The topic of the thesis is the effect of staying in a single room on the patient's recovery. The thesis was commissioned by the Kanta-Häme Central Hospital (KHKS). The results of the thesis will be used at the new central hospital Assi, which is currently under construction in Ahvenisto in Hämeenlinna. The estimated introduction of the new hospital will take place in 2026. The subject of the work is limited to the hospital environment.

It is important to consider the issue when planning new hospital organizations and the facilities. The aim of the thesis was to compile a written entity on the importance of a single room for the recovery of the patient in the hospital. The aim of the work was to bring international research knowledge to the attention of Finnish nursing professionals.

The purpose of the thesis was to make a descriptive literature review on the subject, the importance of a single room for the patient's recovery. The material of the literature review consists of earlier studies as well as, justifiably, non-scientific sources. The material was selected according to the research questions. In this thesis, both domestic and international databases were used.

Based on the results of the studies, staying in a single room has both positive and negative effects on the patient's recovery. As negative effects, a single room increases the patient's loneliness and impairs functionality. From a nursing point of view, working in a single room also increases experiences of loneliness among employees and increases distances. However, there were comparatively more positive effects. A single room increases the patient's privacy, calms down the treatment procedures, reduces interruptions and infections, and gives the family members better opportunities to visit the patient.