I am a nurse in a very busy ER with what seems (no exact numbers) to be a high turnover rate. For the loyal and commited nurses (and PCTs) that stick around, morale hangs a bit low. Patient ratios are reasonable- 1:4 or 1:2 for critical patients. Common feedback from employees is that they do not feel appricated for all of the hard work they do staying things like "no matter how fast or good you are, it is never good enough."
Regardless of what department, does anyone have tips or ways their department has worked to improve their employee morale and in turn improve retention?
100% agree. I like my job, I even like our management team. I work with some great CNA's, our nursing staff helps each other without compaint for the most part. The DNS is approachable, though for the most part ineffective. Sure, he'll listen to a vent with open ears but generally nothing can be done or even if something can be done it isn't.
But cold, hard cash? Yes, that would definitely help morale. As much as I [usually] like my job no raise in years is getting beyond old. We just lost a couple more nurses to different facilities with better pay. This is not the fault of my facility, but is the fault of the massive company that owns my facility.
We are already working short staffed to the point of becoming dangerous. Not enough CNA's and not enough nurses. We are getting spread pretty thin as it is and knowing we are losing 2 more nurses with no prospects for new hires is very bad for morale.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Nothing says appreciation like cash.
I dunno.
Cash is useful.
But professionals who are appreciated and are allowed autonomy and are respected as a measure of that appreciation may not feel a need for "cash" to make them feel good about their work. If your employer treats you with dignity and respect, behaves as if you (as a person) matters to them and to the organization, allows you autonomy where it is possible rather than micromanaging details of your work day, asks for and values your opinion on matters which affect your work; the likelihood that you will feel content and successful in your job are higher than if you get little of the appreciation but some of the cash. We all like and need money, but largely, money is not what drew us to nursing as a profession.
Very similar to the gold stars awarded in elementary school.
Yea, not crazy about this. I think the long term respect and dignity that toomuchbaloney is discussing is different than a Kudos wall, or whatever, I personally don't care about that. What I do care about is the NM who will buy lunch for the nurses that came in during a snow storm and works side by side with them because not EVERYONE came in during the snowstorm. Day in and day out. I came in during the snow storm BECAUSE I knew the manager would be there, and I didn't want to screw her over. She came in for us. See how that works?
Yes, cash is important, but we make money, right? I've worked OT and for incentive, but if I don't like the way the place is run, I'm not coming in, and I don't care how much incentive you offer.
Yea, not crazy about this. I think the long term respect and dignity that toomuchbaloney is discussing is different than a Kudos wall, or whatever, I personally don't care about that. What I do care about is the NM who will buy lunch for the nurses that came in during a snow storm and works side by side with them because not EVERYONE came in during the snowstorm. Day in and day out. I came in during the snow storm BECAUSE I knew the manager would be there, and I didn't want to screw her over. She came in for us. See how that works?
Yes, cash is important, but we make money, right? I've worked OT and for incentive, but if I don't like the way the place is run, I'm not coming in, and I don't care how much incentive you offer.
Respect should be a two way street, but I have never felt respect from management. After all , I am just a pawn.
Last time I had to go in during a snowstorm, I got in an hour early, started working to pick up the slack for the staff that didn't make it in. Not only did I NOT get paid for that hour, I didn't even get a gold star.
Respect should be a two way street, but I have never felt respect from management. After all , I am just a pawn.
Last time I had to go in during a snowstorm, I got in an hour early, started working to pick up the slack for the staff that didn't make it in. Not only did I NOT get paid for that hour, I didn't even get a gold star.
I was NM for a bit. You would have gotten my verbal thanks, been paid, LUNCH and I would have let the DON who showed up.
my touch screen is so touchy it's hit or miss.
kungpoopanda
215 Posts
Nothing says appreciation like cash.