How to Attract the Right Work Culture in Nursing

Remembering past positions brings a flood of great memories back. I am lucky that I have met and influenced other work cultures in nursing either as a colleague or as a health care provider.

What made these experiences so special are the connections I made with my fellow nurses and other health care colleagues.

To this day, I am still close with nurses I worked with more than 25 years ago. We experienced good times and stressful times, loss and achievements. Yet we always had fun together. We were truly connected. For the patients to whom I provided nursing care, I learned about compassion, respect, skills, intuition, guidance and many other abilities that I took for granted on my journey in healthcare.

I want you to think back over your own health care career and the positions you have had. You may remember good times and experiences that were fulfilling and gave you feelings of recognition and camaraderie. You may think back on people with whom you worked who were supportive, considerate, thoughtful, helpful, and genuinely cared about others within the organization. As part of the team you felt proud knowing that you were contributing to the organizational culture and its mission and vision. You were all in this together. It is the essence of teamwork in nursing. You were all part of the greater purpose in making others’ lives better.

Just as a sports team focuses on working together toward winning, an organization’s culture focuses on the vision and mission by choosing the right people who share the desire to accomplish the mission. This brings to mind a picture of a rowing team whose purpose is to row at a rhythmic pace, all in tune, all at the same time, all for the same goal, all together focusing on the same purpose. The leader or captain of the team needs to inspire others in achieving the dream.

Finding the Right Organization

To be a part of the team, it is important for you to find an organization where your dreams are a match for those of the organization. You may ask how should you do this? You need to ask yourself the important questions to find out if the organization and the position is a match for what you want.

What do you want in a position? Most people will find it easier to use their past experiences to get clear on what they want in a new position.

Let’s say you did not like working 12 hour shifts. Now you can use that information to gain clarity. You can now write down that you want to work 8 hour shifts. Try these steps:

1.Make two columns on a lined piece a paper. On the left side, write all the things that you don’t want in a position, and on the right side, write what you do want. Write as many items down that come to mind. It is important to have at least 20 items listed. You may want to have someone interview you and ask questions to get you to come up with more wants. When we focus on what we want, it gives us clarity and hope for what is possible. This is a way to give you a better picture so you know what you want and recognize it when you hear about a position or read a job description. Now that you have gained clarity on what you want, you need to find the right organizational culture in which to achieve your own mission. How can you do this?


2.It is important to speak to others in the organization. Become a visitor, and ask yourself what kind of feeling did I get being in this atmosphere? Was it warm or inviting? Were people knowledgeable? Did I see smiles and hear laughter? Did I get a caring feeling? Use your intuition and ask questions. How long have people worked there? Why do they like it?Next question to ask is: What fulfills me in a position?


3.Do I want to do direct patient care? Do I want to manage and influence others? Do I want to be a trainer/educator? What is it that brings me great rewards and a feeling that I am fulfilling my purpose? Is it a match with the organization to which I am applying for work? These items may change over time as you gain experience and your needs and desires change.

So, these are good exercises to do when you feel that it is time to move on either within the organization or in another one. Go with the correct match for you, and you will be on the right track.

Trust your feelings when deciding what is the best fit for you. When you and the organization match, and the organizational culture is in tune with your nursing philosophy, you will have achieved your goal.

Nurses Volunteer Even with a Disability

If helping others makes your heart sing, consider volunteering. The possibilities are endless. Volunteer opportunities can provide nurses with connections within an organization and beyond. It can also provide a way to ease your way back into nursing if it has been a while. Take a look at these examples:

■Nurses with disabilities volunteer their time as mentors and speakers Some have been asked to speak at conferences. The experiences have led to additional speaking opportunities and built their confidence in public speaking.


■Connie Adleman, RN is a stroke survivor. She volunteered to write a continuing education program Soon after, she launched her own business called CSA Nursing Seminars.


■Another nurse with a disability volunteers as a parish nurse. Parish nursing typically does not involve "hands on" medical care such as giving medications, dressing changes, or drawing blood. Parish nurses represent many faiths — Christians, Jews and Muslims.


■Beka Serdans, RN, MS is an ICU nurse in New York City who is challenged with dystonia. Her volunteer efforts include creating a nonprofit resource for people with dystonia.


■Susan Fleming, RN, MN teaches nursing in Washington. Susan was born missing her left hand. She volunteers on medical mission trips every year. Trips to South America give Susan the opportunity to serve others and maintain her nursing skills.


■Mobility International supports the participation of people with disabilities in the full range of international volunteer programs .

Volunteer experiences can help you sharpen old skills or learn new ones, and provide recent experience to put on your resume. Your knowledge, expertise and passion are priceless. Volunteer work can renew your spirit and make you fall in love with nursing all over again. For nurses with disabilities, volunteer work can be so much more. It can be their door to continued nursing practice.