(11/8/2021)
In an environment where burnout is prevalent, ensuring healthcare workers feel appreciated and engaged is vital to the health of an organization. Due to the nature of the work, it is incredibly important to help nurses, physicians and all other healthcare facility professionals see that they’re valued in their work environment by their colleagues, leaders and patients.
When appreciation is a part of a company’s culture, it leads to lower rates of burnout, higher retention and better patient outcomes. Read on to learn how to craft simple yet impactful programs that ensure associates feel valued.
Consider Your Cohort
Consider your workforce and what values drive them forward. The workforce has changed in the last five years – we have switched from a Boomer-heavy workforce to a millennial-heavy workforce. These different cohorts encapsulate different values.
Baby Boomers value:
- A heavy emphasis on work ethic.
- Job security.
- Team loyalty.
Millennials seek:
- A greater balance with their work, life, community involvement and self-development.
- Flex time and sabbaticals.
- Collaborative work environments.
These values should be considered when organizations are enhancing their work environments in ways that encourage job satisfaction and retention.
Showing Gratitude
Gratitude is something that we should never take for granted and should express often. Everything – from the barista who hands you your cup of coffee, to the nurse who is caring for their patient, to the maintenance technician who changes a lightbulb, to the food services worker who brings a patient their tray – begins with saying thank you. Gratitude is one of the building blocks of appreciation. Based on the literature and research available, it’s well documented that appreciation and feeling valued are among the levers in burnout.
Consequences of Burnout
When you recognize and reward your associates for jobs well done and you support the pillars that build a positive culture, the risk of losing your associates is greatly reduced. Positive reinforcement and understanding lead to higher productivity levels, lower levels of stress and lower turnover.
The US is on track to see between a 25% and 27% turnover rate in the nurse ranks this year. Doing nothing is not the answer. Gratitude is something simple that can begin today. Associates deserve it, patients deserve it and the organization deserves it, too.
Talk to Your Team
We see a ripple effect when associates feel appreciated and compensated for their work. A positive team culture greatly improves associate morale, resulting in higher retention rates. In a company with a grateful, appreciative and value-based culture, teams reflect these core values and live out this common purpose. Spend some time talking to associates and their leaders to find out how they like to be thanked or recognized. From there, let that define the vision for future inspiration and motivation.
It all starts with your staff. Find ways to encourage associates to support one another. Anything an organization can do to make the work environment a more positive one will pay off in numerous ways for an organization and the populations they serve every day.
Medxcel believes in building safe and trustworthy work environments and encourages associate growth and empowerment in the workplace. Want to learn more about Medxcel? Contact us at
info@medxcel.com or 855-633-9235.