Nurses are some of the most important people in a healthcare facility. A nurse's job is to provide direct patient care, monitor the status of the patients they are caring for, and be on hand whenever someone needs assistance. They almost always have their hands full with multiple tasks, which means it is critical to make sure nurses have a safe and healthy work environment.
Let’s look at five ways to create a safe and healthy work environment for nurses.
Nurses Need Good Air Quality
One way to make a work environment more healthy is to ensure good air quality. This means having clean air and also having the correct levels of humidity. Healthcare facilities need between 50 and 60 percent relative humidity. If the humidity falls below 30 percent, this can cause mold build-up, which isn't healthy for anyone in a healthcare facility - including nurses!
Healthcare facilities with high ceilings often have problems with moisture collecting up near the ceiling because cold water will evaporate slower when it's lower, making the humidity level too low. This causes the air quality to become unhealthy because of bad air circulation, and if you’re in a colder climate, there's an increased risk of freezing pipes due to low temperatures outside.
Create Safety Teams for Your Healthcare Facility
Healthcare facilities often have safety committees with members who are nurses, doctors, medical assistants, and administrators. It's important to make sure these teams meet regularly to discuss issues like air quality in the facility and the best way to solve problems.
Healthcare providers need to be aware of their own safety and the safety of their coworkers and patients. For example, nurses need to be mindful of their surroundings, wear protective wear like goggles if they have a lot of potential hazards around them, and always go home in a safe way after work.
Keep the Work Area Orderly and Uncluttered
Healthcare providers need to have good lighting in their work area, too. If there are lots of boxes or equipment in the way that obstructs their view, they could hurt themselves by running into something when in a hurry.
Healthcare facilities should have safety teams that can help remove unnecessary objects from the workspace so nurses will have better visibility and won't be as likely to trip over things.
Include a well-stocked first aid kit in the work area. Nurses need to have access to medical supplies to treat their patients and also for emergency use if they get hurt themselves!
Healthcare facilities should keep a well-stocked first aid kit in the work area and make sure that employees know where it is in case they need it. Healthcare providers should also have personal safety equipment like protective eyewear, protective footwear, anti-static mats, etc.
Have an Open Door Policy
Healthcare facilities should encourage employees to know that if they have any safety issues or concerns or need help with anything, they can talk about them with management and get support. Unfortunately, healthcare providers often feel like their supervisors won't listen to them, but an open-door policy will prove this isn't the case.
This way, employers can make nurses feel like they can come to them with anything they need help with, and that way, everyone can work together to fix any issues they might have in the workplace.
Offer Wellness Initiatives
Healthcare providers are always on their feet, taking care of one patient after another. It's essential to make sure they take care of themselves, too! Healthcare facilities should offer wellness initiatives like yoga, meditation, spa days, etc., to make sure their employees are healthy and happy!
And, in going above and beyond for nurses, offering nutritional counseling or recommending good books on wellness for them to read in their free time is also a great wellness initiative.
Healthcare providers work very hard - even more than eight hours a day - and they need to take breaks! Healthcare facilities should have a policy in place that requires employees to take a certain number of breaks during their shifts. You can give them a 30-minute lunch break, two 15-minute breaks, etc., so at least part of their workday is spent not working.
Creating a safe and healthy work environment for nurses ensures the healthcare facility runs smoothly. It’s also necessary to help maintain their physical and mental health. If you want to learn more about how your company can create a better workplace for your employees, please reach out, and we would be happy to provide our services!
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