Learning Objective #1: Administer two no-cost skills inventories to employees and assist them in determining how their skills apply to major nursing research on the processes of caring

Learning Objective #2: Choose from dozens of strategies gathered from nurse executives and managers across the country for creating a caring environment, increasing productivity and retaining employees

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Largely because of retention, productivity and quality of patient care issues, the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the American Hospital Association have identified creating healthy work environments as a strategic initiative. This presentation provides healthcare executives and managers with the knowledge and skills to create and/or enhance healthy work environments in terms of the caring of self, colleagues and patients. Based upon interviews with more than 29 nurses and nurse executives across the country, it offers a wide array of strategies and tools to increase caring, productivity, patient/customer satisfaction and employee retention.

Content Outline:

· Utilizing Appreciative Inquiry to describe best practices, small groups identify the characteristics of a healthy, caring work environment. · Introduction of Gallup research on what makes a successful manager as reported in the book, First, Break All the Rules. · Discussion of 5 key questions related to increased productivity, patient/customer satisfaction and retention. · Completion of a skill clusters inventory that builds upon the book, Now, Discover Your Strengths · Completion of a transferable skills card sort · Introduction of research by nursing leaders (Watson, Swanson, Leininger) on the nature and processes of caring. · Assign personal skills to five processes of caring. · Select from dozens of strategies for creating caring teams and retaining employees gathered from nurse executives and other healthcare managers across the country.