Just wondering....how do you all keep morale up in your work place? :39:
'Cat'
'Cat'
Morale in your facility/work place
When I was in WI, before I started traveling, my co-workers and I would sometimes go out for Bloody Marys in the morning after a bad night at work.... ;)
Don't join the ***** and moan club it just pulls everyone down. Everybody has a bad day now and then but dont' make it every day. Decide what is important to you in your life ie...health, family and then decide that everything else is just extra and there's no need getting made because the person you follow forgot I&o's left a dry IV, took too many smoke breaks... have fun and laugh at work it makes the day go faster....I'm not Susie Sunshine but if you can't be with the one's you love love the ones you're with :) at least for 8 or 12 hours...don't sweat the small stuff.....
I've been up all night on that darn night shift see what it does to me :)...but my DH made me french toast when I got home.
I've been up all night on that darn night shift see what it does to me :)...but my DH made me french toast when I got home.
Cass, what a sweet guy. I get a cuppa joe in the a.m., especially when I hit the site first thing. Kinda helps before the p & m club starts up a few hours later. :p
Hi folks,
I think Cass hit the nail on the head. A person does a lot for workplace morale by contributing to the positive things and intentionally avoiding the negative. Doing so is like putting money in the bank; sometimes you need to take a little but there is always enough if you deposit more than you withdrawl. Thanks Cougar, for starting a really good thread.
R
I think Cass hit the nail on the head. A person does a lot for workplace morale by contributing to the positive things and intentionally avoiding the negative. Doing so is like putting money in the bank; sometimes you need to take a little but there is always enough if you deposit more than you withdrawl. Thanks Cougar, for starting a really good thread.
R
I'd have to say that morale where I work is pretty high. Of course there's some bickering between shifts at times but even that is minor! Maybet it's because we work 8's and we're not so exhausted at the end of a shift. Our management is pretty decent too. They throw a big bar-b-q once a month for day and PM staff and a breakfast for nocs. They also have an open door policy where you can talk to the DON or Ceo anytime you have a concern. It's certainly the best place I've ever worked.
On the unit we keep up morale by helping eachother out. Our facility is Acute Psych and can be trying and even dangerous at times but we all pitch in when situations arise.
As far as my team goes - I will sometimes buy them lunch - I know that not everyone can afford to this but it's really nice to know your work is appreciated.
I agree with cass that you can't sweat the small stuff (and it's all small stuff as long as no one gets hurt) Concentrate on the positives and deal with the negatives but don't dwell.
Peace and Namaste
Hppy
On the unit we keep up morale by helping eachother out. Our facility is Acute Psych and can be trying and even dangerous at times but we all pitch in when situations arise.
As far as my team goes - I will sometimes buy them lunch - I know that not everyone can afford to this but it's really nice to know your work is appreciated.
I agree with cass that you can't sweat the small stuff (and it's all small stuff as long as no one gets hurt) Concentrate on the positives and deal with the negatives but don't dwell.
Peace and Namaste
Hppy
Hi guys this is my first post here....:)
Interesting topic. My workplace has pretty low morale overall. I work at a busy public hospital and it's gotten to the point where workplace psychiatrists have had to step in and intervene between the higher echelons and us lowly level 1 nurses :D
It's that bad that they actually had to shut the operating theatres down for an entire day to do workshops on how to improve staff morale (an unprecedented event. The thing was though, we were told we had to come up with strategies to improve workplace efficiency, behaviors and how to manage pressure.......however.
We were told that we were not going to be given any extra resources or equipment...........:confused:
You can just imagine how this went down.....
The nurses and anaesthetists all unanimously agreed that the surgeons attitudes and treatment towards nurses and other staff members plays a significant role. So now the surgeons are undergoing workshops to improve their behavior :o
Interesting topic. My workplace has pretty low morale overall. I work at a busy public hospital and it's gotten to the point where workplace psychiatrists have had to step in and intervene between the higher echelons and us lowly level 1 nurses :D
It's that bad that they actually had to shut the operating theatres down for an entire day to do workshops on how to improve staff morale (an unprecedented event. The thing was though, we were told we had to come up with strategies to improve workplace efficiency, behaviors and how to manage pressure.......however.
