workplace environment assessment assignment
melgive41
wk7discussionwithreplies.docxAccording to my Clark Healthy Workplace Inventory, my workplace is an unhealthy environment. I was intrigued by this survey that I had my coworkers fill one out too. It seems as though all of my other coworkers feel the same way I do. Since completing this survey and reviewing the results with my director, we have come up with a way for everyone to give their input on what’s working and what is not working. A folder has been placed in the employee lounge for employees to write down their ideas. As ideas are submitted other coworkers can go in at their leisure to read the ideas and write their thoughts on that idea either ways to improve that idea or reasons why they believe it is not a feasible idea. At the next staff meeting these ideas will be discussed and voted on and either they move forward or tabled.
There are four stages of group development (Laureate Education). The first one would be forming (Laureate Education). The leader will present the new idea and responsibilities of each group member (Laureate Education). The second stage is storming (Laureate Education). The group will talk about their ideas. The leader will engage all members of the team in order to get everyone involved in the discussion. At this point the leader will start to back off and listen to the team as they discuss their ideas. The third stage is developing or initiating(Laureate Education). By this time the team has become knowledgable about the ideas and the team members begin to take on leader roles. The last stage is performing (Laureate Education). In this stage the team will have enough trust for each other and their capabilities. The leader steps back and lets the team do the work and become leaders (Laureate Education). It is important for the team to go through all of these stages to effectively make that idea come to life. If each stage is not completed properly then the idea will remain that, an idea.
According to Gittell, sitting down and talking about the problems and then coming up with a solution to those problems will lead to a healthy work environment (Gittell, 2017). Shared goals, knowledge, mutual respect, and problem solving communication are positive outcomes from sitting down to talk about the problems together (Gittell, 2017). Being able to effectively work as a team is going to improve workplace civility. The organization, patient, and employees will benefit from teamwork.
There are so many times that a nurse may feel they have been in an uncivil work environment. For myself this happened when my unit was attempting to join the nurses’ union. Many of my fellow peers felt it was an uncivil workplace due to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) having unscheduled and unapproved meetings after union talk had started. The CNO threatened the nurses with loss of employment and loss of pay raises. Many employees were due to receive raises and the CNO threatened those nurses with withholding their pay raise they earned and deserved. The union reps was not aware of this until after the meeting. After this meeting was held the union rep was notified and there were many meetings and statements taken. The CNO was charged with unfair labor practice. She was found guilty and many notifications had to be placed around the hospital stating she was found guilty of an unfair labor practice. I believe she had to pay a fine as well. All of this was done to stop 13 nurses from joining the union that the rest of the nurses in the hospital were already a part of. Our Senior Behavioral Health Unit was ran by a different company at first then the whole hospital was sold to another organization. All employees were then employed by the same company. Attempting to stop 13 nurses from joining a union of other nurses was not worth the time or effort that the CNO put forth. The efforts were seen as bullying on the CNO’s part.
References
Clark, C. M. (2015). Conversations to Inspire and Promote a More Civil Workplace. American Nurse Today, 10(11), 18-23. Retrieved from https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ant11-CE-Civility-1023.pdf
Gittell, J. H. (2017). The Power of a Simple Idea. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7nL5RC5kdE
Laureate Education (Producer). (2009a). Working with Groups and Teams[Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Replies
Mellisa,
Good communication skills are essential for success in virtually any organization. No matter how good one's technical skills or how innovative one's ideas, if not communicated clearly to others, they are irrelevant. Employees today need to be able to effectively communicate within the organization to each other (Wienclaw, 2019).” sitting down and talking about the problems and then coming up with a solution to those problems will lead to a healthy work environment” as quoted in your discussion, this is called effective communication. Healthcare providers' ability to communicate effectively, including observing, listening, explaining, and empathizing significantly impacts healthcare outcomes and patient perceptions of satisfaction (Slota, McLaughlin, Bradford, Langley & Vittone, n.d.).
References
Slota, M., McLaughlin, M., Bradford, L., Langley, J. F., & Vittone, S. (n.d.). Visual intelligence education as an innovative interdisciplinary approach for advancing communication and collaboration skills in nursing practice. JOURNAL OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING, 34(5), 357–363. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2017.12.007
Wienclaw, R. A. (2019). Communications in the Workplace. Salem Press Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89163589&site=eds-live&scope=site
Mellisa,
Thank you, well written,
It's great that you work in a healthy environment. What strategies would you use to correct environments where staff members experience incivility.
DrB
