out! A pervasive atmosphere of hostility and ill
PREVENTING
will can cause a “staff infection” throughout the
REVENTING
workplace; visitors feel its sting, and everything
suffers. Sadly, these nurses may unknowingly
direct their unhappiness to patients.
A “STAFF
Subsequently, this could result in situations
A TAFF
where for example, unhappy dialysis patients
fail to keep appointments for treatments or will
find another dialysis unit to help them. Patients
INFECTION”
will do anything to avoid yet another negative
NFECTION
influence in their lives.
The costs associated with low nurse morale
can be calculated by looking at the expenses
associated with decreased productivity,
Employee satisfaction - or lack of it - hinges on a unresolved conflict, nurse turnover, and
productive, fulfilling relationship between staff and unproductive time spent gossiping and
management; indeed, the success of any hospital complaining to co-workers.
depends on nurses who enjoy their jobs and feel
rewarded by their efforts. Ultimately, of all the Is it possible to create an environment where
people in the marketplace, healthcare consumers nurses are motivated to do their jobs to the
may suffer the most when this vital success factor best of their abilities - and communicate
is lacking. satisfaction to everyone around them? The
answer is yes; when management takes the time
Satisfied nurses shine. They’re the ones who are to learn what motivates their staff to do their
attentive to every patient’s need, and “go the extra best work, and what contributes to a sense of
mile” to be helpful. When nurses are unhappy, watch well being and satisfaction.

3. Praise more than criticize
Nurses want to feel appreciated. Often, the little
“thank yous” make a big difference. When offering
praise, make sure it is TRUE (timely, responsive,
unconditional, enthusiastic).
4. Encourage involvement
Every staff member wants to feel involved and
important to the success of the hospital.
These steps may be just what you need to resuscitate
morale in your hospital or take it to the next level.
5. Create A friendly experience
Intensive care units are high-pressure
environments for example. Often patients
1. Morale starts at the top are in pain and fearful of their diagnosis. Small
Nurses take emotional and attitudinal cues & clues things can make a big difference. To turn a poor
from the unit managers and the staffing managers. experience into a positive one and alleviate
Leadership must make conscious, continual efforts to patient disappointment, try the “ACT” acronym:
play a constructive role in addressing staff needs and Apologize, Correct the service, and Take action
cultivating cooperation. to make amends.
2. Prioritize communications 6. Work hard, play hard
Good communication and clear expectations are Everyone likes to have fun—and happy people have
essential for high morale. Show your nurses that you high morale. Take time out of the work schedule for
trust and respect their need to know about issues nurses to interact and have fun on a regular basis.
affecting the hospital, and in turn, their livelihoods.
Nurses feel competent, tend to perform better and 7. BE AWARE OF morale factor
are more productive when they know what is expected of Morale changes, sometimes daily. Stay in touch with
them. day-to-day events and watch for changes in morale.

Warning signs of low morale: THE BENEFITS OF HIGH MORALE
• Lack of attention to details concerning patient care A hospital will benefit on three fronts; improved
• Negative attitude toward patients nurse productivity, improved patient care and better
• Resentment toward physicians and patient compliance. A hospital that recognizes that
other coworkers its nurses are valuable gems that need the proper
• Talking about people rather than with people setting and occasional stroking (or buffing) to shine
• Keeping secrets or withholding information will reap the numerous benefits. If not, your hospital
• Missed deadlines may have gone to the considerable expense of shaping
• Low productivity and training a nurse only to have him or her move on to
shine in some other organization’s setting.
A healthcare organization’s goals include providing
quality service to patients. Too often; the importance
of attracting and keeping quality employees in
order to achieve that goal is overlooked. Creating an
environment where nurses who are “real jewels,” are
admired, polished, and appreciated will result in a
fruitful organization.
The hospital with the right approach will be the one to
reap the rewards of success.
To learn more about how you can give
your hospital & staff relief, visit
Staffing.MedicalSolutions.com/knowledge

7 STEPS TO BETTER MORALE
HERE’S HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF A LITTLE POCKET VERSION
FOLDING INSTRUCTIONS
Note: All folds should be to the
lines printed on the paper, and
not to the actual edges of the page.
Before you start, cut out the booklet
by following along the dotted lines.
1. Start with the front 2. Fold in halves. 3. Cut at dotted line in center.
Make sure & use your safety page/cover at top left.
scissors to prevent any ouchies!
4. Fold to opposite ends. 5. Fold half vertically. 6. Fold in half horizontally 7. Enjoy!