We were told that we were not going to be given any extra resources or equipment...........:confused:
You can just imagine how this went down.....
The nurses and anaesthetists all unanimously agreed that the surgeons attitudes and treatment towards nurses and other staff members plays a significant role. So now the surgeons are undergoing workshops to improve their behavior :o
Scrub Nurse wrote:Hi guys this is my first post here....:)
Interesting topic. My workplace has pretty low morale overall. I work at a busy public hospital and it's gotten to the point where workplace psychiatrists have had to step in and intervene between the higher echelons and us lowly level 1 nurses :D
It's that bad that they actually had to shut the operating theatres down for an entire day to do workshops on how to improve staff morale (an unprecedented event. The thing was though, we were told we had to come up with strategies to improve workplace efficiency, behaviors and how to manage pressure.......however.
We were told that we were not going to be given any extra resources or equipment...........:confused:
You can just imagine how this went down.....
The nurses and anaesthetists all unanimously agreed that the surgeons attitudes and treatment towards nurses and other staff members plays a significant role. So now the surgeons are undergoing workshops to improve their behavior :o
It sounds like you're talking about OR. On some of my observations while in school, I heard many things about attitudes in the OR, mostly regarding the docs, but also some nurses too.
I'm starting an OR job soon an dI hope it doesn't end up similar to that. They had me in for a shadow day and it was very good. They play music of all sorts and joke around a lot. The best thing about it is that they make sure the docs aren't all high and mighty. People are all on a first name basis. I think I'll enjoy it a lot! :-)
The moral where I am has gone to hell in a handbasket, down one heck of a slope. There really isn't one specific factor, but many, and quite a few are in denial. Yeesh.
cougarnurse wrote:The moral where I am has gone to hell in a handbasket, down one heck of a slope. There really isn't one specific factor, but many, and quite a few are in denial. Yeesh.
Same where I work. Constant bickering among staff, physicians, CNAs. Management hides out in the offices only to show their faces to complain about how nurses can't seem to do 5 things at one time. The medical director walks around and actually ignores the nurses, just as if they were not present. If you talk to him he plays deaf and has actually walked into a few that haven't removed themselves from his path (think he needs a psych consult). It is starting to get physical. I have bit run over by wheelchairs and stretchers at least 5 times in the past week, accompanies by snickers when I indicate the pain it caused. I've never seen anything so dysfunctional and am starting to look elsewhere.
I realize my present workplace is not the norm for most nurses on this site. However, I will say keeping the morale high in my work environment can be a challenge, to say the least. We are working 60-72 hour work weeks. We seem to run out of medical supplies frequently. We all miss our families back stateside very, very much. The heat index outside is well above 120 degrees. The chow is the same horrible stuff week after week.
At the workplace, in the ICU we help each other and act as a team. The nurses & docs have a great line of communication and mutual respect. Some of the docs are going back home after here for only six months while most of us are here for 15 months.
Also, it helps to know the folks [ya'll!] back home support us [the troops], which helps morale.
At the workplace, in the ICU we help each other and act as a team. The nurses & docs have a great line of communication and mutual respect. Some of the docs are going back home after here for only six months while most of us are here for 15 months.
Also, it helps to know the folks [ya'll!] back home support us [the troops], which helps morale.
I do a number of things.
1. I come in to work wearing speedos and flip flops. That's it, just speedos and flip flops.
2. Start singing The Battle of New Orleans at the top of my lungs.
3. As I walk by someone using a walker or cane, I push them down and laugh hysterically.
4. I stand next to the prettiest girl I can find and fart. Then I blame it on her.
5. See how bad I can scare someone who recently had an MI. This can get the adrenaline pumping for everyone depending on the results.
I think the most important thing I do is refuse to contribute to the attitude. I'm not here because I have to be. I'm here because I want to be. I want to make a difference in someone's life. I choose my attitude, not the people around me.
