Enhancing Effective Communication & Collaboration in Nursing Chapters

1. AACN Key Initiative: Healthy Work Environment (HWE) Pam Madrid, Chapter Adviser Region 13 Marcia Kummer, Chapter Adviser Region 16 April 2010 Reviewed 9/2012

2. Objectives • Review elements included in Healthy Work Environment standards. • Discuss HWE best practices and gaps within your chapters. • Increase comfort with HWE standards to enable you to make changes in chapter and workplace environments. Reviewed 9/2012

3. AACN Healthy Work Environment (HWE) • 2001: AACN commits to the ideal of Healthy Work Environment. • 2005: Standards are complete and published. Reviewed 9/2012

4. AACN Healthy WorkEnvironment Standards • Skilled communication • True collaboration • Effective decision-making • Appropriate staffing • Meaningful recognition • Authentic leadership Reviewed 9/2012

5. Skilled Communication • Standard: Nurses must be as proficient in communication skills as they are in clinical skills. • Transfer of information from one to another • More than one-way delivery of information Reviewed 9/2012

6. Skilled Communication • Use first party communication–avoid triangulating. • Talk directly with the person with whom you have an issue rather than discuss it with anyone else. • If someone attempts to get you involved in a triangular discussion, recommend first-party communication to them. • Communication is verbal and non-verbal. • Verbal: e mail, voice mail, videoconference, phone, face-to-face • Non-verbal: body language, facial expressions, silence Reviewed 9/2012

7. Skilled Communication • Communication is: • 55% body language • 38% tone of voice • 7% content • When these elements of communication do not align, body language and tone will be believed over content . • Consider how technology affects these elements of communication.

8. Skilled Communication in Chapters • Consensuson how to communicate • Use of technology • Within Board • With general membership • Parliamentary procedure vs. informal • How to assure all voices are heard • Written policies, strategic plan and budget Reviewed 9/2012

9. SkilledCommunicationin Chapters • What are some examples of best practices in skilled communication within your chapters? • What are some gaps in skilled communication within your chapters? Reviewed 9/2012

10. True Collaboration • Standard: Nurses must be relentless in pursuing and fostering true collaboration. • It is a process, not an event. • Requires: skilled communication, trust, knowledge, shared responsibility, mutual respect, optimism and coordination. • Everyone must embrace and invest in collaboration to ensure sustained culture. Reviewed 9/2012

11. True Collaboration in Chapters • Assignments, reports and projects are completed on time. • All views are presented during the meeting (not after). • Members contribute to the common goal. • Disputes are resolved as they occur. Reviewed 9/2012

12. True Collaboration in Chapters • What are some examples of best practices in true collaboration within your chapters? • What are some of the gaps in true collaboration within your chapter? Reviewed 9/2012

13. EffectiveDecision-Making • Standard: Nurses must be valued and committed partners in making policy, directing and evaluating clinical care and leading organizational operations. • Articulates values; uses them in decision-making. • Ensures respect for all individuals; incorporates key perspectives. • Designs clear accountabilities. Reviewed 9/2012

14. EffectiveDecision-Making http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_07.htm Decision-making using Six Thinking Hats • Each "Thinking Hat" is a different style of thinking. • Looks at the decision “wearing” each of the thinking hats. • Defuses disagreements that happen when people with different thinking styles discuss the same problem. • Actively pursues other decision options. Reviewed 9/2012

15. Effective Decision-Making http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_07.htm Six Hats: Perspectives White Hat: • Focus on available data; analyze past trends. • Look for gaps in knowledge. Red Hat: • Use intuition, gut reaction and emotion. • Think of how others will view the decision. Yellow Hat: • Embrace optimistic view point. • Look for benefits and value. • Identify opportunities that arise from decision. Reviewed 9/2012

16. Six Hats: Perspective • Black Hat: • Look for why ideas/approaches won’t work. • Use pessimism, caution and defensiveness. • Highlights weak points of the decision which allows for development of more resilient plan. • Green Hat: • Think of creative solutions. • Freewheeling of thinking without critical analysis. • Blue Hat (process control): • Worn by facilitator of a meeting. • Directs which colored hat to “think from.”

17. Effective Decision-Makingin Chapters • Determine how you will make decisions. • Consensus – takes time, but is best • Majority • Authoritarian • Decisions should promote the mission and vision of the chapter. • Use strategic plan, budget and policies as a reference. Reviewed 9/2012

18. Effective Decision-Makingin Chapters • What are some examples of best practices in effective decision-making within your chapters? • What are some of the gaps in effective decision-making within your chapters? Reviewed 9/2012

19. Appropriate Staffing • Standard: Staffing must ensure the effective match between patient needs and nurse competencies. • Complex process • Ongoing evaluation of staffing decisions • Might require innovative thinking to ensure competence matches need • Use of support services Reviewed 9/2012

20. Appropriate Staffing in Chapters • Succession planning. • Assure good matches (ability with duties). • Committees should support chapter mission. • Mentor a replacement; limit terms. • Offer smaller or short-term projects. Reviewed 9/2012

21. Appropriate Staffing • What are some examples of best practices for appropriate staffing within your chapters? • What are some of the gaps in appropriate staffing within your chapters? Reviewed 9/2012

22. Meaningful Recognition • Standard: Nurses must be recognized and must recognize others for the value each brings to the work of the organization. • Fundamental human need. • Everyone needs to play an active role. • System in place ensures ongoing recognition. Reviewed 9/2012

23. Meaningful Recognitionin Chapters • Board or committee members • NTI or educational scholarships • Free membership – national and local • Newly certified members • National office cannot notify chapters due to privacy regulations • Individual chapters need to find a method Reviewed 9/2012

24. Meaningful Recognitionin Chapters • What are some examples of best practices in meaningful recognition within your chapters? • What are some of the gaps in meaningful recognition within your chapters? Reviewed 9/2012

25. Authentic Leadership • Standard: Nurse leaders must fully embrace the imperative of a healthy work environment, authentically live it and engage others in its achievement. • Model and support skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision-making and meaningful recognition. • Mentoring. Reviewed 9/2012

26. Authentic Leadershipin Chapters • Translate the vision of a healthy work environment to meetings. • Excel at generating enthusiasm of members. • Engage others in the vision and goals of the chapter. • Provide a good transition for new Board members. Reviewed 9/2012

27. Authentic Leadership • What are some examples of best practices in authentic leadership within your chapters? • What are some of the gaps in authentic leadership within your chapters? Reviewed 9/2012

28. Resources - www.aacn.org Reviewed 9/2012

29. Resources - HWE Akfj Reviewed 9/2012

30. Resources – bottom of page Reviewed 9/2012

31. Resources Akfj Reviewed 9/2012

32. Resources • Website • www.aacn.org • HWE Assessment Tool • http//www.hweteamtool.org/main/index • Video - 11 minutes • Access on HWE page • Your Chapter Adviser • AACN Chapter Specialist Reviewed 9/2012