PREVENTING
cause a “staff infection” throughout the 3. Praise more than criticize
workplace; visitors feel its sting, and Nurses want to feel appreciated. Often, the little
everything suffers. Sadly, these nurses may “thank yous” make a big difference. When offering praise,
unknowingly direct their unhappiness to
A “STAFF
make sure it is TRUE (timely, responsive, unconditional,
patients. Subsequently, this could result enthusiastic).
in situations where for example, unhappy
dialysis patients fail to keep appointments 4. Encourage involvement
for treatments or will find another dialysis
INFECTION”
Every nurse wants to feel involved and important to the
unit to help them. Patients will do anything success of the hospital.
to avoid yet another negative influence in
their lives. These steps may be just what you need to resuscitate
morale in your hospital or take it to the next level.
5. Create A friendly experience
Intensive care units are high-pressure environments for
The costs associated with low nurse morale example. Often patients are in pain and fearful of their
Employee satisfaction - or lack of it - hinges
on a productive, fulfilling relationship
can be calculated by looking at the expenses
associated with decreased productivity,
1. Morale starts at the top diagnosis. Small things can make a big difference. To
Nurses take emotional and attitudinal cues and clues turn a poor experience into a positive one and alleviate
between staff and management; indeed, the unresolved conflict, nurse turnover, and from the unit managers and the staffing managers. patient disappointment, try the “ACT” acronym:
success of any hospital depends on nurses unproductive time spent gossiping and Hospital leadership must make conscious, continual Apologize, Correct the service, and Take action to make
who enjoy their jobs and feel rewarded by complaining to co-workers. efforts to play a constructive role in addressing staff amends.
their efforts. Ultimately, of all the people needs and cultivating cooperation.
in the marketplace, healthcare consumers Is it possible to create an environment 6. Work hard, play hard
may suffer the most when this vital success
factor is lacking.
where nurses are motivated to do their
jobs to the best of their abilities - and
2. Prioritize communications Everyone likes to have fun—and happy people have high
morale. Take time out of the work schedule for nurses to
Good communication and clear expectations are
communicate satisfaction to everyone essential for high morale. Show your nurses that you interact and have fun on a regular basis.
Satisfied nurses shine. They’re the ones around them? The answer is yes; when trust and respect their need to know about issues
who are attentive to every patient’s need, management takes the time to learn what affecting the hospital, and in turn, their livelihoods. 7. BE AWARE OF morale factor
and “go the extra mile” to be helpful. When motivates their staff to do their best work, Nurses feel competent, tend to perform better and Morale changes, sometimes daily. Stay in touch with
nurses are unhappy, watch out! A pervasive and what contributes to a sense of well are more productive when they know what is expected day-to-day events and watch for changes in morale.
atmosphere of hostility and ill will can being and satisfaction. of them.
to reap the rewards of success.
The hospital with the right approach will be the one
organization.
polished, and appreciated will result in a fruitful
employees who are “real jewels,” are admired,
Fx:1-866-6688-5929 is overlooked. Creating an environment where
Ph:1-866-633-3548
quality employees in order to achieve that goal
Visible Signs your Nurses May Already Have it. the importance of attracting and keeping
A Managers Guide: Recognizing Nurse Burnout & Seven providing quality service to patients. Too often;
A healthcare organization’s goals include
Permanent Staff vs. Travelers; The Best of Both Worlds
One-Minute White Paper: Staffing Value: some other organization’s setting.
employee only to have him or her move on to shine in
Staffing Value Calculator Worksheet considerable expense of shaping and training an • Low productivity
benefits. If not, your hospital may have gone to the • Missed deadlines
Staffing.MedicalSolutions.com/knowledge stroking (or buffing) to shine will reap the numerous • Keeping secrets or withholding information
that need the proper setting and occasional • Talking about people rather than with people
have available at recognizes that its nurses are valuable gems other coworkers
please check out the other staffing tools we better patient compliance. A hospital that • Resentment toward physicians and
If you found this booklet to be informative, nurse productivity, improved patient care and • Negative attitude toward patients
A hospital will benefit on three fronts; improved • Lack of attention to details concerning patient care
THE BENEFITS OF HIGH MORALE Warning signs of low morale: