Issues remain in the work environment that can impede quality of care, safety of patients, and nurses’ job satisfaction and retention.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) began a major national campaign to actively promote and support healthy work environments in 2001.1 Since then, AACN has implemented the Act Boldly Campaign,2 conducted a strategic market research study to identify detailed information about healthy and unhealthy work environments,3 issued forceful position papers on the prevention of workplace violence and on zero tolerance for abusive behaviors,4,5 completed a landmark national critical care survey that described critical care units and their environments,6 and, in January 2005, issued national standards for establishing and sustaining healthy work environments.7 

In 2006, Gannett Healthcare Group (which includes Nursing Spectrum, NurseWeek, and www.Nurse.com), and Bernard Hodes Group (a leader in integrated talent solutions and a division of Omnicom)...

You do not currently have access to this content.