Saturday, 23 February 2019: 9:30 AM-10:15 AM
Summary
Adapting the standards for a healthy work environment (HWE) from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), the UVA School of Nursing created and is sustaining a HWE where students, faculty, and staff flourish. Examples of the steps taken and outcomes achieved will be described.
Abstract
We describe the journey of one School of Nursing to create a Healthy Work Environment (HWE) by adapting the standards for a HWE developed by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Over a ten-year period, 2008-2018, we used appreciative inquiry as a method of strategic planning, the staff initiated a HWE committee that faculty joined, performance evaluations included how individuals contribute to a HWE, systematic surveys of “how are we doing” were completed yearly and the Compassionate Care Initiative began. Each activity contributed to a strengthening of the culture of the School and positive outcomes in terms of engagement, student enrollment and success, and recruitment of diverse faculty and staff were noted. Self-care and resilience became a focus across the board with an emphasis on “flourishing.” We joined a Joy in Work pilot project sponsored by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement which demonstrated a remarkable increase in satisfaction with one small intervention related to email. We created meditation/resilience rooms and classrooms and activities for the mind and spirit offered free 5 days a week. All students have opportunities for a resiliency retreat and graduated work on contemplative/compassion practices are embedded in the curriculum.
Publications and presentations by numerous faculty have created interest and enthusiasm in our approach across the nation and we have worked with other academic and clinical settings to enhance their own environments. The ingredients that make this happen include a leader and leadership team who understand and embrace the standards and a real sense of what a respectful workplace truly means, one where everyone is valued for their contributions.
The Compassionate Care Initiative https://cci.nursing.virginia.edu/ emerged because of our HWE and has at its core our goal to “support nurses, physicians, allied health workers, and students by teaching resilience and compassion in health care through educational and experiential programs.” With an emphasis on self-care for all, our programs around resiliency receive wide acclaim and create a signature of our students as resilient students who can care for themselves so they can be fully present for others in their care. Our multiple Diversity and Inclusion events where we come together to celebrate each other and also be supportive in tough times are legendary across our University. A HWE in an academic setting is achievable with focus, leadership and dedication.
Organizers: Regina M. DeGennaro, DNP, RN, CNS, AOCN, CNL, Acute and Specialty Services, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA and Dorrie Fontaine, RN, PhD, FAAN, School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Moderators: Juli Maxworthy, DNP, MBA, School of Nursing and Health Professions, University of San Francisco, Orinda, CA, USA
