3. Increase the stability of employee work schedules. 4. Provide opportunities for employees to identify and solve work-related problems.
5. Ensure adequate staffing, so that workloads are reasonable. 6. Be supportive of employees’ personal and family needs.
7. Create a work culture in which employees can develop supportive relationships with their colleagues. More specifically related to healthcare, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) has provided an evidence-based approach to providing a healthy work environment in healthcare, specifically in acute care settings. In 2005, AACN released the Standards for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments: A Journey to Excellence , which outlines six standards which healthy work environments can use to improve their own work settings. These standards include: 1. Skilled Communication – Nurses must be as proficient in communication skills as they are in clinical skills. 2. True Collaboration – Nurses must be relentless in pursuing and fostering true collaboration. 3. Effective Decision-Making – Nurses must be valued and committed partners in making policy, directing, and evaluating clinical care, and leading organizational operations. 4. Appropriate Staffing – Staffing must ensure the effective match between patient needs and nurse competencies. 5. Meaningful Recognition – Nurses must be recognized and must recognize others for the value each brings to the work of the organization. 6. Authentic Learning – Nurse leaders must fully embrace the imperative of a healthy work environment, authentically live it, and engage others in its achievement. Further, the AACN website provides strategies for both organizations and individuals to use in order to meet each of these standards. The organization has conducted 5 large scale surveys of the nurse work environment between 2005 and 2021. The 2021 study was implemented ahead of schedule because of the concern that the pandemic had “ grossly exacerbated longstanding, systemic flaws inherent in healthcare work environments .” Although the four previous surveys asking acute care nurses to rate their work environment have shown moderate progress in meeting these standards, not surprisingly, a significant drop in the progress of moving toward a healthy work environment was noted in 2021. Burnout is still present and faculty members must continue to help students and colleagues manage burnout for themselves and others. References World Health Organization (2019). Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases. May 28. https://www.who.int/ news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases. Accessed 2024. Thomas, C., Bantz, D., McIntosh, C. (2018). Nurse Faculty Burnout And Strategies To Avoid It. Teaching and Learning in Nursing . 14(2) 111-116. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Tugend, A. (2020). On the Verge of Burnout. Research Brief. Fidelity Investments. https://connect.chronicle.com/ rs/931-EKA-218/images/Covid%26FacultyCareerPaths_Fidelity_ResearchBrief_v3%20%281%29.pdf. Accessed 2024. Sacco, T., Kelley, M. (2021). Nursing Faculty Experiences During The COVID-19 Pandemic Response. Nursing Education Perspective. Sept-October. 14(2) 111-116. Zangaro, G., Rosseter, R., Trautman, D., Leaver, C. (2023). Burnout among academic nursing faculty. Journal of Professional Nursing . September- October, 48. 54-59. Mayo Staff (2023). Job burnout: How to spot it and take action. Healthy Lifestyle. Adult Health, Mayo Clinic . https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy- lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642. Accessed 2024. Chatterjee, R., Tagle, A. (2021). Burnout isn’t just exhaustion, Here’s how to deal with it. NPR March 19. https://www.npr. org/2021/03/08/974787023/burnout-isnt-just-exhaustion-heres-how-to-deal-with-it. Accessed 2024. Kelly, E., Berkman, L., Kubzansky, L., and Lovejoy, M. (2021). 7 Strategies to Improve Your Employees’ Health and Well-Being. Harvard Business Review Human Resources. October 12. https://hbr.org/2021/10/7-strategies-to-improve-your-employees-health-and-well-being. Accessed 2024. American Association of Critical Care Nurses (2005). Standards for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments: A Journey to Excellence. https://www.aacn.org/WD/HWE/Docs/HWEStandards.pdf. Accessed 2024. American Association of Critical Care Nurses (2005-2021). Healthy Work Environments. https://www.aacn.org/nursing-excellence/healthy-work- environments. Accessed 2024
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