At FirstHealth, ‘Quiet Time’ helps support patient healing

PINEHURST — At each of FirstHealth’s four hospitals, patient comfort and recovery are at the heart of everything we do. Our care teams focus on providing exceptional care to patients and support for families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

During the night, we also put a special focus on Quiet Time, a dedicated period from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. designed to create a calm, restful environment that helps patients during their hospital stay. 

Why Quiet Time Matters

Sleep is more than rest. It’s an essential part of the healing process. Studies show that uninterrupted sleep can:

• Shorten hospital stays
• Reduce readmission rates
• Lower the need for ICU care and ventilator support
• Decrease the risk of delirium and confusion
• Improve overall patient satisfaction

By minimizing noise and interruptions during these hours, we help patients recover faster and feel more comfortable.

“We are attempting to change the paradigm and the idea that no one gets sleep in the hospital,” said Kaitlyn Whinnen, AGACNP-BC, an ICU nurse practitioner at Moore Regional Hospital. 

“Sleep is truly critical for overall health and especially during the healing process, so by reinforcing our efforts around quiet hours, we hope to help patients heal quickly with improved sleep.”

How We Make It Happen

During Quiet Time, FirstHealth’s care teams work to reduce disturbances by:

• Limiting overhead paging and hallway noise
• Dimming lights in patient areas
• Coordinating care to avoid unnecessary interruptions

Patients and families can also play an important role:

• Plan ahead: Request any needed medications before 11:00 p.m.
• Create a restful space: Ask for comfort items like sleep masks or earplugs
• Be mindful: Keep phones on silent or vibrate, limit screen brightness and avoid late-night calls or visits

A Shared Commitment to Healing

Quiet Time is more than a policy at FirstHealth and operates as a partnership between patients, families and caregivers. 

“When we improve rest, we impact our patients by strengthening healing, improving outcomes and creating a better patient experience. As a patient, all members of your multidisciplinary health care team will work together to decrease nighttime sleep disturbances while continuing to ensure you receive all necessary medical care,” said Sarah Bower, BSN, R.N., CEN, interim nurse manager, CCU/CVT. 

“We aim to improve the patient experience while positively impacting our patient outcomes.”