. A qualitative research approach was employed through in-depth interviews with residents from 18 rooms, combined with an analysis of the physical characteristics of the dormitory environment.

The findings reveal that residents continuously adapt and modify spaces to support their lifestyles and work patterns. Corridor frontage areas, shared living spaces, and bedrooms are frequently used for additional activities such as storage, cooking, working, and resting. Residents also rely on shared facilities to compensate for limitations within their rooms. The study suggests that the development of future nurses’ welfare dormitories should take into account spatial flexibility, adequate storage, privacy, and facilities that better support residents’ daily lives in order to improve both quality of life and work performance.