Nursing is a profession built on compassion, resilience, and dedication. However, our greatest challenges are not just the systemic issues in healthcare that cause us so much stress, but also the culture within our own ranks. Let’s be honest – most of the stress we face in the workplace is directly related to how we treat each other within the Nursing Department. You want to know the craziest thing about it all…? The Administrators and other folk in the Board Rooms are LAUGHING at us as we tear each other down. In fact, it just gives them more reason to treat us as lesser than, and we need to collectively do better or it’s only going to get worse.
Workplace bullying, incivility, and lack of professional unity weaken us from within. If we want to be taken seriously as professionals, get what we NEED to adequately care for our patients and residents, and create a thriving, respected workforce, we must start by changing how we treat each other. We have the responsibility to set the standard for professionalism, mentorship, and workplace harmony – not the owners of the healthcare facilities, not only the leaders within the facilities – but it starts with EVERY SINGLE PERSON who works within the Nursing Department. It is our responsibility to create the image of Nursing that warrants respect, adequate compensation and a seat at the table for decision making.
Here are 10 strategies to help nursing staff—CNAs, LPNs, RNs, and NPs—thrive while maintaining a positive and professional workplace culture:
1. Be a Role Model for Professionalism
The way we conduct ourselves in the workplace reflects on our entire profession. If we want to be respected by the public, policymakers, and other healthcare professionals, we must consistently demonstrate professionalism. This means treating colleagues with dignity, holding ourselves accountable, and ensuring that nursing remains a profession defined by excellence and integrity. This is the only way to foster the workplace culture we want and deserve.
2. End Workplace Bullying and Incivility
One of the most damaging aspects of nursing culture is lateral violence—nurses and CNAs bullying their own colleagues. This toxic behavior fractures teams, erodes morale, and drives talented professionals away. We must actively foster a culture of support, mentorship, and kindness, standing against unprofessional behavior and promoting teamwork.
3. Advocate for Yourself and the Profession
Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, and our voices matter. Whether it’s fighting for better working conditions, pushing for policy changes, or ensuring fair treatment in the workplace, advocating for ourselves strengthens the entire profession. Stand up for what is right—not just for yourself but for your colleagues and the future of nursing. This will ensure a positive workplace culture.
4. Focus on the Positive Impact of Your Work
It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of long shifts, short staffing, and bureaucracy. However, at the heart of nursing is something profound: we make a difference in people’s lives. Shift your mindset to focus on the impact you have each day—whether it’s saving a life, comforting a patient, or mentoring a new nurse. Sometimes we need to shift our minds from focusing on the drama to focusing on being more nurturing like a Momma! Focus on how you can individually impact the workplace culture by being more nurturing and less critical of your peers.
5. Lead by Example, Regardless of Your Position
Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about influence and showing up to do the work. Whether you’re a CNA, an LPN, an RN, or an NP, Charge Nurse, Manager or Director, you have the power to create a positive work environment. Show up with a strong work ethic, support your colleagues, and be the type of team member that others look up to. When nurses and CNAs lead with integrity, professionalism, and kindness, we change the culture of healthcare.
6. Commit to Lifelong Learning and Professional Growth
Nursing is an ever-evolving field. Investing in continuing education, pursuing certifications, and staying up to date with best practices not only enhances your career but also elevates the quality of care you provide. Growth-minded nurses and CNAs inspire others to strive for excellence. Remember… the “this is the way it’s always been done” is DANGEROUS and we need to remember just how far we’ve come as a society when we challenged the way things were being done. Now it’s time to grow and evolve past pettiness and emotionally charged workplace drama. Don’t be a jerk, just breathe and move on with lending a helping hand.
7. Encourage Teamwork and Collaboration
No nurse or CNA is an island. The best patient outcomes happen when healthcare teams work together. Foster an environment where CNAs, LPNs, RNs, and NPs respect and value each other’s contributions. A strong, united nursing team is one that thrives. In fact, team Nursing is still one of the BEST ways for CNAs and Nurses to handle overwhelming workloads and assignments. Work together to tag-team care and it gets done more quickly and effectively.
8. Prioritize Care for Our Fellow CNAs and Nurses
We often focus so much on patient care that we forget to care for each other. Nurses and CNAs are the foundation of healthcare—without us, there is nothing. Take the time to check in on your coworkers, offer support, and recognize when someone needs help. A culture of mutual care and respect strengthens teams and improves morale, making our work environment healthier for everyone. Be sure to check in with your co-workers and ask if they need any help when you’re able to give them a few minutes. It means so much to them when you can take just a few minutes to show up for them when they need help.
9. Support and Mentor the Next Generation of Nurses
Experienced nurses have a duty to uplift those coming after us. Instead of adopting a “sink or swim” mentality, offer guidance, patience, and encouragement to new nurses and CNAs. When we invest in their success, we strengthen the future of nursing. When you take an invested interest in learning how your team members are managing their day, it instantly improves the workplace culture, and let’s others feel supported when they need it most.
10. Celebrate Achievements and Elevate the Image of Nursing
If we want nursing to be respected as a profession, we must take pride in our achievements. Celebrate wins—big or small. Speak positively about your career and the role that you play. Highlight nursing’s contributions to healthcare… we should all take pride in the fact that Nurses and CNAs literally run the healthcare system, but we need to show up and perform to the standards that we were taught and what we’d want for others to demonstrate in our absence. The more we uplift our profession and expect high-quality and high integrity performance, the more we command the respect we deserve.
Nursing is a noble profession, but it’s up to us individually and collectively to uphold its integrity. By choosing positivity, professionalism, and leadership, we can break the cycle of workplace negativity and create a healthier work environment for ourselves and future nurses. It’s time to rise above workplace incivility, take care of each other, and showcase the best of what nursing has to offer. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare—one act of professionalism, kindness, and leadership at a time.
If you have any questions, recommendations or strategies that you’d want to share, please feel free to leave a comment below. You can also visit thenursespeak.com/podcast to check out conversations with Nurse Leaders and Advocates who have a lot to share about how they are navigating the profession and leveraging their strengths to develop strategies for Nursing success!
Best Wishes,
-Damion
