Nurse Leader Shares Strategies for Improving the Workplace

AONL member Linda Hofler, PhD, RN, senior vice president and nurse executive at North Carolina–based Vidant Medical Center, is working to develop a supportive workplace culture on the theory that engaged and motivated nurses will provide better patient care. The initiative employs three techniques: “salons” where nurses can share their experiences, problem-solving games that engage nurses in incremental change, and support for breaks in the work day that allow nurses to step away and refocus. Hofler describes the effort as a "holistic approach to organizational excellence." Vidant’s initiative is in line with a call from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) to restore the joy clinicians derive from their work. A white paper on the topic is available on the IHI website. (HealthLeaders Media story, 6/10/19)