In the Editorial, When Your Work Conditions Are Sicker Than Your Patients (June 2005:11–12, 14), Dr Alspach asks if we will take the hand offered by the Healthy Work Environment Standards to pull ourselves out of “quicksand environments.” As a nursing educator, I see another question: Will we teach students the skills needed to prevent unhealthy work environments? Education is the first necessary critical element for achievement of 4 of the standards. It seems essential that nursing students learn communication, collaboration, decision making, and leadership skills as surely as they learn aseptic technique. Educators must ensure that we teach, role model, and provide adequate opportunity to practice these fundamental skills. If all educators will do our part, new nurses will enter the workplace expecting healthy work environments and have the tools necessary to support this environment.

We in nursing have long been accused of “eating our young.” At no time...

You do not currently have access to this content.