Entire ER crew will go to mandatory retreat

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I heard yesterday that the entire ER crew is being mandated to go to a retreat so they can learn to get along better. The hospital will bring in all agency workers to cover the hospital for this event.

Our hospital has gone overboard in the last year or two trying out all the latest and greatest touchy feely stuff, spending a great deal of money. Mind you, it's a small town rural hospital where everyone is like a family in a way (albiet dysfunctional at times).

The people in the ER are probably typical for that dept everywhere. I doubt if they are as hard bitten as in large ERs. I have floated there and been treated okay. Yes, there are some blunt and opinionated people there, but I don't think it's totally out of the ordinary.

What do you think? Has anyone heard of this type of thing?:confused:

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.
I heard yesterday that the entire ER crew is being mandated to go to a retreat so they can learn to get along better. The hospital will bring in all agency workers to cover the hospital for this event.

Our hospital has gone overboard in the last year or two trying out all the latest and greatest touchy feely stuff, spending a great deal of money. Mind you, it's a small town rural hospital where everyone is like a family in a way (albiet dysfunctional at times).

The people in the ER are probably typical for that dept everywhere. I doubt if they are as hard bitten as in large ERs. I have floated there and been treated okay. Yes, there are some blunt and opinionated people there, but I don't think it's totally out of the ordinary.

What do you think? Has anyone heard of this type of thing?:confused:

I have heard of company retreats before.. I think they are a wonderful idea! I have been working in a conflict resolution center for almost 2 years now as a case manager and certified mediator. It is part of our justice court. I absolutely love it! I love making peace between disputing parties.

I wonder if it will be a retreat where there are mediators on staff to help resolve conflicts, or will it be the type of retreat where people get together and have a "good time", relax, and able to talk with each other.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I heard that the object of the retreat is to get them to learn to communicate better. I guess I'll hear more when it's over. They are a dramatic, cynical group so I'm certain that some are mighty PO'd about this.

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I heard yesterday that the entire ER crew is being mandated to go to a retreat so they can learn to get along better. The hospital will bring in all agency workers to cover the hospital for this event.

Our hospital has gone overboard in the last year or two trying out all the latest and greatest touchy feely stuff, spending a great deal of money. Mind you, it's a small town rural hospital where everyone is like a family in a way (albiet dysfunctional at times).

The people in the ER are probably typical for that dept everywhere. I doubt if they are as hard bitten as in large ERs. I have floated there and been treated okay. Yes, there are some blunt and opinionated people there, but I don't think it's totally out of the ordinary.

What do you think? Has anyone heard of this type of thing?:confused:

I have heard of this from a coworker and I think its potential is wonderful. It is an opportunity for y'all to process situations and circumstances and open up a real dialogue with eachother (including mgmt.; you know, the "touchy feely stuff"); pardon me if I misudnerstand, but keep a posiive outlook if the opportunity arises that you get to go on one of these retreats with whatever unit you work on

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
I have heard of this from a coworker and I think its potential is wonderful. It is an opportunity for y'all to process situations and circumstances and open up a real dialogue with eachother (including mgmt.; you know, the "touchy feely stuff"); pardon me if I misudnerstand, but keep a posiive outlook if the opportunity arises that you get to go on one of these retreats with whatever unit you work on

I don't work in the ER so I'm not going to the retreat.

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Specializes in CTICU, Interventional Cardiology, CCU.

ever see that commercial..its for one of those online travel things like travelocity or whatever..the premisis is some guy is at one of those 'team building' seminars..it's a total disaster..so he decided to duck out early and his buddy is like hey can you get me outta here too...I would so be that RN that leaves 10 min. into such sheninangians...good luck

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Specializes in Emergency.

Worked for a nurse manager in an ED about 10yrs ago who had a picnic at his place 2 week ends so the opposite shifts could attend. He provided the meat and everyone was highly encouraged to attend. It went over well. Anyway he- didn't last long as he was recruited away to run another hospital- smaller but still.

It may also allow them to see the team dynamic, find the bad apples and weed them out.

Rj

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Specializes in OB.

A word of caution from the cynic here. Never forget while you are there that these are not your friends or your therapy group. Some of these people have the power to hire and fire you, and they will remember what is said and done at this retreat - never doubt that.

From someone who has attended one of these "mandatory" things for 2 days which got everyone to vent, get stirred up, and never resolved anything - left many people looking over their shoulders for a long time and wreaked havoc with some working relationships.

(To the OP -I understand that you are not a participant - using the generic "you" here)

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I would be more concerned with bringing in total agency personnel to cover in the absence of regular staff. Who would be there to answer any questions from them? Yikes!

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Specializes in Tele, Acute.

A past employer of mine had a similar thing, they called Potentiation Retreat. It was held at a local park and was mandatory. The idea came from the Disney Institute. Every year a group of people would go to Disney and take these classes, bring it back to us and we all had to participate.

Some of the things that were done are:

They made a web out of string, teams were assigned. The team had to work together and assign a opening in the web each one was going to go threw. When it came to the time openings they had to pick a person up and pt him thru to the other said that had team members already there receiving him.

They also had us stand on a single beam and balance, then we had to get in order of our height without falling off the beam, thus having us work as a team and figure it out.

It was fun but I hope I never have to do it again.

BTW, the assistant administrator was the one who started all of this. When administrator took another assignment in another state for the hospital, the AA resigned. No more retreats. So I guess that tells us how much the company liked about the whole thing. It cost a lot.

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Specializes in ER.
ever see that commercial..its for one of those online travel things like travelocity or whatever..the premisis is some guy is at one of those 'team building' seminars..it's a total disaster..so he decided to duck out early and his buddy is like hey can you get me outta here too...I would so be that RN that leaves 10 min. into such sheninangians...good luck

Team Builder-"..and you feel like your coworkers don't respect you why?"

Poor sap wearing a stupid hat- "..because of the hat."

Yeah, that was the first thing I thought of too...:lol2:

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

We had one of those. It just turned into nurses vs. management and nights vs. days. It didn't help at all. I left in January and I heard seven more people are leaving now too. It was a waste of time.

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