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Description
Hospital-acquired condition (HAC) rates were rising within our pediatric ICU. As utilization of contract staff and nurse turnover increased, staff became less engaged in quality initiatives. Nurse-to-patient ratios were adjusted to account for patient acuity and the unit was given additional resources to assist staff. Once resources and equipment were eliminated as barriers to staff engagement and accountability, our leadership team began to look at other ways to motivate staff to engage in hospital initiatives. Understanding that improved nursing engagement leads to better outcomes and staff wellbeing (Saleh & De Jongh Nel, 2022), a year-long team-based competition was created to motivate and create accountability amongst a staff of over 300 people. Teams were created that encompass all disciplines found in the ICU, which increased staff morale by creating an environment of inclusivity. Each team was led by 3-4 nursing team leaders who asked their teammates to pick their team color and name and to help name the overall contest. A scoring system was created by a multidisciplinary leadership team to enable teams to earn points by engaging in unit initiatives or lose points when a HAC or safety event occurred. Data was gathered weekly from various tracking systems the hospital had in place as well as individual reporting and translated into points for each team. Teams were then rewarded with recognition and awards quarterly, with an overall winner and category MVPs. In the first two quarters after game implementation the rate of HACs decreased by 43% compared to the first two quarters of the prior year. Average staff attendance in unit-based HAC committees has increased over 92% from 2022 to 2023. This has led to an increase in staff adherence to evidence-based bundles and the creation of several unit-based HAC reduction initiatives. The execution of this contest offers support that when work engagement is high, quality of patient care will also improve.
Publication Date
2023
Recommended Citation
Richards, Kendel and Huntington, Leslie, "Driving Team Member Engagement Through Competition" (2023). 2023. 5.
https://scholarlycollection.childrens.com/nursing-anf2023/5
