What would make you feel appreciated on the job?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2008

Managers could start by saying "Thank you" to staff nurses every once in a while. After all, management would not be able to do their jobs without floor nurses, who are the real backbones of the healthcare facility.

Instead of disciplinary write-ups, managers could issue complimentary write-ups for positive things such as working on one's days off, perfect attendance, helping coworkers, commendations from patients, etc. We do many good things throughout the course of a typical day, so it is only fair that this positive stuff should become a part of our permanent employee files, too.

twistedpupchaser · Jun 20, 2008

I had a boss a few years ago who at the end of the day would say, "Thankyou, I appreciate your work Today." it wasn't every day, he knew when we had to run faster to stand still or just needed the pick-me-up. He made my day more than he realised.

:clphnds:

suanna · Jun 20, 2008

Keep the thanks, include my in the daily decisions that effect my patient care. Going computer with our charting- ask our opinion; Capital expense time- ask us what we need most to improve patient care.

Always assume that when we offer a complaint- it's valid until proven otherwise. Houskeeping isn't changing out the needle boxes and creating a hazard- find out why; Pharmacy isn't getting our meds to us in a timely fashion- set up a meeting between thier department head and your staff. There isn't always an easy answer to every problem but it is great to know you are trying and willing to include the staff in finding the solutions. Give me these things and I'll take a 20% pay cut and give up one break (it's not like I get my breaks anyway)! Day to day professional respect and empowerment means more to me than any cheesy gift basket or pep talk from mahogany row.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jun 20, 2008

I am very lucky. My CNO is prone to thank people in public for even small things you do. And she is able to do it with sincerity. I send notes to the homes of staff members and include free meal tickets or some other small token. My boss is also the one who will be there when you get there and be there when you leave then ask during the shift what can she do to help you do your job. Believe me, I know I am lucky.

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Jun 20, 2008

A "face to face" Thank you would be nice. I really get miffed when someone tells me that my boss was complimenting me on what a good job I do to someone else.

Hey.....how's about coming to me and complimenting me directly....not to someone else !

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 20, 2008

Keep the thanks, include my in the daily decisions that effect my patient care. Going computer with our charting- ask our opinion; Capital expense time- ask us what we need most to improve patient care.
Always assume that when we offer a complaint- it's valid until proven otherwise. Houskeeping isn't changing out the needle boxes and creating a hazard- find out why; Pharmacy isn't getting our meds to us in a timely fashion- set up a meeting between thier department head and your staff. There isn't always an easy answer to every problem but it is great to know you are trying and willing to include the staff in finding the solutions. Give me these things and I'll take a 20% pay cut and give up one break (it's not like I get my breaks anyway)! Day to day professional respect and empowerment means more to me than any cheesy gift basket or pep talk from mahogany row.

I think this is a really big one. Taking care of the "little" things that can consume way more time and energy than they should can make a really big difference to the staff. That old saying about "the straw that broke the camel's back" has a basis in truth: sometimes it's not the 50-lb rock dropped on you that breaks you, it's the millionth little straw. All too often, no one in management makes the time or effort to find out what these straws are, or blows them off when they're brought up.

Having an overstuffed needle box or an empty paper towel container or soap or gel dispenser or a missing med or not being able to find a functioning BP cuff might not be a big deal if it happens once in a blue moon, but it can drive you stark raving mad if it's a regular occurrence.

Probably even more important, underlying all this, is to be respected enough to be listened to and heard, and to have what you're saying be considered important enough to be acted upon.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 20, 2008

For myself: If someone makes a complaint about something I've said or done, do me the courtesy of actually investigating it and asking me about it before you just assume that they are telling you the whole story.

Pay attention to what your people are doing and make an effort to actually look and see what they are doing right. Then find a way to let them know that you notice. You can do that either verbally or by writing notes, but keep careful track that you spread the cheer evenly and don't always give the goodies to just one or two or a few. Be extra careful with the people you may not personally like that much- make an extra effort to find positive things to say to them. If you make paying attention a habit, it will soon start to be second nature. This will necessitate spending some time out of the office, out on the floor with the staff. You can't see and hear how they interact with each other, the patients, and the other staff from behind a closed door.

Vito Andolini · Jun 20, 2008

Answer my emails. Hold meetings at varying times so all 3 shifts can be included. Come in on the 2nd and 3rd shifts once in a while. I know it's hard but you expect us to rotate without limit. You can do it, too.

Be fair in your disciplining of staff. No playing favorites. If I get written up for tardiness, so had everyone else better be written up when they deserve it.

When I need a day off, I should be able to get it without lying or calling off. Be willing to work with me to make it happen. I had to call off sick to get they wedding day off for one of my kids. No way in H was I going to miss it or risk not getting it off by requesting it off. I had to just take it off. I will be doing the same thing next week and in a couple more months when there are things happening that I just simply cannot miss. I wish I could just ask the boss to help me figure out how to take a saved holiday or a vacation day or even a day without pay if she has to hire a PRN to work in my spot. But I know from past experience that she won't help me so I have to just do what I have to do. I hate doing it but my life is more than my job. There are weddings, graduations, christenings, and other major events that I will not miss but I wish I could get help from the boss in arranging off without having to mess up her schedule or cause grief for my coworkers.

Stop telling us you are looking in to things that will make our job safer and just admit that you really don't care a D whether we are safe or not in the ED. You've had 14 months, after all, since a nurse and a secretary were seriously hurt and crippled on the job by raging friends of patients to check into some procedures and devices and get back to us with the information and your decision on whether or not to implement them. You should have made this decision within about 1 week. Stop holding your meetings, at which you tell us how important we are and how much you appreciate us and how you are checking out this or that. Just tell us the truth - you are holding the meeting because your boss made you do it and you are trying to fish out whether or not we are ready to revolt. And you have no plan whatsoever to change any procedures or devices to make us safer.

Start listening to nurses if you want to know how to fix what's wrong with hospitals today.

I don't really need or like the little thank you notes or meal tickets. Actions speak louder than words, after all. Come spend a full shift with me - on the run, no bladder breaks, no booboo breaks, little if any meal break. And be with me for a full day while I dehydrate because I can't get a break and OSHA says I can't have a water bottle with me. I have started wearing a water pouch around my belt. I outsmarted them! No one has dared to say anything yet. When it's in the way, I stick it down my drawers. Ain't nobody going there. :up: :cool: :devil:

It's not hard, really, to let staff know they are appreciated. Just treat them the way you want to be treated - like a mature adult.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 20, 2008

Some really good suggestions here, I had a manager who always tried to do some work on the wards with the staff and you always got a thank you at the end of the shift no matter how bad it was. Another manager would take the staff out and treat them to lunch and the rest of the afternoon off (was easy to do that as it was a surgery) but sometimes starting small and showing the staff they are appreciated is a start and make sure you cover all staff on all shifts

Debra ACRN · Jun 20, 2008

One of my favorite departments gave each employee 5 tokens for an ice cream cone (or something similar) with the instruction that they could either use them for themselves or give them to somone else who deserved it. Those tokens got shabby they were given away so much. It was a really sweet easy way for everyone to take part in appreciating each other.

nickola · Jun 20, 2008

It's always good to hear compliments- and to be thanked. To have that reflected in your salary is the icing on the cake!