Abstract
In healthcare, nurse leaders wear multiple hats and neglect to prioritize self-care for themselves and others. As the nurse leader role evolves, it's necessary to integrate additional leadership and management responsibilities. Last year, Cook County Health (CCH)Stroger Medical-Surgical nurse managers expressed concerns regarding leading others and managing unit operations. Furthermore, it has become increasingly difficult for nurse managers to survive challenges, strive to meet performance goals, and thrive in the workplace.
March 2023 through October 2023, nurse leaders participated in a leadership program – the CCH Nursing Leadership Academy (NLA). During the NLA culmination process, nurse managers requested additional leadership development initiatives to thrive in the workplace.This project identifies program gaps and provides additional recommendations to eliminate performance gaps and sustain a healthy work environment.
In August 2023, an online survey was administered to nurse unit managers to determine additional performance challenges and identify leadership skills that were not addressed or sufficiently addressed in NLA.
The survey revealed nurse managers need to:
Improve time management skills to survive challenges
Identify and utilize resources to strive to meet goals
Implement strategies to thrive
November 2023, development initiatives and performance improvement initiatives were identified to supplement the NLA program and create the foundation for nurse managers and staff to survive, strive, and thrive in the workplace. January 2024 – July 2024, examples of initiatives:
- iRounding Support to survive
- Press Ganey Reports to strive
- Work at Home to thrive
In August 2024, nurse managers received another online survey to determine which skills were listed as skill or performance gaps. The 2024 survey reveals the need to continue and increase initiatives that keep managers and their staff thriving in the workplace (e.g., Work at Home and Wellness Lounge). However, additional resources are needed to help managers survive challenges and strive to meet goals (e.g., managing competing priorities and predictive rounding).
The survey reveals the need to regularly survey leaders and identify ways to help them thrive. Annually, administering online needs assessment surveys will help the Nursing Administration team identify and obtain leadership development opportunities to address nurse managers’ needs.
Notes
References:
Chunta, K. S. (2020). New Nurse Leaders: Creating a Work-life Balance and Finding Joy in Work. Journal of Radiology Nursing; 39 (2): 86-88.
Frangieh, J., Hughes, V., Mewborn, E. (2023). Nurse Leaders Thriving: A Conceptual model and strategies for application, Nursing Management; 54(10): 18-26.
Quitmeyer, H. (2024). Creating Healthy Work Environment in Healthcare: Essential for Staff and Patient Well-being, Journal of Intensive and Critical Care Nursing; 7 (3): 207.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Continuing Education, Faculty Development, Professional Well-Being
Recommended Citation
Williams, Karen Jordan and Paladines, Graciela, "Developing Nurse Leaders to Thrive by Leading and Sustaining a Healthy Workplace" (2025). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 126.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2025/presentations_2025/126
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Developing Nurse Leaders to Thrive by Leading and Sustaining a Healthy Workplace
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
In healthcare, nurse leaders wear multiple hats and neglect to prioritize self-care for themselves and others. As the nurse leader role evolves, it's necessary to integrate additional leadership and management responsibilities. Last year, Cook County Health (CCH)Stroger Medical-Surgical nurse managers expressed concerns regarding leading others and managing unit operations. Furthermore, it has become increasingly difficult for nurse managers to survive challenges, strive to meet performance goals, and thrive in the workplace.
March 2023 through October 2023, nurse leaders participated in a leadership program – the CCH Nursing Leadership Academy (NLA). During the NLA culmination process, nurse managers requested additional leadership development initiatives to thrive in the workplace.This project identifies program gaps and provides additional recommendations to eliminate performance gaps and sustain a healthy work environment.
In August 2023, an online survey was administered to nurse unit managers to determine additional performance challenges and identify leadership skills that were not addressed or sufficiently addressed in NLA.
The survey revealed nurse managers need to:
Improve time management skills to survive challenges
Identify and utilize resources to strive to meet goals
Implement strategies to thrive
November 2023, development initiatives and performance improvement initiatives were identified to supplement the NLA program and create the foundation for nurse managers and staff to survive, strive, and thrive in the workplace. January 2024 – July 2024, examples of initiatives:
- iRounding Support to survive
- Press Ganey Reports to strive
- Work at Home to thrive
In August 2024, nurse managers received another online survey to determine which skills were listed as skill or performance gaps. The 2024 survey reveals the need to continue and increase initiatives that keep managers and their staff thriving in the workplace (e.g., Work at Home and Wellness Lounge). However, additional resources are needed to help managers survive challenges and strive to meet goals (e.g., managing competing priorities and predictive rounding).
The survey reveals the need to regularly survey leaders and identify ways to help them thrive. Annually, administering online needs assessment surveys will help the Nursing Administration team identify and obtain leadership development opportunities to address nurse managers’ needs.
Description
What's needed to: