A healthy work environment may mean different things to
different people. For nurses, a healthy
work environment may involve clean surroundings, and proper equipment among
other things. A healthy work environment
for nurses, equates to a healthier environment for the patients.
What
Makes a Healthy Work Environment?
A hospital or medical clinic that treats their
employees well is on the right track for creating a healthy and safe work
environment. An employer that cares for
the employees, and values their opinions, is a place that is creating a healthy
work environment. A well-run facility
that promotes a good work environment wants to ensure that there is enough
staff, and that they are properly trained.
Continuing education training will continue on to ensure every employee
is up to date of procedures and policies of the hospital.
Hospitals have changed over the years. No longer are they a dull and scary place as
you walk in the door. Hospitals are now
bright, and can actually be cheerful. You may see extraordinary works of art on the walls, and the smell of
alcohol and arthritis ointment are no longer the normal smells, they have been
replaced by aroma therapy smells of lavender and other refreshing fragrances. Floors
are shiny and clean, walls are painted in warm tones instead of the old
fashioned clinical bright white. Employee break rooms are often set up as a home like environment,
assuring that break time for staff is a relaxing experience.
There is actually a fair amount of competition to hire
and maintain good nurses. Hospitals
compete for nurses, and once a good nurse is employed, hospital officials do
all they can to keep them in place. A
critical factor in keeping great nurses is to produce a safe and healthy work environment. Sharp object containers are appropriately
placed and emptied regularly, and any emergency equipment needed is neat,
organized, and in a convenient location. A healthy and safe environment is a place that is clean, and the
employer cares about the satisfaction level of their employees.
Modern
versus Older Hospitals
A senior nurse at a trauma
enter explains that for years she worked at a hospital that was always behind
the times. She had not worked another
hospital before, so there was really nothing to compare her working environment
to. The hospital passed inspections, and
the patients were safe, however the hospital interior lacked that warm
feeling, it was very clinical, and the only thing hanging on the walls were
directional signs, or signs that suggested everyone know CPR. After visiting a more modern hospital, the
nurse decided to change jobs and finish out her nursing career in more pleasant
surroundings. She later made note that
she knew she was going to a more aesthetically pleasing hospital, however she
had no idea what a better and healthier work environment she would
experience. More modern and updated
facilities are often an indication of a healthier environment, which was true
in this case for certain. She first
noticed how much happier or at least more content the patients were, and their coworkers appeared to be happier and more excited about their
job.The nurse saw firsthand what state
of the art modern conveniences offered, and she was so glad that she made the
decision to change jobs. The following
year, her previous employer did a big renovation of the older hospital,
bringing everything up to date, and providing modern conveniences, which were
very much needed. Although very happy in her new job, the nurse was pleased to
see her previous work environment make such a dramatic change. This was very much proof positive that a more
modern work environment not only is safer, with modern amenities, it is also a
more pleasant environment to work in. While newer may not always mean better, the features, equipment’s, and
even the decor can make for a much more pleasant place to work in.
Medical facilities that are consistent in following the
newest innovations for patients and employees have the safest and healthiest
work environments. Anything new that
proves beneficial for patients or employees will make for more pleasant surroundings,
and can ease the strain of those long 12 hour shifts.
When selecting a hospital to work in, consider the
environment. If it lacks up to date
surroundings, the facility is more likely than not going to lack state of the
art medical equipment, or other conveniences that make for a healthier and safe
work environment.
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