Implementation of Unit Council in the Anesthesia Department
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Jennifer K. Whaley (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Angela Kabbe
Abstract: Background: Local Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) reported a decrease in team morale and job satisfaction over a 12-month period. Job Satisfaction can affect retention, quality of care, and healthcare costs. Unit council forums have been noted to help address management, practice, quality, and research issues in nursing. There is, however, no literature regarding the use of unit councils in anesthesia departments. Purpose: To implement a unit council (UC) in the anesthesia department of a 600-bed level 3 trauma center and assess the impact on Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) perception of work climate and job satisfaction over a 6-month period. Methods: Pre-intervention and post-intervention, the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Occupational Climate Questionnaire (CRNA-OCQ) survey was used to assess changes in job satisfaction and work perceptions after six months of the UC intervention. Direct focus was placed on the lowest ranking pre-intervention subscale, CRNA-Administration Relations, to address top concerns voiced by UC members. Results: After unit council implementation, all subscales of the CRNA-OCQ showed improvement except for one, CRNA-Physician Relations, which remained stable. One subscale, CRNA-Administration Relations, showed statistically significant positive change. Job satisfaction amongst CRNAs increased but was not statistically significant. Recommendations and Conclusion: While unit council implementation in anesthesia departments can improve how CRNAs perceive their work environment, the amount of time required to produce significant results needs to be studied. When direct focus is placed on efforts to address certain areas of CRNA work, such as CRNA-administration relations in this project, positive outcomes can be seen. Using this information can help direct future initiatives to improve CRNA work environments, overall job satisfaction, and ultimately, patient care.
Implementation of Unit Council in the Anesthesia Department
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Created on 2/10/2023
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2022
- Keywords
- Shared Governance, Unit Council Implementation, Anesthesia, Nurse Anesthesia, Nursing, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, APRN, Job Satisfaction