CSI Summary
Available only to registered AACN.org users.
Project Topic:
Increasing unit morale and decreasing RN turnover
Hospital, City and State:
Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Unit:
Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CICU)
CSI Participants:
- Sabrina Edwards, BSN, RN
- Mackenzie Geyer, BSN, RN, CCRN
- Lauren Schoenhofen, BSN, RN, CCRN
Project Goals/Objectives:
- Decrease RN turnover 2%
- Improve the Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool (HWEAT) aggregate score 0.2%
- Improve Maslach Burnout Inventory, Burnout indicator score 20%
Project Outcomes:
- Decreased RN turnover 50%
- Improved HWEAT aggregate score 9.91%
- Improved all 6 HWE standard scores on HWEAT
- Improved burnout indicator score 38% on Maslach Burnout Inventory
- These outcomes produced a potential annual fiscal impact of $385, 899
Project Overview:
Nurses in the CICU are experiencing burnout. The unit has a high mortality rate. Many nurses were leaving the unit and we were experiencing high rates of turnover. Our goal was to decrease burnout by increasing unit morale. Overall, this would decrease RN turnover on the unit. We implemented a project which focused on meaningful recognition of staff, creation of new staff activities and building relationships among staff members.
To start off the project, we released two surveys aimed at assessing staff burnout levels and the work environment. We also created an anonymous survey box for staff members to share ideas on how to improve the unit. We used the survey results and ideas from staff to implement change on the unit. Throughout the project, unit morale increased and staff members started coordinating their own activities outside of the project. Our biggest hit was the Book Club we created which will continue on. At the end of the project, our Healthy Work Environment Assessment aggregate score increased 9.91% and RN turnover decreased 50%.
Permission to Reuse Materials
The materials associated with this AACN Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) Academy project are the property of the participating hospital noted above, not AACN. Requests to use content contained in the CSI team’s summary, presentation or toolkit should be directed to the hospital. We suggest reaching out to the hospital’s Communications, Marketing or Nursing Education department for assistance.
Disclaimer
The AACN CSI Academy program supports change projects based on quality improvement methods. Although CSI teams seek to ensure linkage between their project and clinical/fiscal outcomes, data cannot be solely attributed to the project and are estimations of impact.