1. I come in to work wearing speedos and flip flops. That's it, just speedos and flip flops.
2. Start singing The Battle of New Orleans at the top of my lungs.
3. As I walk by someone using a walker or cane, I push them down and laugh hysterically.
4. I stand next to the prettiest girl I can find and fart. Then I blame it on her.
5. See how bad I can scare someone who recently had an MI. This can get the adrenaline pumping for everyone depending on the results.
I think the most important thing I do is refuse to contribute to the attitude. I'm not here because I have to be. I'm here because I want to be. I want to make a difference in someone's life. I choose my attitude, not the people around me.
LOL!
Way to go, Semper Fi
R
Way to go, Semper Fi
R
Start singing 'The Battle of New Orleans'???? Geez, I do living History, and would start humming the first few bars when approaching the British.
At least I am not the only one who's had a bad time with this subject!
'Cat'
At least I am not the only one who's had a bad time with this subject!
'Cat'
Linger on, and stick with the truth.. even if others will not or do not..
as for morale, don't participate in the bixxxfests and do what you can to send the complaint sessions on an upward slope. Even if you don't necessarily feel positive at that time, it will benefit everyone (including yourself) to just go through the motions of giving everyone else a pep talk. I live and work in the Detroit metro area, I went to nursing school on a whim 9 years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. My husband recently lost his job with the big three and I'm so lucky to have a career where I can pull the weight on my own and get the bills paid (with two children as well). I remind people of this, the flexibility, the importance of what they do...it helps. Count your blessings, right? It's not always easy but if you put a little bit of effort into staying positive it is contagious for everyone around you.
Morale here is Awesome!
How sorry I am to hear Cougarnurse say things are deteriorating! You always seem so up-beat and positive -- youdeserve a great place to work!!
Believe this. . .
1. We just got Magnet designation (it took us nearly 5 years!)
2. Our Sparkle Team, made up of 20+ staff nurses) is planning a 24-hour Rock around the Clock celebration during Nurses' week.
3. Our CNO is going to sponsor staff nurses to their first Magnet conference in Salt Lake City this fall (we'll use a writing competition to decide who gets to go!)
4. We just re-designed our collaborative governance structure and have roughly 60 nurses engaged in everything from policy writing to practice development.
5. We've developed an interactive curriculum for a course we call Organizational Citizenship that teaches employees how to get engaged in the decision-making opportunities that can help shape their work-place (20 grads now facilitate the course!).
6. Nearly 20% of our staff nurses are going to school (for something!)
7. Most of our managers have master's degrees, and our CNO has a doctorate -- education is treated with respect here -- you can find a mentor for anything you're working on!
8. On last count, we had 10 nurses who were principal investigators on nursing resarch studies (many of them staff nurses).
Our hospital rocks!(and our clinics too!)
We always try to pass on some of the great energy that we generate here!
--p
How sorry I am to hear Cougarnurse say things are deteriorating! You always seem so up-beat and positive -- youdeserve a great place to work!!
Believe this. . .
1. We just got Magnet designation (it took us nearly 5 years!)
2. Our Sparkle Team, made up of 20+ staff nurses) is planning a 24-hour Rock around the Clock celebration during Nurses' week.
3. Our CNO is going to sponsor staff nurses to their first Magnet conference in Salt Lake City this fall (we'll use a writing competition to decide who gets to go!)
4. We just re-designed our collaborative governance structure and have roughly 60 nurses engaged in everything from policy writing to practice development.
5. We've developed an interactive curriculum for a course we call Organizational Citizenship that teaches employees how to get engaged in the decision-making opportunities that can help shape their work-place (20 grads now facilitate the course!).
6. Nearly 20% of our staff nurses are going to school (for something!)
7. Most of our managers have master's degrees, and our CNO has a doctorate -- education is treated with respect here -- you can find a mentor for anything you're working on!
8. On last count, we had 10 nurses who were principal investigators on nursing resarch studies (many of them staff nurses).
Our hospital rocks!(and our clinics too!)
We always try to pass on some of the great energy that we generate here!
--p
Stillearning...thanks for the kind words! Morale here on the site is terrific; I am so happy to be a part of it. The paying job needs a good kick, or should I say the DON needs a good kick where it counts...... :p Don't worry, as I have plans with a capital P. :D
Never tick off a cat, as we can be sneaky.
