The American Nurses Association defines a healthy work environment as three things: safe, empowering, and satisfying.
These seem like simple definitions, but they can also have different meanings to different people. Here is more in-depth information about how to achieve these three things in your work environment.
Skilled Communication
We all know that communication is key in any workplace. But just because we all know this doesn’t mean we all communicate proficiently. Clear communication with your coworkers and supervisors is pertinent to maintaining a healthy workplace!
You should speak slowly and clearly when having a conversation, especially when it comes to discussing a patient’s needs. The best way to make sure that there is no lost communication is to recap the conversation before it ends.
Simply saying, “Okay, so I am going to do this and you are going to do that and then we will get back together and reassess the outcome,” is a great way to make sure you know how the conversation went and gives the other person a chance to clarify if needed.
Collaboration
When you’re working a 12-hour shift, you will most likely be working with all different types of departments. Just because you call the hospital pharmacy doesn’t mean you are collaborating with them, though.
A true collaborative team is best defined as a group of medical professionals from different professions who share patient care goals and have responsibilities for complementary tasks on an ongoing basis.
“Collaboration is the key to improving patient outcomes—the bottom line is that it saves lives. Collaboration is just as much an essential skill for nurses as is performing a physical assessment.” Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
Meaningful Recognition
All nurses should have the opportunity to be recognized and rewarded for hard work. Not only should nurses be recognized by their supervisors, but nurses should be recognizing other departments that they collaborate with.
Some people are happy with a simple “good job,” while others might appreciate a hand-written thank you card. Spend time getting to know the people you interact with every day and make sure to recognize them and thank them whenever they stick their neck out for you. It will only make them and you feel motivated to work even harder!
Appropriate Staffing
When a department is understaffed, everyone struggles to complete their daily actions. Communication diminishes and quality control goes out the window. Having the correct amount of trained staff ready to take on the shift is extremely important.
There is no perfect recipe for a healthy work environment, but as long as everyone is pleased and striving to be a team player, then you’re on the right track!
AHS Staffing knows and sees this issue every day. That’s why we are here to help fill those gaps! If you need more staff in your dialysis clinic, just give us a call at (877) 309-3546!
