Prevent it!
The ultimate solution is to prevent toxic culture from happening in the first place. Include in nursing curriculum methods to address, manage and prevent students from “assume(ing) the role of victim or perpetrator simply because they have not been exposed to appropriate information and interventions” (Martin & Stanley, 2011 p. 8). Prevention is the cure!
Involve the Team
Yet what can be done if the culture is set? According to Martin and Stanley (2011), “Changing the culture of a workplace has to involve the whole health care team” (p. 8). Application of Kanter's Theory of Organizational Power that exploit the strengths both formal and informal leaders (Reinholz & Cash, 2009) have and provide these leaders with the tools necessary to manage conflict, communication and counselling (Stanley, 2010) will allow for the start of a solid foundational change.
At an Organizational Level...
According to Alspach (2007),
-Organizations must adopt a zero tolerance policy with guidelines for reporting, enforcement and progress measurement.
-Encourage prompt reporting in a safe environment to prevent fear of reprisals.
-Facilitate skill development in abuse prevention and reporting.
-Provide action for both perpetrators (discipline) and victims (counselling) and develop mechanism for analysis and follow up prevention.
-Develop a multidisciplinary reporting, tracking, analysis and follow up of reported incidents.
-Organizations must adopt a zero tolerance policy with guidelines for reporting, enforcement and progress measurement.
-Encourage prompt reporting in a safe environment to prevent fear of reprisals.
-Facilitate skill development in abuse prevention and reporting.
-Provide action for both perpetrators (discipline) and victims (counselling) and develop mechanism for analysis and follow up prevention.
-Develop a multidisciplinary reporting, tracking, analysis and follow up of reported incidents.
And On a Personal Level Nurses must:
-Communicate respectfully, honestly and openly.
-Hold self and others accountable for unacceptable behaviour.
-Inquire how your workplace deals with these issues
-Raise your own self-awareness, keep a journal
-Manage stress in an effective and healthy manner
-Demonstrate care and compassion for co workers
-Reach out to those that are struggling
-Compliment rather than complain
-Cultivate a team spirit
-Hold self and others accountable for unacceptable behaviour.
-Inquire how your workplace deals with these issues
-Raise your own self-awareness, keep a journal
-Manage stress in an effective and healthy manner
-Demonstrate care and compassion for co workers
-Reach out to those that are struggling
-Compliment rather than complain
-Cultivate a team spirit
When Confronted Nurses strategies should include:
-Address the perpetrator immediately, as they may not be aware that their actions are hurtful.
-Employ conflict management strategies such as saying
-“I feel ... when you ...”
-Repeat your reply if the other person makes excuses, denies, or dismisses the incident.
If no positive result occurs, keep records of incidents and communicate these to your
supervisor.
-Break the silence by addressing issues at staff meetings.
(Alspach, 2007, p. 14)
-Employ conflict management strategies such as saying
-“I feel ... when you ...”
-Repeat your reply if the other person makes excuses, denies, or dismisses the incident.
If no positive result occurs, keep records of incidents and communicate these to your
supervisor.
-Break the silence by addressing issues at staff meetings.
(Alspach, 2007, p. 14)
