3 Tips to Improve Workplace Wellness (From a Veteran RN)

Workplace wellness programs are on the rise across many U.S. industries. Employee happiness is a perennially hot topic, and one that’s close to my heart.

As an RN I’ve often noted that in the healthcare sector, although wellness is our raison d’etre, we often forget to focus on taking care of ourselves. Research shows that clinician satisfaction is directly linked to patient satisfaction. So, keeping nurses happy is something we should all get behind.

The good news is, there are a few things every hospital system can do to improve the working lives of their nurses and other employees.

Don’t just listen, take action.

Are you hearing the same complaint from multiple employees? Whether it’s a process, policy or something as simple as changing out the bathroom soap, accepting employee feedback and making an actionable plan to address it speaks volumes.

Professional development is key.

Creating promotable pathways and offering professional development opportunities are instrumental to keeping employees engaged and motivated.

Team bonding goes a long way.

Don’t have the budget to throw parties or pay for excursions? Do something free or low cost! Volunteer together or bring in someone to host a fitness class.

These principles can be applied to employee happiness in any workplace. Did you know that it costs about 33% of a worker’s annual salary to hire a replacement? So, there are significant financial incentives to implementing workplace wellness programs, in addition to moral ones.

Remember — small changes can make a big impact.

At my company, we created fun “caught you” cards to let employees recognize each other for a job well done. People started “catching” each other going above and beyond. The campaign was easy, cost-effective and sparked a culture of gratitude and pride. People used the cards to decorate their cubicles, creating a constant reminder that they were seen and appreciated.

While small changes can reap big rewards, sometimes you need to take a bigger leap. Luckily for nurses, they can try out different hospital systems to see which is the best fit. Healthcare facilities across the country open temporary travel nursing positions for RNs to work for a designated period, usually around 13 weeks. Travel nurses get to help where they’re needed, see new things and learn new clinical procedures. It’s a pretty amazing gig.

We can all learn a valuable lesson from travel nurses and their willingness to let go of the familiar.

If you’re an employer, consider that your employees may move on if you don’t cultivate an atmosphere that enhances their lives. If you’re an employee who isn’t fulfilled — your workplace isn’t supportive, you’re unhappy in your job or in your life — it might be time to try something new. Whether you feel you’re due for a big change, or need something as simple as cultivating gratitude in the workplace, I’ll leave you with the wise words of Lao Tzu…

“When I let go of who I am, I become who I might be.”