This second part of a 2-part series in Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, which focuses on healthy workplaces in acute care hospitals, continues to expand the perspectives around the interplay between human beings and their work environments. The increasingly complex world of healthcare today means that improved workplace cultures that value professional engagement and professional practice environments are an imperative because they influence the quality of intragroup and intergroup interactions.
Sherman, Edwards, Giovengio, and Hilton describe how the clinical nurse leader (CNL) role in one acute care setting has assisted the staff to develop a person-centered care environment. Creating a culture of caring is explored from a 360[degrees] perspective to include patients, families, and practitioners by McArdle, Green, and Robichaux. Using several case studies as examples, the importance of engaging and sustaining nurse leaders so they can create those environments and cultures is depicted by Espinoza, Lopez-Saldana, and Stonestreet. Intragroup and intergroup dynamics are described through the lens of teamwork by Clark, Parsons, Payne, Garcia, Reimer, and Golightly-Jenkins in their article on actualizing shared leadership through unit-based committees focused on improving the quality and safety of patient care.
The impact of conflict negativity and the purveyors of negativity are depicted in the bullying and difficult employee discussions put forth first by Johnston, Phanhtharath, and Jackson and then by Cornett. The concepts of social interdependence and constructive conflict are discussed as preventive methods.
Berndt, Parsons, Paper, and Browne present their work on the development and preliminary evaluation of a new tool to measure healthy workplaces. The Healthy Workplace Index (HWPI) is rooted in staff empowerment, shared leadership, and participatory change management.
A model for action planning and implementation detailing the resources, activities, outputs, short/intermediate/long-term outcomes and desired end results is described by Clutter, Reed, Cornett, and Parsons. Their case study illustrates the strategies and skills needed to achieve quality outcomes and positive workplaces. Continuing education credit can be earned from reading their article and passing the CE test.
As Issue Editors, it is our hope that you will find these articles expand your perspective and provide more insight on the many ways to positively influence the interplay of humans and their work environments.
Patricia A. Cornett, EdD, MS, RN
Solucion International, Workforce and Workplace Capacity, Building Solutions, Canyon Lake
Mickey L. Parsons, PhD, MHA, RN, FAAN
School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio