Healthcare Management - Staff Morale Problems - Essay Example

            Without question, there are a plethora of organizations that suffer from staff morale problems for any number of different reasons. In general terms, it could be argued that workplace morale is the condition resulting from certain inadequate or inappropriate workplace behaviors. According to research by Cameron et al. (2009), it is the case that in the Nursing industry, the condition is strongly correlated with workplace autonomy, the quality of the equipment that is used in the work environment, safety, the work demand placed on workers, stress, workplace safety (Or lack thereof), long term career prospects, remuneration as well as overall workplace reward (P.617). One could reasonably conclude that a work environment in which these aforementioned conditions exist would likely have a high degree of employee turnover, absenteeism, as well as an elevated threat of disruptive behaviors. The implications of poor staff morale as further argued by Cameron et al. (2009) is that the quality of care for the patients would suffer. (p.616)

            According to Beyea (2004), one of the serious consequences of a healthcare environment in which there is a moral problem is that the condition can be contagious. Even if an individual may actually be considered as having high morale, it could be argued that by simply placing them in a healthcare environment in which employees are unwilling or unable to offer constructive criticisms or suggestions for improving the workplace, it may result in an environment in which all employees are equally unhappy.

            Now that the causes and consequences of staff morale problems in the healthcare industry have been established, the issue of how to resolve these issues must be considered. As there is no single cause for poor morale, unfortunately, there is also no single cure for the situation. According to the Centres for Disease Control (2011) organizations that implement workplace health programs that are designed and implemented with respect to employee needs and interests are known to drastically improve morale within a healthcare workplace. However if an organization wishes to truly find a solution to endemic moral problems, the management team could implement the four-step program as outlined by Meheen (2010). The first stage of improving the morale situation is to allow the healthcare workers to express their complaints which both acts as a means of employees to vent their anger and for management to recognize potential long term systemic problems within the organization. The second step involves offering opportunities for training and development that are both tailored to the current job role and potential future job role of the employees, which would ensure that mutually recognized realistic job expectations are set. The third stage is to offer meaningful rewards for good workers to encourage individuals to achieve their personal goals and to inspire others to achieve their own goals. Finally, management should pay attention to the specific and various talents of the employees that they oversee to help capitalize on future job needs.

            This paper argued that although staff morale problems in the healthcare industry are problematic, there are multiple solutions available. When implemented in a meaningful way, not only do workers perform better but the quality of healthcare for patients also improves.