The extraordinary contribution I saw made was by our Emergency Department staff during a period of high patient volumes, while simultaneously experiencing a staff shortage and a region wide initiative to prevent Emergency Departments from going on diversion. The ED is a chaotic environment on the best of days, but the staff that work there find a way to power through the trauma and drama daily to provide patients with the care they need.
The Context
The staff involved were numerous and varied each day, but Donna, Pat, Sarah, Emma, Talisa, Andy, and Jake come to mind as members of the team who regularly showed up, prepared to work, and determined to provide great care. During this time, I was a hospital supervisor, and not their direct supervisor. I did, however, spend a decent amount of time in the ED, and often transported their patients to the floor on admission, so they could stay in the ED and provide patient care. Unfortunately, despite the herculean effort that staff were making, their pleas for help often seemed to be disregarded by senior leadership. On one occasion I witnessed a charge nurse discuss with our CNO at the time their struggles and instead of acknowledging the challenges the team faced, told her to ‘Suck it up, Buttercup.’ Unsurprisingly, many of the staff left to practice elsewhere in the subsequent months.
Your Recognition of the Contribution
I admit my attempts to recognize their efforts were limited to my own physical support and presence, as well as the company sponsored appreciation awards that people may submit through our intranet. And though I would openly praise their efforts to them, I never devised any sort of formal celebration of their efforts.
If You Were the Leader – Recognition of The Contribution
If I were the leader of the organization, I would have chosen one of the following methods to recognize the contribution:
One way I could have recognized the contribution would be to publicly praise the efforts of the team members working short-staffed. This approach could have had a significant positive impact on the individuals involved by acknowledging the efforts of staff to their peers. Beyond the individuals, this method could have also benefited the team, department, or organization by highlighting the type of behaviors that reflect the culture desired for the team.
Another way I could have recognized the contribution would be to create a kudos board and post the names of team members who have been noted to work exceptionally well together. This approach could have had a significant positive impact on the individuals involved by creating a public place within the department/hospital to acknowledge the efforts of the team. Beyond the individuals, this method could have also benefited the team, department, or organization by showing how teams can succeed in trying times through effective teamwork.
A final way I could have recognized the contribution would be to purchase small prizes (like specialty coffee mugs, water bottles or funny socks) that could be given to team members in honor of their efforts. This approach could have had a significant positive impact on the individuals involved by offering something they could display or use that identifies them as a good team member and valued contributor. Beyond the individuals, this method could have also benefited the team, department, or organization by trying to keep a sense of fun in the department to boost morale.