Creating Healthy Workplace Environments through Nursing Education Initiatives

Attonito, Kathleen C.

Sunday, April 14, 2013: 10:30 AM

Kathleen C. Attonito, MS, RN
Mary Anne McNamee, RN-BC, MA
Launette Woolforde, DNP, RN
Department of Nursing Education and Professional Practice, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY

Learning Objective 1: The learner will identify two interactive educational strategies to de-stress and engage staff.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will describe how support and recognition of frontline staff through a mentorship program promotes a healthy work environment.

In healthy work environments, healthcare team members use appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes to promote the safety and well-being of patients. Nurse educators at North Shore University Hospital, a large tertiary care hospital in NY, implemented several programs aimed at advancing our healthy work environment.

Excellence at the Bedside (EAB) focuses on providing education to frontline staff on areas that impact quality patient care. Each month, the program features a topic related to safety in patient care, patient experience, and professional enrichment. EAB follows the organizational framework of Collaborative Care and TeamStepps® principles and fosters skilled communication and collaboration among team members. Acknowledging the inherent stress in the delivery of healthcare, topics are presented using interactive and innovative delivery methods designed to engage the staff and provide a relaxing educational experience. EAB is aimed at teaching nurses and nursing support staff together as a team, and has been attended by over 800 staff since its inception in August.

Mentorship is well documented as an effective mechanism incorporating support, guidance, socialization, well-being, empowerment, education, and career progression. The Passport to Professionalism is an exemplar of how the healthy work environment is fostered through a nursing education mentorship initiative. This program enrolls registered nurses on a guided journey toward professional certification and career development. Nurses are acculturated into the idea that achievements and credentials can yield personal and professional advancement opportunities. Using a cohort model lead by the nurse educator, frontline nurses are nurtured through certification preparation and offered professional development seminars. To date, 30 nurses have enrolled in the Passport program. Certification culminates with recognition from nursing leadership, including appearing on the cover of ‘Board Certified Nurse’, an internal pseudo-journal cover with a feature story about the recognized certified nurse; a certificate, a congratulatory letter from and photo with the CNO.

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