Values and Vision in Chaotic Times

Abstract

Nursing administrators can be more successful in stabilizing the major labor force in the hospital by ensuring that organizational values are explicitly shared, discussed, and visible to those in the nursing department. Standards and expectations that operationalize the values must be developed and implemented. Methods to measure accomplishment of the standards must be quantifiable and measured on an ongoing basis and staff and management must be held accountable for the standards. Finally, reward and recognition systems must flow from attainment of the standards that operationalize organizational values. If any one of the components of the model is missing, organizational values cannot be actualized, employees will not experience the stabilizing effect of understanding the values that drive the organization's decision-making, and resources will not be used maximally to move the organization toward its vision of quality patient care.