Kindness is key in a senior living community like Village Manor and it’s more far-reaching than many people realize. Some would say it is the glue that keeps healthcare management effective, support staff responsive and nursing staff attune to intense patient situations. A kind staff is willing to go the extra mile when needed to improve resident morale and outcomes, while bringing dignity and hope to the lives of seniors. Their focus on kind care then spills over positively into family relationships. Relatives and friends often express their appreciation to staff and management as they can see and feel the difference in Village Manor’s approach to care through kindness.
Four reasons why kindness is so important in senior care, especially in nursing practice.
1. Residents are more comfortable. Kind nursing care brings residents comfort when they are ill or suffering from distress. The simplest acts of kindness can make residents feel more comfortable, making it easier to rest and recover, especially in short-term rehab.
2. Kindness in nursing practices improves resident outcomes. Kindness in nursing can ease a patient mentally and emotionally, which helps them heal and improves overall health outcomes.
3. Kindness in nursing affects interprofessional relationships. Nursing is a rewarding profession, but it can also be stressful. Nurses who take the time to exercise acts of kindness toward residents, co-workers, and peers often experience less stress and have better work relationships.
4. Kind nursing helps strengthen nurse-resident relationships. Residents experiencing illness, injuries, or disease, and their loved ones, often feel anxious and afraid. Nurses who demonstrate kindness in their care are instrumental in strengthening the bond between nurses and residents, which can improve outcomes.
Seven ways to promote kindness at work
Here are a few ideas Village Manor strives toward every day to bring kindness to the workplace:
Greet Your Co-workers Every Day. Saying hello to a co-worker by name at the beginning of each shift can make them feel valued – and everyone wants to feel seen. Take a couple of seconds for a genuine smile and say hi to your co-workers throughout the day. Greet them by name. You’ll find these greetings add up to benefit you, too.
Recognize Someone’s Effort With a Compliment. You know how it feels when someone acknowledges your hard work. To cultivate an environment of kindness at work, start a trend. Offer someone a compliment that comes from the heart at least once each shift. It only takes a moment, and you never know the lasting effect it could have on their self-esteem.
Take Advantage of Available Workplace Wellness Activities. If your workplace offers activities, events, or benefits that improve your mental and physical wellness, check them out. Encourage your co-workers to join you. For example, ask a co-worker to come with you to the weekly exercise class provided by your employer, or the peer support group offered for nurses.
Avoid Venting Sessions. While occasional venting might help you feel closer to your colleagues and cope with stressful work situations, constant complaining turns any environment into a negative one. Be mindful of how these conversations affect your morale and consider avoiding or removing yourself from such discussions.
Have Your Co-Workers’ Backs. Helping others boosts happiness hormones like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin, says Psychology Today. Whether you defend someone who’s being bullied, back up a co-worker in a difficult situation, or help a colleague with an arduous task, you’re making someone else – and yourself – feel good. And if you have their backs, they’re more likely to have yours in times of need.
Participate in Group Events. If opportunities to boost team morale come up, participate when you can. Morale is crucial not just for nurse well-being, but for the success of the entire unit. Celebrate wins as a team when you can!
Pay It Forward. Set an example by bringing kindness to the workplace each day. Leave an appreciation note on a co-worker’s car or a thank-you sticky note at their workstation. One simple act of kindness like this can create a chain reaction, spreading through the workplace.
The nursing team at Village Manor is always striving to make the workplace and resident care the very best possible. Visit Village Manor’s career page at www.LiveAtVillageManor.com to see and feel the difference in every department – administration, resident activities, housekeeping, food service and chaplaincy – you’ll be glad you did!
-submitted by Village Manor
