Developing a Positive Work Environment

Purpose:  To describe from a staff coaching perspective how to implement an innovative change model using six positive psychology principles. The focus will be on methods for facilitating collaboration between nurse leaders and staff to achieve and sustain real cultural transformation on their units. This case study at a major at a major academic medical center will demonstrate the powerful impact of creating a positive work environment on patient safety and quality indicators, all while producing substantial cost savings. 

Methods:  Coaching strategies to create a high-performing staff will be explained. By tapping into strengths of the top performing staff RN’s and department leadership, coaches were able to guide the team towards creating a shared vision based on core values and a common leadership language. Coaching helped staff to develop a new cognitive framework which enabled the most positive staff members to prevail over the most negative. Transforming the organizational culture occurred by helping staff learn to use the fundamental building blocks of this evidence-based change model in their day to day functioning.

Results:  The effectiveness of staff coaching will be shown in the significant improvements attained in nurse satisfaction and engagement as well as patient satisfaction. A quantum leap in overall performance improvement indicators enabled the hospital to meet, surpass, and sustain key departmental, organizational and economical metrics: sick leave dropped 75%, use of agency nurses was nearly eliminated, and cost savings to the department exceeded $800,000 per year.

Conclusion:  Immersing leaders and staff in the principles of positive psychology positively impacted the practice environment, greatly influencing the delivery of care as experienced by the providers and patients. Increasing positivity proved to enhance both happiness and performance. This model is especially significant for hospitals facing the uncertainties of health care reform and its impact on the delivery of patient care.