I just spent a wonderful long weekend in Nashville, Tennessee at Nursing Management Congress 2012. What a great city, great venue (Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center), and great event! I learned a lot, connected with lots of nurse managers and executives, and enjoyed my surroundings. I have lots to share with you over my next few blog posts, but I’m especially excited to share the following idea which was presented by one of the attendees and then shared by Sharon Cox, BSN, MSN during the opening session, titled “Nurse Managers: Adding Value in a Time of Volatility.”

During one of the preconference workshops, a discussion about staff recognition had begun, when one attendee (I wish I knew her name to give credit where credit is due) shared a means of recognizing staff members that has had positive results. Rather than recognizing a staff member with a pat on the back or a letter of recognition to be filed, this manager asks the staff member (and I’m paraphrasing here), “I’d like to let someone important to you know what a valuable asset you are to us. To whom could I send your letter of recognition?”  She then wrote a personal note to to the person selected. 

This manager said she’s written to parents, spouses, mentors, and children of her staff members and has gotten positive feedback from all involved. She even met one staff member’s parents at a wedding and was thanked in person for the note she had written about their daughter.  

What a great idea!