Team building

gwenith, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2004

Need some specifics as to what is falling apart now. Not too many details - just in general so we can get the gist.

stressgal, RN · Feb 22, 2004

Have you ever heard of FISH? A great team building program, video for employees of any organization.

nickelsrn · Feb 22, 2004

Need some specifics as to what is falling apart now. Not too many details - just in general so we can get the gist.

Each department has always acted as its own. Nursing department has responsbility for several non-patient care issues. Also CNAs do not try to work together we have 4 seperate halls and if you don't work on their hall they do not want to help. It is almost like having 2 seperate buildings. I often still hear they are not my patient. Charge nurses still have feelings that they only perform meds and treatments. Do not feel responsible for answering call lights, assisting with feeding etc.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2004

Lead by example is I good start. How about switching assignment for the CNAs. As far as answering call bells..make it a policy everyone answers a call bell and enforce it.

RubyA · Feb 29, 2004

Education, Education, education. It may take a while but if you keep drilling teamwork into everyone's minds hopefully it will become ingrained in there. Start out with some tapes or education board for everyone to see and complete. You might look at some Dale Carnegie information, he is the guy who has done the work about how to influence others by the way you do your work, but the name of his work has just totally left me. Good luck.

Angie

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2004

I agree with education/ teaching... but just remember some staff might be on a different level than others. I know when I gave a few inservices using slides and handouts.. some staff didn't understand or read them...(mostly because they couldn't) Just something to remember....

mandykal, ADN, RN · Mar 7, 2004

renerian, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2004

I agree with lead by example. I also try to ask the staff what they need to feel more like a team.

renerian

BHolliRNMS · May 22, 2004

Get your employees to share a common goal! Start small like with one unit and devote your attention to the nursing staff. A few things I have done include: spend 30 minutes making beds while cnas are feeding breakfast, take out the trash on the med cart, make a charting entry, work the dining room yourself, wipe up spills and comment to your staff on how important it is to prevent falls (HK will thank you), answer call lites. etc. One day I washed dishes for dietary and sometimes I make up the afternoon snacks for them.

Involve your staff in knowing the improvements teamwork is making for the residents. I always post graphs and floor layouts showing where falls happen, skin tears, wounds, etc. This helps the cnas to become competitive with each other and they will team with whoever is working their hall in order to look the best.

You have to show them what teamwork it. We schedule each of our 4 med nurses on the 3-11 shift to feed one resident. The cnas really appreciate this.

And sometimes, you just have to remind everyone who is the center of attention in a nursing home: an elderly vulnerable human being.

We also do fun things like posting Thank You Grams by the time clock, cook outs for staff, a halloween carnival for the children of staff and I allow employees to trade out shifts in order to be off when things come up that they want to do.

BE POSITIVE! You can do it!

rnmaven · May 22, 2004

I think that the key to good teamwork is communication and respect for others. I agree with the post re: Dale Carnegie because in my former career I took Dale Carnegie.....one of the most important lessons I learned was to always try to see things from the other person's point of view. In today's organizational development programs the emphasis is on conveying empathy or understanding one's emotional intelligence.

In facilitating group communication skills, I use a program called DiSC. It teaches groups to understand their personal style of communication and it helps individuals understand how their style of communication impacts others.

In my former career I also was against giving the "star sales people" all of the kudos and recognition because I felt that there were many who worked very hard to do their job but things didn't work out for the sale through no fault of their own. Perhaps you could "brainstorm" with your group and see if the group can come up with what they think would constitute a realistic recognition program. Even better, have them work on developing a committee that would establish this program and also administer the program/reward.

Good luck in your new position! If you need more information or ideas please feel free to send me PM.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · May 22, 2004

Get your employees to share a common goal! Start small like with one unit and devote your attention to the nursing staff. A few things I have done include: spend 30 minutes making beds while cnas are feeding breakfast, take out the trash on the med cart, make a charting entry, work the dining room yourself, wipe up spills and comment to your staff on how important it is to prevent falls (HK will thank you), answer call lites. etc. One day I washed dishes for dietary and sometimes I make up the afternoon snacks for them.
Involve your staff in knowing the improvements teamwork is making for the residents. I always post graphs and floor layouts showing where falls happen, skin tears, wounds, etc. This helps the cnas to become competitive with each other and they will team with whoever is working their hall in order to look the best.
You have to show them what teamwork it. We schedule each of our 4 med nurses on the 3-11 shift to feed one resident. The cnas really appreciate this.
And sometimes, you just have to remind everyone who is the center of attention in a nursing home: an elderly vulnerable human being.
We also do fun things like posting Thank You Grams by the time clock, cook outs for staff, a halloween carnival for the children of staff and I allow employees to trade out shifts in order to be off when things come up that they want to do.
BE POSITIVE! You can do it!

why cant we all have DONs like you?? I would go back to work full time if I had the leadership like what you give.