How Can We All Take Ownership For Unit Culture?

[NoviceToExpert]

To nurses and students one and all,

I am starting this thread under patient safety because I believe this issue impacts patient safety and outcomes.

I have noticed many opinions from students, from interns, from orientees, from new RNs and from senior nurses.

Most seem, if they explain their position, to have legitimate gripes for sure.

So... trying my best to be an agent for change and to not perpetuate the schism... I offer this post...

Given the system, the long hours, the high stress and everything else that goes along with nursing... what CAN we do to take ownership of our OWN contibutions to less than optimal unit cultures that create hostile work environments and advocate for the change that EVERYONE deserves?

If I may place some boundaries on responses please offer SOLUTIONS to problems... you may certainly post an example... but please, let's use this thread as a proactive blogging exercise rather than a rantfest. Furthermore, offer what YOU/WE can do, rather than what other parties should do to solve the issue at hand.

I am very curious to see what kind of reponses this thread draws, given I have read post after post of vindictive unproductive defensive commentary that doesn't help the problem one bit.

:welcome:

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

help others on the unit floor if the culture is to stand aloof, a culture of doing the work on one's own. this hopefully will turn the tide. and don't ever label, spread rumors but spread kind rumors, and see to it that you greet people on your way in and tell them adios on your way out!

i tell you this. my last shift i worked. i was bombarded with diverse things i needed to accomplish and lo and behold a nurse came around and hung two of my maintenance ivs. wow, that was a godsend. i think if it wasn't for her actions i would have been scurrying to catch up end of shift.

[cmo421]

Taken ownership for unit culture,,,,,,

Everything starts with a majority of one. So do just that,take ownership for our actions. Each of us can be effective by being more positive. Bit ur tongue when u want to complain about left over "duties from the previous shift and remember that nursing is 24 hrs. When someone is complaining about their work load, lets remember that we get paid to work, it is not a volunteer job. WHen that "slow" nurse is lagging and others are feeling the pinch, offer time management solutions, not more complaints. If your assignment seems overwhelming,and time is of the essence,remember that not everything has to be finished,we learnt how to set priorities in school. Although bathing a patient can be a great tool to assess, not everyone needs a full bath, and not all baths have to be given on the day shift. We use to call them a "whores" bath(excuse the french),pits and place of passion! Lets not forget the best tool of all, laughter! Even in the most traumatic of situations, the best of the medical profession can always find some humor to ease the intensity of the moment.

Playing it forward might be from a child's movie, but can well take its place in a crumbling unit and assist in recreating a positive,professional and growing enviorment!