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Friday, April 12, 2013
Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify the six standards of a Healthy Work Environment.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify at least two strategies that impact the standards of a Healthy Work Environment.
RN satisfaction scores for a 30 bed progressive care unit revealed many opportunities for improvement. The staff expressed a desire to pursue a healthier work environment based on the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Standards for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments. The unit council chair, assisted by a Nursing Administration graduate student, developed education materials and presented them to staff in three different formats: written material; power point presentation; and a bulletin board on the unit. A post test was completed by all staff to assure knowledge of the Healthy Work Environment standards. Staff then completed the healthy work environment survey on the AACN website to obtain baseline results. The survey response rate was 81%. Results were analyzed by the unit council chair and administrative support team. Scores ranged from 2.18 to 3.21. The unit based team then developed strategies for improving staff satisfaction and moving the unit towards a healthier work environment based on the AACN Standards, obtained approval of the unit council and shared this vision with the administrative support team. The first strategies implemented were those designed to produce quick results, as this will be a long term ongoing project. The survey was re-administered after several months with a response rate of 61.7%, and overall results showed significant improvement in each of the six standards. Future plans are to continue to implement strategies to improve the work environment on this progressive care unit and re-survey the staff at selected intervals with new recommendations based on results.
References:
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. (2005). AACN standards for establishing and sustaining healthy work environments: A journey to excellence. Retrieved from http:/www.aacn.com.