Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Nurses must be as proficient in communication skills as they are in clinical skills:

• Focus on finding solutions

• Protect and advance relationships

• Invite and hear all perspectives

• Goodwill and mutual respect

• Congruence between action and words

• Zero-tolerance policies                

• Formal structures for communication 

• Access to technology 

• Evaluation component 

• Part of performance appraisal

Nurses must be relentless in pursuing and fostering collaboration:

• Accountability defined

• Decision-making authority

• Access to resources for dispute resolution

• All embrace “culture” of collaboration

• Respect each voice 

• Personal integrity                 

• Skilled communication                                                                       

• Competence of all team members

• Nurse managers and MDs equal partners

Nurses must be valued and committed partners in making policy, directing and evaluating clinical care and leading organizational operations:

• Organizational values clear and part of decision
  making

• Structures ensure patients and families are heard

• Shared accountability for decision making

• Respect for rights of all                      

• All key perspectives incorporated

• Processes in place to evaluate results of decisions

Staffing must ensure the effective match between patient needs and nurse competencies:

• Staffing policies solidly grounded 

• Nurses at all levels participate in entire staffing process

• Staffing decisions are evaluated

• System in place to facilitate access to staffing data          

• Support services available to ensure nurses focus on
  nursing work 

• Technologies adopted that enhance effectiveness of nursing care delivery

Nurses must be recognized and must recognize others for the value each brings to the work of the organization:

• Comprehensive recognition program in place for all

• Systematic process for knowing how to participate

• Bedside to boardroom

• Includes process to determine that recognition is meaningful

• Recognition system is regularly evaluated

• Everyone is responsible

Nurse leaders must fully embrace the imperative of a healthy work environment, authentically live it and engage others in its achievement:

• Understand requirements/dynamics at point of care

• Generate visible enthusiasm

• Role model communication, collaboration, etc.

• Evaluate leaders’ impact and progress toward HWE

• Ensure leaders are well positioned and supported

• Provide time, financial and human resources

• Provide co-mentoring

• Include leader’s role in HWE in performance appraisal

(American Association Critical Care Nurses, 2005)