How to Increase the Job Satisfaction Among ICU Nurses

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has identified six standards for creating and maintaining healthy work environments for intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. When these standards are incorporated into the workplace, ICU nurses find increased job satisfaction. According to AACN, each of these standards is essential, and none should be considered optional. An ICU nurse manager can take steps to ensure each standard is reflected in nursing practice within his or her unit.

Instructions

• 1

  Promote skilled communication, and encourage staff to listen respectfully. Hold them accountable for following through on what they've said, and expect a problem-solving focus.

• 2

  Foster true collaboration. Acknowledge and support the authority of nurses. Ensure that they have enough time to resolve any disputes that arise with patients, families and other health-care professionals. Provide education and training in collaboration skills, and encourage open discussions of difficult questions about ethics.

• 3

  Value effective decision-making. Ensure that nurses understand the mission and values of the ICU, and expect them to incorporate these into their decisions. Establish processes for patients and family members to participate in decisions affecting care. Provide the right information and data so nurses have a solid base for decision-making in conjunction with other disciplines.

• 4

  Provide appropriate staffing. Ensure that staffing policies and standards are ethical and that they support components of professional nursing practice in the critical-care setting. Speak up when staffing levels are unsafe. Work within nursing and with outside departments to make sure bedside nurses can focus on their primary goal of excellent patient care. Participate in decisions about new technology to improve patient care and reduce unnecessary paperwork.

• 5

  Provide meaningful recognition. Educate staff about the performance management system used in the ICU, and explain how it rewards nurses who provide value to the organization. Contribute to the development and maintenance of a clinical advancement system that allows excellent nurses to rise within the organization.

• 6

  Demonstrate authentic leadership. Take advantage of educational programs and mentoring opportunities that will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to implement the first five standards. Recognizing that qualities like true collaboration and skilled communication aren't intuitive, hospitals and health systems today offer formal education and mentoring for new nurse managers. Ensure that rising nurse leaders on your unit also have access to these supports.