8 Ways to Support Your Staff

Prioritizing staff well-being and supporting them through difficult situations like today’s staffing crisis are key to improving morale and enhancing resilience. Here are a few ways facilities can help reduce stress, prevent burnout:

1.

Offer confidential mental health screening programs. These online tools can help your staff understand their results and get links to education and resources

2.

Conduct regular check-ins with staff to see how they’re feeling. Managers and supervisors should monitor nurses’ moods and offer support when necessary.

3.

Ensure sufficient time for breaks and rest between shifts. For example, don’t schedule shifts longer than 12 hours and make sure nurses have undisturbed break time in a comfortable break room.

4.

Provide access to resources like online therapists or support groups. Having opportunities to talk about their feelings can help them cope.

5.

Use the buddy system. Have staff members team up with a coworker to provide support and monitor their stress.

6.

Remind staff about benefits that may be available to them like EAPs or wellness programs.

7.

Recognize efforts and accomplishments, even small ones.

8.

Solicit staff feedback on how you can better support their needs

While employees must take the initiative, there are ways facilities can encourage the practice of self-care. Providing a quiet space for employees to practice yoga or meditation and a safe outdoor space for walks make it easier to engage in these activities. Simple things like celebrating birthdays, offering genuine compliments, or remembering to smile, can help build a supportive culture that encourages workplace relationships. And, of course, it’s important to lead by example and encourage employees to practice self-care by modeling these behaviors yourself.

Helping Staff Help Themselves

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