The French tried but couldn't build the Panama Canal. Rain hampered
progress, mudslides buried equipment, and workers got sick and quit
faster than they could be replaced. Then along came John Frank
Stevens. His first priority was to take care of his workers – to
provide them with housing, healthcare, and allow their families to
come to stay with them. His concept paid off. Happy workers = more
production and the completion of a seemingly impossible task.

The French efforts at building the Panama Canal sound like our
efforts in making healthcare work. Employers are demanding more from
their nurses while giving less. Is it no wonder that nurses are
leaving? When there is no clear benefit to working at one
institution, nurses will leave when more pay, better hours, or any
other perk is offered. But there is no end to this. I saw an offer
for up to $10,000 in bonuses and relocation reimbursements from a
hospital seeking nurses recently! Who is going to up the ante next?

Perks may get nurses, but they don't keep nurses. Respect,
professional support, and educational opportunities keep nurses.
Nurses can't get enough of hospitals who sincerely provide these
invaluable resources. The key word here is "sincerely." Lots of
hospitals give lip service to these values, but few provide them.
It's time for a change…

What can you do to show respect, and provide professional support and
education for your nurses? Let's start with respect. Do you
sincerely respect the dedication of your staff? How do you show them
your respect? Start with them as a person: ask for your nurses' help
with projects that require their expertise, inform them of
opportunities for professional growth; and make it easy for them to
pursue them. More importantly show them your passion for nursing.
Bored and burnt-out leaders foster bored and burnt-out followers.

Passion moves mountains. Passion generates enthusiasm. An
enthusiastic group of nurses can accomplish anything. The best
organizations have passionate leaders, but if your leaders are not
passionate, you still can be. Nobody can extinguish your enthusiasm
but yourself. Don't believe the naysayers, nursing is the most noble
and magnificent profession. The opportunities are endless. If you
can't see them, then you only have to open your eyes because they are
there.

What is your passion? How do you pursue it? These are questions
that you need to answer before you can lead from where you are. And
make no mistake about it; you must lead from where you are before you
can lead from anywhere else.

Passion, Energy, Enthusiasm: it's contagious! Your role is to create
an atmosphere where your nurses can be more than they every dreamed
of.

Best wishes,
David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN-BC, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
www.Ed4Nurses.com