Wish I could be where you are....
Never tick off a cat, as we can be sneaky.
Wish I could be where you are....
I recently wrote our new Department Director an e-mail containing my "wish list" for our floor...I explained that I understood it if perhaps NOT ONE of my items could ever become a reality. The reason I was writing her (and I've known her for years) was to simply do something pro-active that made ME feel like I was being HEARD.
For me, that is the worst feeling. The feeling that no one (management) is listening to the front line staff and that there is no one (management) who cares. In that respect, the morale on our floor is lousy. None of us feel that we can really get things changed to how they need to be. We complain to each other but not as a unified voice and not to anyone who counts.
So I took it on myself to write my wish list. She told me recently that she has several things on the list "under consideration" and she wants to talk to me about several others (that should be an interesting conversation).
The point is I stepped out of "my box" to make ME feel better, to be able to say that I did something pro-active...we'll see!
For me, that is the worst feeling. The feeling that no one (management) is listening to the front line staff and that there is no one (management) who cares. In that respect, the morale on our floor is lousy. None of us feel that we can really get things changed to how they need to be. We complain to each other but not as a unified voice and not to anyone who counts.
So I took it on myself to write my wish list. She told me recently that she has several things on the list "under consideration" and she wants to talk to me about several others (that should be an interesting conversation).
The point is I stepped out of "my box" to make ME feel better, to be able to say that I did something pro-active...we'll see!
Nurse_Advocate wrote:I recently wrote our new Department Director an e-mail containing my "wish list" for our floor...I explained that I understood it if perhaps NOT ONE of my items could ever become a reality. The reason I was writing her (and I've known her for years) was to simply do something pro-active that made ME feel like I was being HEARD.
For me, that is the worst feeling. The feeling that no one (management) is listening to the front line staff and that there is no one (management) who cares. In that respect, the morale on our floor is lousy. None of us feel that we can really get things changed to how they need to be. We complain to each other but not as a unified voice and not to anyone who counts.
So I took it on myself to write my wish list. She told me recently that she has several things on the list "under consideration" and she wants to talk to me about several others (that should be an interesting conversation).
The point is I stepped out of "my box" to make ME feel better, to be able to say that I did something pro-active...we'll see!
What I've found in my hospital is it's all in the presentation that your floor/unit manager gives to upper management. Maybe she has not idea how to do this so you can give her a hand by giving her your best presentation. The increasingly unrealistic number of menial as well as critical tasks we're expected to do in any given shift can be accomplished with the right ancilliary staff and the right ratio's, right? Every time the nurses on the floor fall short with expectations your manager needs to look at these factors and PRESENT that to his/her manager or DON. Your floor manager gets slack and comes at the floor nurses expecting change. Your manager isn't going to accomplish anything by continually riding her staff to meet a quality level of care if it JUST CANNOT BE DONE. When you discuss this with her/him give them quotes of studies done in say magnet hospitals where the ratio's and staffing our adequate. Whining and complaining never gets anyone anywhere, give them stats and numbers and tell them their goals for your unit hospital just aren't going to accomplished unless they change their numbers.
I agree with many of the above post. I really do think that we all contribute to the emotional state of our workplace. If we could all just do what "Mamma" said, "Do unto others and you would have done unto you." <grin>
I find that it is not hard to get sucked into a "whine" and "cheese" mode. Complaining can be contagious.
Some things I do, and appreciated from others....
1. AVOID gossip OR the appearance of gossip at all cost. If you have time for it, you aren't busy enough. You never have to whisper if you are being positive.
2. Praise you coworkers when they do something well or are helpful. We all can dish out criticism, but we often forget the praise.
3. If their is an awards program at your place of work, nominate your coworkers so their good works get appreciated.
4. Try to be friendly. In my opinion, the number one thing that makes me happy at work comes from friendships with my coworkers. It is nice to know that they have your back and you have theirs in case you need help.
5. If you have a slow day, ask people if they need help before you enjoy the down-time. Don't make those calls or surf the net if you have another nurse working her tail off, right next to you.
6. Be up front and honest with your management and ask that they do the same for you. Morale can quickly be decreased if you start having an "us against them" attitude. All it takes is a sense that you are being manipulated and resentment will begin.
