Creating a positive nursing work environment

When I began my profession as a nurse, it was a pleasing experience. Over the past 16 years, I even have been fortunate to have my colleagues and colleagues in other specialties working together towards one common goal – improving the health and care of our patients. Vollers, Hill, Roberts, Dambaugh, and Brenner (2009) emphasize the importance that “a healthy work environment and a well-functioning nurse advancement system are inherently complementary. Both contribute to nurses providing optimal patient care.” Let’s take a have a look at the nursing work environment and techniques to enhance it and make it the perfect it will probably be.

There is a relentless effort to enhance the working environment for nurses and healthcare employees. Munro and Hope (2020) recommend that we “…individually and collectively respect and care for all our colleagues.” I could not agree more! I believe all of us would really like to work in this sort of environment. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN, 2016) identifies six standards that underpin a healthy work environment: expert communication, true collaboration, effective decision-making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership.

Let’s have a look at these standards in additional detail to see how they will improve our work environment (AACN, 2016).

1. Be as proficient in communication skills as you might be in clinical skills.
2. Be relentless in pursuing and supporting true collaboration.
3. Be engaged partners in creating policy, directing and evaluating clinical care, and driving organizational activities.
4. Staff must be certain that patients’ needs are effectively matched to nurses’ competencies.
5. Be recognizable and appreciate others for the worth that every of them brings to the work of the organization.
6. Fully accept the imperative of a healthy work environment, live it authentically, and interact others in achieving it.

Have you noticed that a few of these standards are already present in your work environment, or have you ever wished they were in place in your workplace? Implementing such strategies in our own work environment can assist reduce staff turnover, increase job satisfaction, and improve patient outcomes.

Do you’re thinking that more might be done to enhance the environment during which you’re employed? Remember that change can start with one person and it will probably be that person! Whether you’re employed in an inpatient or outpatient setting, there are various things you’ll be able to do to make a difference.

• First, take a very good have a look at your work environment.
• Take a step back and objectively consider what’s working well and what might be improved to enhance your work environment. Make a listing of those ideas.
• Discuss your thoughts together with your colleagues to see what their views are on this issue. You could have missed something that you simply weren’t aware of, or your co-workers could have one other great idea to make things even higher.
• Present all these ideas to your manager and discuss your thoughts, findings and suggestions for improvement; Depending on the scope of the conversation, consider whether a non-public meeting or an upcoming work unit council meeting could be most appropriate for this initial conversation.
• Together, you and your team can develop ways to implement the changes you should make your work environment even higher!

There will at all times be more work that should be done to enhance the work environment for nurses. But move forward knowing that it is feasible to make improvements to your work environment one step at a time. Start small and discover specific goals for improvement. Collaborate with colleagues and your manager to develop and implement change plans. Remember that it only takes one person to make a positive impact and alter the whole lot for the higher. Be that person and make your work environment the perfect it will probably be for you, your co-workers, and ultimately your patients!

American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). (2016). Healthy work environment. Downloaded from https://www.aacn.org/nursing-excellence/healthy-work-environments

Munro, L. and Hope, A. (2020). Healthy work environment: Resolutions for 2020., (1), 4–6. Downloaded from https://aacnjournals.org/ajcconline/article/29/1/4/30615/Healthy-Work-Environment-Resolutions-for-2020

Vollers, D., Hill, E., Roberts, C., Dambaugh, L., & Brenner, Z. (2009). AACN Healthy Work Environment Standards and Empowering Nurse Advancement System. , (6), 20–27. Downloaded from https://aacnjournals.org/ccnonline/article-abstract/29/6/20/5550/AACN-s-Healthy-Work-Environment-Standards-and-an