This week's retention ideas:

Suggest that your team create a basket filled with goodies for another department in the hospital—just to show your appreciation for something they did. Have your entire staff sign the card, they may add comments if they'd like to. The other staff will be shocked and amazed. Other benefits from this one act of kindness may include increased patience & respect between departments, adding value to others' self-worth, and an improved work relationship! 
[Some ideas: snacks such as microwave popcorn, pretzels, m&m's or cheese crackers; mini cans of soda; a bottle of Excedrin and a bottle of hand lotion]

To increase staff participation and ownership in their staff meetings, post a blank agenda in their lounge a week ahead of each scheduled meeting. Staff can post questions, concerns, or desired discussions. You may even become aware of issues you previously didn't know about.

Something to ponder this week: 10 years from now, what will your staff remember about you?

Starting next week, I will be carrying two courses at a time, and I am told it can be done. I have spoken to several other classmates who have management jobs, families, etc., and some of them are actually taking a bigger course load. I don't think I will ever go there. Just the thought makes my critical thinking skills kick in and ask, "Are you nuts?!"

The three credit course I am in the midst of is related to public health nursing, and I know what you are thinking-the same thoughts I had as I poured over the course objectives. With a bottle of Phenergan at my side, I was ready for boredom and nausea. What I found was an inspiring faculty member whose pointed questions got me thinking about healthcare and how it is delivered to the patient, the family, and the community. The course puts an emphasis on the effects of prevention on public health and assessing the health care needs of communities. Think of all the times staff approach you whining on and on about non-compliant patients. The course delves into the compliance obstacles for some of our population, such as making bad choices in their lives.

The most important questions we had to ask ourselves is to define the word health: What does it mean to each of us? Now I am asking you for your definition of health, and also your staff's definition. Mine is printed below:

Health: A state of wellness for that individual

I anxiously await my grade for my mid-term paper, which brought back memories of why I do not work the night shift anymore. My final paper is due mid-June and no, I have not started it yet. For my final exam, I have to find a grant available for a vulnerable population we identify in our mid-term paper. Can someone please help me? I feel ischemia creeping into my brain. What was it I identified? Can Phenergan ever be used to help brain perfusion? Hmmm.....

Do you get a little stressed out when it comes time to budget for orientation, education, and training? You might find it helpful running through these questions beforehand:

1. How many orientees does the hospital expect this year? 
2. How long is orientation for experienced hires? For new graduates? 
3. How many education days does the hospital provide for each staff member? 
4. How many mandatory classes does the hospital require each employee take? 
5. How many outside training classes does the hospital pay for per employee each year? 
6. Does your hospital pay for staff meeting attendance for days the employee is out?

How do you plan your budgets?

 Here is a quick tip I have used and found to be highly effective in promoting staff engagement, which is a huge factor in retention:

Ask your DON or VP to stop by and compliment your staff, or a staff member, on something they have accomplished. This lets them know that you have been speaking about them in a positive light to YOUR boss, who is someone they probably don't see very often!

And here are a couple quotes to bring home the tip:

 "Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means." 
- Albert Einstein

"I think one's feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results." 
- Florence Nightingale