Well, there ya go. My life would be so much easier if EVERYONE, including me, could follow this ideal 100% of the time. <grin>
I find that it is not hard to get sucked into a "whine" and "cheese" mode. Complaining can be contagious.
Some things I do, and appreciated from others....
1. AVOID gossip OR the appearance of gossip at all cost. If you have time for it, you aren't busy enough. You never have to whisper if you are being positive.
2. Praise you coworkers when they do something well or are helpful. We all can dish out criticism, but we often forget the praise.
3. If their is an awards program at your place of work, nominate your coworkers so their good works get appreciated.
4. Try to be friendly. In my opinion, the number one thing that makes me happy at work comes from friendships with my coworkers. It is nice to know that they have your back and you have theirs in case you need help.
5. If you have a slow day, ask people if they need help before you enjoy the down-time. Don't make those calls or surf the net if you have another nurse working her tail off, right next to you.
6. Be up front and honest with your management and ask that they do the same for you. Morale can quickly be decreased if you start having an "us against them" attitude. All it takes is a sense that you are being manipulated and resentment will begin.
Well, there ya go. My life would be so much easier if EVERYONE, including me, could follow this ideal 100% of the time. <grin>
kararnmi wrote:What I've found in my hospital is it's all in the presentation that your floor/unit manager gives to upper When you discuss this with her/him give them quotes of studies done in say magnet hospitals where the ratio's and staffing our adequate.
I DO work in a magnet hospital and our ratios ARE good (5 patients to 1 RN)...it's STILL brutal.
The pace is the killer. As soon as you d/c a patient (under five minutes for sure) you get another patient. I think it's BECAUSE we are a Magnet hospital that we're sooooo busy!
The tower I work in is brand new. It was NOT designed by a nurse...there are 3 nurse stations and sometimes you get a split assignment and you're on two stations! The rooms (as in "your patients!") can literally be 200 yards away from you. We've had nurses wear pedometers and they are literally walking 7 to 10 miles a shift. It seems what they took away by giving us decent ratios, they made up for it by making the rooms sooooo far apart????
MOST of our nurse assistants DON'T do accu-checks! Yikes!
I agree with your points, however, that you've got to offer solutions along with your complaints and DATA is all powerful!!!
Believe me, my "wish list" included tons of solution-oriented suggestions...we'll see! :)
More thoughts on this subject,
We joke around with each other a lot.
We inquire as to how the day is going for each other as much as possible.
We vent to each other a lot.
Whoever is done or caught up with their work at different periods of the day will offer to help others who aren't (it's rare but it happens).
We have potlucks in the breakroom at least once a month.
We actually like each other...it's the way the floor is set up (Brand new tower - NOT DESIGNED BY A NURSE!) and the PACE that's brutal!
We actually have a pretty supportive atmosphere among us (the staff nurses) but there is a disconnect between what's realistic for us to keep up with (to provide quality patient care) and what the management expects of us...
I recently had a "Nurturing the Nurses" potluck at my house not too long ago...it was nice. small but nice...it was a chance to relate to each other WITHOUT THE STRESS!
I'm gonna have another one soon!
:)
We joke around with each other a lot.
We inquire as to how the day is going for each other as much as possible.
We vent to each other a lot.
Whoever is done or caught up with their work at different periods of the day will offer to help others who aren't (it's rare but it happens).
We have potlucks in the breakroom at least once a month.
We actually like each other...it's the way the floor is set up (Brand new tower - NOT DESIGNED BY A NURSE!) and the PACE that's brutal!
We actually have a pretty supportive atmosphere among us (the staff nurses) but there is a disconnect between what's realistic for us to keep up with (to provide quality patient care) and what the management expects of us...
I recently had a "Nurturing the Nurses" potluck at my house not too long ago...it was nice. small but nice...it was a chance to relate to each other WITHOUT THE STRESS!
I'm gonna have another one soon!
:)
A simple thank you and a good work from a supervisor is already enough to boost our morale in my facility! And whenever an error is made, one is reprimanded privately rather than being scolded in front of co workers…