Through The eyes of The Workforce - National Patient Safety ...

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE WORKFORCECreating Joy, Meaning, and Safer Health CarePREFACEAcross the health care workforce, ambiguity of roles, wasteful and non-value-addedwork, lack of teamwork, and an environment of disrespect are robbing people of theexperiences that bring meaning and joy into their working lives. These problems affectthe entirety of the workforce, from a caregiver unduly burdened with non-caregivingwork to an executive dispirited by unnecessary reporting requirements. Without joyand meaning, the workforce cannot perform to its potential. Joy and meaning aregenerative and allow the best to be contributed by each individual, and the teams theycomprise, to the work of safe health care every day.Although many elements are necessary tocreate an environment where everyone finds Workplace safety is inextricably linkedjoy and meaning in their work, an essential to patient safety. Unless caregiverscharacteristic is workplace safety, defined as are given the protection, respect, anda workplace free from risks of both physical support they need, they are more likely toand psychological harm. This requires that allmake errors, fail to follow safe practices,in the workforce accept a collective accountabilityand obligation to create a culture inand not work well in teams.which everyone in the workforce feels safeand respected. The aspiration to relieve suffering, protect human dignity, and improvethe human condition is what makes the health care workforce “tick.” If we expect thehealth care workforce to care for patients, we need to care for the workforce.Workplace safety is also inextricably linked to patient safety. Unless caregivers aregiven the protection, respect, and support they need, they are more likely to makepreface • 1