Healthy Environment Essay

4922 Words20 Pages
A Healthy Work Environment: It Begins With You Betty Kupperschmidt, EdD, RN, NEA, BC
Emma Kientz, MS, BS, CNS, CNE
Jackye Ward, MSHRM, RN, CNAA-BC
Becky Reinholz, MS, RN
Abstract
In a healthy work environment (HWE) professionals use skilled communication styles to achieve positive outcomes. In the HWE literature, the major communication emphasis to date has focused on the manager's responsibility to facilitate skilled communication. This article focuses on the individual nurse's responsibility to become a skilled communicator. Parse's Theory of Human Becoming is used to conceptualize a Five-Factor Model for Becoming a Skilled Communicator. These five factors include awareness of self-deception, along with reflection, authenticity, mindfulness, and candor. After reviewing key communication-healthy work environment documents, the article describes five behaviors that help nurses reach their goal of becoming skilled communicators.
Citation: Kupperschmidt, B., Kientz, E., Ward, J., Reinholz, B., (Jan. 31, 2010) "A Healthy Work Environment: It Begins With You" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 15, No. 1, Manuscript 3.
DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol15No01Man03
Key words: authentic, candid, healthy work environment, mindful, Parse’s Theory of Becoming, professional communication, reflective, self deception, skilled communicators
Healthy Work Environments (HWEs) are important for the overall health of nurses, for successful nurse recruitment and retention, and for the quality and safety of patient care. Healthy work environments are healing, empowering environments that have been correlated with employee engagement and organizational commitment. These environments are characterized by a high level of trust between management and employees; by employees who treat each other in a respectful manner; by an organizational culture that supports skilled
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