Nursing

Ask the expert: Developing principles of recognition and reward

Nurse Leader Weekly, March 22, 2010

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This week, Laura Cook Harrington, RC, RN, MHA, CPHQ, CHCQM, discusses the importance of improving staff recognition and rewards.

Q: I am working on improving how staff members on my unit are recognized and rewarded. What are the key factors I should remember when developing new programs?

A: Recognizing and rewarding employees are integral components of any retention program. Work in healthcare organizations is laborious and stressful, and most nurses choose their career because of an inherent desire to make a difference in people's lives. Recognition of their contributions to quality patient care and peer relations affirms that they are succeeding in making a positive difference.

Consider several principles as you develop recognition and reward programs and activities. There is nothing worse than thinking you have a thoughtful, exciting new way to recognize staff only to realize that your employees did not appreciate the effort at all.

Be genuine in all of your activities, and make recognition personal: You must be sincere and genuine in any recognition or reward action. Staff members quickly realize whether your words or actions are appropriate for the occasion.

Award recognition and rewards fairly and equitably: A cardinal rule of healthcare is "do no harm," and the same holds true for recognition and rewards. Your goal is to demonstrate appreciation for a job well done, but you do not want to alienate certain groups of employees.

Ask staff how they would like to be recognized: You might form a Recognition and Reward Task Force to survey or hold a brainstorming session to determine ways staff members prefer to be recognized.

To read additional ways to help recognize and reward employees, click here.

Editor’s note: Do you have a question for our experts? E-mail your queries to Editorial Assistant Sarah Kearns at skearns@hcpro.com and see your name in print next week! In the meantime, head over to our Web site and view a growing collection of advice from our experts.



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