Senior leaders, including DNP-educated RNs, are responsible for developing a workplace culture that encourages and fosters trust and joy on the job, the white paper said. In their position, they must ensure physical and psychological safety and set the vision for the changes that need to occur.
“Senior leaders are responsible for articulating the organization’s purpose, providing a clear line of sight from the work of each person to the mission of the organization, and ensuring meaning and purpose in work. They also ensure fair, equitable systems that embody the fundamental human needs that drive joy in work,” white paper authors stated.
In addition, American Nurse Today, the American Nurses Association (ANA) official publication, said several strategies for happiness can increase workplace satisfaction:
Encourage mindfulness
Instead of thinking about the next patient, take a moment to slow down and focus on the task at hand. By using meditation, nurses can focus their minds and increase happiness.
Consider Physical Health
Encourage nurses to eat right and exercise regularly to promote positive moods and increased long-term happiness.
Foster Spirituality
Studies show that people who have religious or spiritual beliefs are happier than those who do not. Satisfaction increases acts of empathy and compassion.
Recommend Social Connections
Allowing employees to maintain a stable work-life balance provides an added level of satisfaction in the workplace.
In addition, The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, a Wisconsin-based non-profit, suggested healthcare leaders build a workplace culture that encourages free speech and teamwork. In its whitepaper, “A Gold Bond to Restore Joy to Nursing: A Collaborative Exchange of Ideas to Address Burnout,” the foundation said nurse workplace dissatisfaction should be reframed as a patient safety issue because it can lead to patient and employee injuries.
“Interpersonal relationships and a supportive team can be the biggest sources of joy in a workplace. Success is easily measured: Those departments that are succeeding have a waiting list of people who want to work there, and their patients have better outcomes and report higher satisfaction with their health care experience,” the authors of the whitepaper stated.
For nurses who earn a DNP, including through an online DNP program, learning about leadership skills to improve workplace satisfaction is essential to the future of healthcare. At Duquesne University, RNs seeking a DNP learn vital skills for leadership and staff satisfaction. DNP candidates must complete a leadership project that focuses on the challenges and solutions in healthcare today.