When it comes to securing a healthy, sustainable job for yourself as a nurse, you need to be able to recognize what a positive nursing work environment looks like first.
There are key signs to look out for when you’re searching for a new job, or even at your current work place.
Far too many times, nurses become complacent and think the toxic energy and poor management is normal. They become stuck in this bubble and don’t realize how much better it can be out there. Then burnout hits, and everything just feels so much harder.
I am going to share with you examples of a healthy work environment so you can make sure that you are at the right place!
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The job pool for nurses is vast. I could sit here all day counting each of the different nursing roles and environments to work in. This is SUCH a great thing!
With so many options, you can rest assured that you will always find something right for you.
When a toxic workplace clouds your perspective and leaves you hopeless at times, use this post to show you the light. A positive nursing environment does exist!
Key Signs Of A Positive Nursing Work Environment
As mentioned before, there are numerous types of nursing roles and work environments. These key signs are general and can be applied to any work area.
Remember that if your workplace doesn’t have all of the following, that’s okay! It’s not easy finding that perfect work environment. Every place has its flaws, but it’s about what the team does about it that matters most.
You can use these signs as a checklist to mentally go through as you read along. Ask yourself if your workplace has the things I’m mentioning. If it barely has any of them, you may want to reconsider where you work!
1. Open Door Policy With Management
Management should excude an open-door policy. Your manager should be approachable and easy to talk to…about nearly anything.
Sure there may be some jitters or hesitation to ask any manager for certain things, but overall you should feel confident and comfortable.
An open door policy simply means management is open to an employee’s questions, complaints, suggestions, and challenges.
As a nurse, you should feel invited to voice any concerns or struggles you are facing.
Also, if your manager ever said “there is no such thing as a stupid question”, he/she gets an A+ in my book! Feeling dumb sometimes as a nurse is normal, so this is always reassuring.
2. Supportive Colleagues
A positive nursing environment should have supportive colleagues. That means people who are willing to help or be a listening ear.
You are at your job the majority of the week, so you want to like the people you work with, and vice versa!
If you get lucky and work with a great group of colleagues who are supportive and helpful, then you’re in a great spot!
3. Pro-Taking Lunch Breaks
Your work culture should support and normalize taking lunch breaks. A positive nursing environment really understands that taking your obligated breaks are not only required but crucial to do your job well.
There are far too many nursing environments where taking breaks seems impossible so people just don’t take them. Over time, this becomes a culture, and then taking a break becomes abnormal.
This happens after a continuous lack of support from management, improper staffing, and a lack of awareness of nurses’ well-being.
4. Realistic Management
A healthy work environment will have realistic management- meaning they know you’re a human, not a robot.
Time and time again, nurses are expected to do too many things at once, which is not a proper way to work. Sure, multitasking is necessary for nursing, but not to meet unrealistic expectations.
Your manager should set realistic expectations for you and assist you when some are hard to meet. It shouldn’t be a “demand and you shall receive situation”.
5. Meaningful Recognition
It shouldn’t just be a nice thing for your hard work to get recognized, it should be a necessity. It shows that your workplace cares about you, recognizes the value you bring to the table, and that you are not “just another employee” lost in the mix.
With nurses, this feeling can be quite common. In larger work environments, such as hospitals, there could be 15-20 nurses on your floor.
However, despite how many employees are on your team, you are still an individual, and that should never be forgotten.
A positive nursing work environment will show meaningful recognition to strong employees.
6. Real Collaboration
As a nurse in a leadership position, my goal is to always practice a leadership style that includes collaboration.
When you lead people, you have to know their pain points, areas of struggle, and thought processes behind things. Only then can you lead well and have people listen.
If your workplace asks you for suggestions, shows genuine interest in your opinions, and converses with you more than dictates, then this is a healthy work environment!
7. Frequent Communication
You know how they always say that communication is key to have a strong relationship with your partner?
Believe it or not, that same tip also applies to a positive nursing environment. I can’t tell you how many times I have wished people shared more things about what was going on in the workplace.
Frequent communication is integral in helping you stay informed and up to speed. Your team and your manager should be in frequent communication with you when there are new changes, new hires, new ideas, etc.
Final Thoughts…
These thoughts and opinions are a product of working in 5 different nursing environments throughout my career so far.
Having worked in hospitals, outpatient centers, community health, and clinics, I can still say all of the above are applicable to each environment.
Listen, if you feel like your work environment doesn’t include a LOT of the things I’ve mentioned, that is your sign to pivot! If you need help understanding where your next move should be, take my quiz below to help you out.
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You can also read about these non-bedside nursing jobs for a happier, healthier life.
Related Articles:
What RNs Can Do For Better Work-Life Balance
How To Stop Bringing Work Stress Home As A Nurse
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