By Robert Sampson, RN, CEO
Certified Digital Signage Network Expert
CareNetTV.com, Inc.
888.202.9912
info@carenettv.com
they have the opportunity to plan it, experience it, provide feedback, and own it.
Involvement supports and sustains motivation, the essential ingredient for change.”
–Robert F. Allen
Advocate for cultural change and wellness
Healthy work environments for nursing have a direct effect on patient safety and health as reported in their 2005 report, AACN STANDARDS FOR ESTABLISHING AND SUSTAINING HEALTHY WORK ENVIRONMENTS by Executive Editor Connie Barden, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS, et all
Ms. Barden stated , "Six standards for establishing and sustaining healthy work environments have been identified. The standards represent evidence-based and relationship-centered principles of professional performance. Each standard is considered essential since studies show that effective and sustainable outcomes do not emerge when any standard is considered optional."
"The standards for establishing and sustaining healthy work environments are:
- Skilled Communication
- Nurses must be as proficient in communication skills as they are in clinical skills.
- True Collaboration
- Nurses must be relentless in pursuing and fostering true collaboration.
- Effective Decision Making
- Nurses must be valued and committed partners in making policy, directing and evaluating clinical care and leading organizational operations.
- Appropriate Staffing
- Staffing must ensure the effective match between patient needs and nurse competencies.
- Meaningful Recognition
- Nurses must be recognized and must recognize others for the value each brings to the work of the organization.
- Authentic Leadership
- Nurse leaders must fully embrace the imperative of a healthy work environment, authentically live it and engage others in its achievement."
Our RN VITAL SIGNS and syndicated personal and professional development programs can assist your organization's support for critical elements and standards related to establishing and sustaining a healthy work environment. Your workstation TVs will surely reinforce nursing education, retention and practice.
In addition to RN VITAL SIGNS we recommend two very effective adult education courses suitable for corporate wellness programs:
- TUNING IN to the Body - Aikido Conscious Body Wisdom by Jerry Green
- Relaxed And Alert - Qigong and Tai Chi Easy Can Help You Stay Healthy by Kathy Levac, RN, MSN
to impede communication is to reduce people to the status of things.”
–Paulo Freire
International educator, Community activist
The report states the importantance of communication standards, "...Nurses must be as proficient in communication skills as they are in clinical skills.." and cited a very important fact, "...according to data from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, breakdown in team communication is a top contributor to sentinel events.6"
I believe, RN VITAL SIGNS can be effectively used for Nursing Recognition; another report standard. Ms. Barden states, "Recognition of the value and meaningfulness of one’s contribution to an organization’s work is a fundamental human need and an essential requisite to personal and professional development. People who are not recognized feel invisible, undervalued, unmotivated and disrespected. A majority of nurses are dissatisfied with the recognition they receive from their employer.1
This lack of recognition leads to discontent, poor morale, reduced productivity and suboptimal care outcomes. Inadequate recognition is cited as a primary reason for turnover among employees and is linked to decreasing nurse satisfaction.2-4
Three out of four American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ members and constituents rank recognition for their contributions as a central element of a healthy work environment.5 Hospitals recognized for attracting and retaining nurses emphasize personal growth and development, and provide multiple rewards for expertise and opportunities for clinical advancement.6"
“It is ethical to request, encourage and deliver feedback on all facets of individual and organizational performance. It is unethical to ignore, discourage or fail to give feedback.”
–David Thomas
Ethicist, Ethics of Choice Training Program
RN VITAL SIGNS is also an excellent communication tool to visually report essential feedback to your nursing staff. CNtv can create a custom "Hospital Performance Dashboard" with immediate actionable feedback information. You choose what and when to display the feedback; hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, such as:
- Key Performance Indicators
- Patient & Staff Satisfaction Surveys
- Core Measures
Please review my previous post "Vital Signs for Nursing; Changing The Culture Saves Lives & Reduces Costs" for more insights, information and innovative ideas for improving nursing culture with RN VITAL SIGNS.
