When you begin a career in travel nursing, you have to be able to hit the ground running and become a self-starter, but you also need to have a healthy workplace climate that supports you in the end. Nursing is a challenging job that has an increased demand across the U.S. However, workplace climate has a direct role in organization and culture in the healthcare setting.
Studies show the importance of nurse workflow
There’s recent research showing that patient care can be affected by this as well, such as a 2014 study conducted by a research team at Columbia University on nurse practitioner work environment that was published in the Journal of Professional Nursing. The analysts looked at 16 Massachusetts-based NPs. These medical professionals had recently been recognized as primary care providers through state-based legislation and reform efforts, and researchers wanted to see how these changes influenced nurse workflow and patient care.
The study ultimately concluded that these NPs were, at times, not allowed to see patients or implement certain physical assessments. Additionally, researchers discovered that NPs were not given the same level of support or resources compared to doctors. Nurses explained to the analysts that in addition to not having adequate room space, they also felt that their positions were not understood by senior leadership or hospital administrators.
Over the years, there has been a lot of discussion about improving the nurse environment, but there hasn’t been a lot of action to determine whether or not a positive outcome can be reached. Another 2014 study published in Nursing Leadership noted that communication and teamwork are crucial in the healthcare environment, especially when it comes to nursing. Researchers concluded that staffing and scheduling should also be considered, and interventions to evaluate the ways a hospital or practice contributes to nursing development could also be helpful.
‘Nurse invisibility’ and the healthcare environment
Nurse.com states that there has been a growing trend of nurse invisibility, or a lack of awareness about a nurse’s professional development or needs within the medical sector. This is a big concern within the healthcare industry, as nurses often bridge the gap between doctors and patients, and handle a lot of crucial decisions when it comes to patient care in general, especially in primary care practice settings. Hindering nurse support could keep patients from getting timely care, and it could also lead to excessive costs for both provider and patient due to readmissions and duplicate testing.
This shows that as a travel nurse, you need to be able to work independently, but you should also have access to tools within your respective assignment to do your job to the best of your ability. If you feel like the hospital or health system you are working in isn’t providing the right resources or mentoring you need to complete your assignment efficiently, be sure to speak up to senior leadership. Not only is this the right thing to do for your career, but it could also improve the health and well-being of your patients.