Decreasing Turnover and Burnout By Improving Communication

Project Topic:

Decreasing turnover and burnout, improving communication

Hospital, City and State:

Children’s Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska

Unit:

• Cardiac Care Unit (CCU)

CSI Participants:

• Quinn Hattan, BSN, RN
• Hannah Little, BSN, RN
• Jen Zach, BSN, RN, CCRN

Project Goals/Objectives:

1. Increase Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool (HWEAT) scores in True Collaboration from 2.94 to greater than 4
2. 40% of nurses will attend a team building activity
3. Decrease turnover 5%

Project Outcomes:

1. HWEAT True Collaboration score increased to 3.97
2. Turnover was unchanged
3. > 40% of nurses attended team building activity

Project Overview:

The turnover rate in the CCU increased in 2024 and after reviewing HWEAT scores, True Collaboration was 2.94 and scored in needs improvement. In an effort to decrease turnover and improve nurse collaboration, we implemented various team building activities to allow nurses to get to know one another in less stressful environments and away from the unit. Leadership was also invited to these events, knowing collaboration between staff and leadership is essential.

At our project kickoff we announced our project to staff. We then created a calendar of scheduled events to be viewed on the unit. We allowed others to add their own events as well. Our largest event was at our staff meeting. We created a CCU Olympics event with games, snacks, and awards. Other events included a 5K walk to raise awareness for congenital heart disease, holiday party, and events around the community such as drinks at a nearby establishment and book club. We also distributed pins to wear on badge real and red sweatshirts - red representing the CCU.

Our turnover rate remained similar, but the events people attended included connection and contributed to a positive culture. Our HWEAT True Collaboration score increased. In fact, all of our HWEAT aggregate and standard scores increased. We worked alongside our shared nursing governance team who are well established in the CCU to create sustainability in this project.