At Interstaff, we strive to ensure that every nurse we work with feels supported in their professional and personal journeys. Attending the Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE) conference as a Diamond Sponsor strengthened our commitment to this mission. This event brought together thought leaders, healthcare professionals, and innovators, all with one goal in mind—to create healthier and more supportive work environments for nurses everywhere.
Below, we’ve highlighted the most valuable insights and strategies from the CHWE conference. These takeaways focus on improving well-being, fostering leadership, creating meaningful mentorship opportunities, and helping international nurses transition smoothly into their roles.
Enhancing Nurse Well-Being
Supporting nurses’ mental and emotional health is critical to creating a positive and sustainable work environment. One of the main themes at the CHWE conference was how healthcare organizations are leaning into wellness initiatives to retain nurses. For international nurses, this is particularly important as they often face new challenges tied to clinical practices, cultural adjustment, and family separation.
Here are some actionable ideas we’re exploring to improve nurse well-being:
- “Code Lavender” Programs: These designate safe spaces or support systems for nurses to decompress during or after difficult shifts or emergencies. Options might include an emergency phone line to reach a trained ambassador, partnerships with counseling platforms like Calmerry, or open sharing sessions to process challenging experiences.
- Stress and Burnout Assessments: Implementing stress, anxiety, and resilience surveys can help identify potential challenges early. This allows us to tailor our support services for nurses. These surveys could become a standard part of onboarding and ongoing wellness discussions.
- A Self-Care Menu: Encouraging nurses to select daily self-care practices that resonate with them, such as mindfulness exercises or physical activities, could help ease stress. Reviewing these during wellness meetings would reinforce the importance of self-care and provide opportunities for tailored support.
- Tactile Breathing Stickers: Small, removable tactile tools can serve as calming reminders during work shifts, helping to encourage mindful breathing and focus.
These ideas underline how improving a nurse’s experience goes beyond their workplace. By caring for their overall well-being, we empower them to thrive both personally and professionally.
Building Community and Mentorship
Community plays a major role in helping international nurses feel welcome and supported. Peer networks provide validation and guidance in ways that no training manual can replicate. CHWE emphasized the connection between wellness and community, with speakers discussing how shared spaces for dialogue foster trust, belonging, and collaboration.
Actionable Steps to Strengthen Community
- Peer Mentorship Programs: Regular meetings, newsletters, and group activities tailored specifically for mentors and mentees create opportunities to connect. Quarterly gatherings for mentees, free from managerial oversight, provide a safe space to share experiences and learn from one another.
- Transition-to-Practice Cohorts: This model, popular for new nurses, creates a supportive environment for skill-building and emotional support. By grouping nurses based on visa categories, we can better customize training and community-building efforts. Cohorts not only improve clinical confidence but also generate a sense of camaraderie.
- Facilitating Honest Feedback Loops: Nurses often benefit from structured opportunities to share challenges and successes. Creating spaces where leaders gather feedback directly from their peers allows for more transparent communication and valuable problem-solving.
Recognizing Excellence
Recognition plays a pivotal role in fostering belonging. Small gestures, like sharing stories of nurses’ achievements or nominations for awards like the DAISY Award, can go a long way. Real-time recognition not only celebrates success but inspires continued growth in the community.
Supporting Leadership and Cultural Integration
Creating a strong foundation for leadership development was another critical theme at CHWE. Nurses from diverse cultural and generational backgrounds often bring unique perspectives to their roles. Their insights are valuable, and finding ways to nurture these future leaders ensures sustained success for nursing teams.
Leadership-Focused Takeaways
- Short-Term Committees and Projects: Short-term initiatives around specific goals, such as improving well-being or championing cultural diversity, can encourage engagement. These projects give nurses a taste of leadership without a long-term time commitment, which can be especially appealing for younger nurses.
- Adapting Leadership Styles: Engaging younger nurses (such as F-1 visa nurses) in leadership pathways may require adjusting communication strategies to better resonate with their preferences and motivations. For example, emphasizing mentorship and hands-on collaboration could encourage participation.
- The TIME Model for Problem-Solving: Teaching nurses the TIME framework (Platform, Initiative, Means, Energy) empowers them to tackle workplace challenges with a focus on solutions instead of emotions. By adopting models like TIME as part of our training programs, we can help nurses feel more confident and effective in resolving concerns.
Smooth Cultural Transitions
Adjusting to U.S. healthcare practices can be overwhelming. CHWE emphasized extending onboarding programs to help international nurses develop clinical and cultural skills. Structured clinical mentorship, cultural competency training, and targeted education (like EKG enhancements) can build confidence in areas where nurses may feel less prepared.
One notable innovation discussed was a mobile app piloted for preceptors, aimed at improving mentorship in high-pressure departments like emergency rooms. This program could directly benefit internationally educated nurses by providing tailored guidance as they adapt to U.S. clinical environments.
Fostering Diversity Through Inclusion
Many CHWE presentations highlighted the value of inclusive practices in nurturing a healthy workplace culture. Honoring the unique experiences of international nurses isn’t just a courtesy; it’s a necessity for building strong, diverse teams.
- Unity Days: Hosting cultural integration events, such as a “Unity and Kindness Day,” could celebrate diversity among nurses and align with broader facility goals.
- Inclusive Learning Frameworks: Providing diversity, equity, and inclusion training for client facilities supports international nurses while fostering an atmosphere in which all team members feel valued.
Final Thoughts
At Interstaff, we remain committed to creating an enriching experience for every nurse. The CHWE conference was a powerful reminder that building healthier work environments requires a multifaceted approach, focusing on wellness, community, leadership, and cultural integration.
By learning from innovative programs and adapting these strategies, we aim to continue improving the support we offer to our international nurses. Your challenges, growth, and well-being are at the heart of everything we do.
Are you ready to take the next step in your nursing career with a team that truly values you? Apply with Interstaff today!
