CSI Summary
Available only to registered AACN.org users.
Project Topic:
Reducing Sick Hours in the Intensive Care Unit Through Meaningful Recognition
Hospital, City and State:
Los Angeles General Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
Unit:
Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit
CSI Participants:
- Alma Martinez-Salgado, BSN, RN
- Haverj Taimorian, ADN, RN
- Kimberely Suarez, MSN, RN
- Marilou Sanchez, BSN, RN
Project Goals/Objectives:
- Increase Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool (HWEAT) aggregate score from 3.64 to 4
- Increase HWEAT Meaningful Recognition score from 3.64 to 4
- Decrease nursing sick call hours 30% between January and August 2024 compared with January to August 2023
Project Outcomes:
- Increased HWEAT aggregate score results from 3.64 to 4.61
- Increased HWEAT Meaningful Recognition score from 3.64 to 4.0
- Increased all HWEAT standard scores
- Decreased nurses’ sick calls 30%
- These outcomes resulted in a positive estimated annual fiscal impact of $321,408.
Project Overview:
Although the HWEAT Meaningful Recognition score was not our lowest standard, the CSI team decided to focus on this standard because our unit was experiencing high nurse burnout and feelings of being undervalued. We also had a turnover rate that was higher than the national average. In addition, there were a total of 8880 hours of sick calls for the year of 2023.
To improve meaningful recognition in our unit, our CSI team created a monthly award to recognize our nurses. We also began holding monthly teambuilding activities such as going to the beach, karaoke, Sip and Paint, and holding potlucks on the unit. Last, we created a weekly positive affirmation. As a result, all of our HWEAT standard scores increased.
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.