Workforce, specifically workplace violence, emotional health, and well-being continue to be top issues faced by nursing leaders every day.1 These were also the common themes I heard recently from nurses at the 2023 International Council of Nurses Congress in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Through the isolation of the past few years, it was sobering to learn the United States is not alone in dealing with this workforce crisis. As we look at healthcare globally, we share more common challenges than differences. Although our health systems and payment models vary from country to country, we are united in our workforce struggles.
Simon Sinek, keynote speaker, highlighted the importance of leadership in healthcare and taking care of the people you lead. As the professional association for nurse leaders who specialize in leading patient care across the continuum, the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) is the voice of nursing leadership. Sinek's sage words validated our organization's work. Through education, advocacy, and connecting our members, we are supporting nurse leaders as they transform care delivery and protect the health of communities.
A qualified, engaged, and diverse workforce is the cornerstone of America's healthcare system. As nurse leaders, it is our job to support them by creating positive practice environments where nurses can grow, thrive, be safe, and stay well. AONL has focused its work on reducing workplace violence; promoting workforce diversity, equity, and belonging; supporting clinician well-being; and promoting innovative care delivery models.
Workplace Violence
Violence against healthcare workers has long been an issue, but it has become extraordinarily worse the last few years. Healthcare workers should never fear for their safety when they are working to save lives. Last fall, AONL and the Emergency Nurses Association updated their guiding principles to mitigate workplace violence and developed a toolkit to create a culture of safety, establish a workplace violence prevention program, and measure impact.2 Harnessing the collective voice of nurse leaders, AONL continues to urge Congress to pass the SAVE (Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees) Act, which would make it a federal crime to assault or intimidate a hospital employee. It will help hospitals secure the technology and training resources they need to better prevent violence and protect their caregivers.
Emotional Health and Well-being
Nurse well-being is crucial not only for the nurses' health, but also because there is a direct correlation between nurse burnout and its effects on the quality of patient care.3 Most nurses chose their profession because they passionately wanted to help people. As part of efforts to successfully recruit, retain, and reinspire their workforces, hospitals and health systems are creating environments that support meaningful work and nurture relationship-building with colleagues, families, and patients. Just as nurses find the most joy spending time with their patients, nurse leaders report being the happiest when recognizing their teams, engaging with employees, and mentoring.1 AONL is working to reduce the regulatory burdens health organizations face so nurses can spend more time with patients and less time on documentation.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
AONL believes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are essential building blocks of a healthy practice environment and is a tenet within the Code of Ethics for Nurses4 and align with the Future of Nursing 2020-20305 recommendation. Last year, AONL released Guiding Principles on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to support nurse leaders in creating environments where all members of the healthcare team feel safe and supported.6 AONL released a toolkit to provide nurse leaders with practical action steps to implement the main pillars of the DEIB guiding principles. The resources include an individual nurse leader assessment tool, a pledge to champion DEIB, and some excellent case studies intended to help nurse leaders guide discussions within their own teams. In addition to our DEIB documents, AONL's Nursing Leadership Workforce Compendium7 and Today in Nursing Leadership podcast8 feature best practices to support and empower nurse leaders in attaining and sustaining environments where nurses want to work and feel like they belong. As the voice of nursing leadership, AONL is a community of nurse leaders who are collectively transforming patient care, supporting the healthcare workforce, advancing the nursing profession, and championing diversity and belonging in our communities.
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