Claudine Padillon

NDB 2
Journal Insight

Leadership Strategies to promote frontline nursing staff engagement

Nurse leaders play a critical role in promoting nurse work engagement. They are

a vital link in the chain of services provided to our nations weak and vulnerable

population. Work engagement is contagious and engaged employees go beyond self-

interest and are able to cope with their jobs that can lead to improved service quality

and staff retention.

I learn that engagement is a positive, fulfilling and work-related state of mind

that’s characterized by dedication and absorption. Employee engagement is also

something that is changeable, and can vary widely from one workplace to another.

Leaders created empowering and engaging work environments were more likely to

retain qualified nurses. The following strategies for nurse leaders to promote

engagement for frontline nursing staff such as being visible and accessible, including

learning staff members’ values and needs and advocating them to higher-level

leadership, Practicing open and effective communication which allows nurse leaders to

form credible relationships with frontline staff and Taking a personal interest in staff,

which allows nurse leaders to discover what’s valued by each individual and encourage

him or her to reach personal goals.

The implications of these learnings in the health care delivery system today is

that If leaders don’t look after their teams and respond to their needs, staff motivation
and engagement will quickly get lost and the drop-out-numbers will rise. Since COVID-

19 started to spread there were more patients than the regional healthcare system

could absorb that even healthcare staff are getting ill too. Keeping people healthy,

protecting the staff from infections and from burnout was and still is an essential

leadership task. Leaders need to support and strengthen healthcare workers’ resilience,

taking into account the physical and psychological well-being along with social and

financial elements. The medical staff needs to be involved in decision-making as they

are the frontline workers in response to the pandemics. Communication should be a

continuous process and both ways

Insight:

Leaders have the responsibility, not only to promote education and enhance

communication with their teams, but also to support them personally. Organizing

learning opportunities, creating communication channels and assuring the right

resources for the staff as well as having an ear for the staff are essential points to

engage and motivate health professionals in these difficult times.