October 2005
 Sheppard Pratt Employees Enjoy Boost from Morale Teams
Ernestine Cosby, R.N., inpatient unit director at Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital in Baltimore, was looking for a way to recognize outstanding contributions to patient care. She noticed that the annual hospital-wide recognition ceremony was a real morale booster. From that, the idea to implement “Morale Teams” was born.
"I decided it would be nice to do something like that on a smaller scale, with more frequency so that staff would get that type of recognition. Given the kind of work that we do, you're constantly giving to your patients and clients, so it's very helpful to have some of that giving coming back the other way to the staff," Cosby said.
The morale teams meet once a month, where upcoming events are discussed and responsibilities are assigned to each team, including purchasing and preparing food for the activity, setting up for the activity, cleaning up after the activity, and decorating for the activity. Ideas not only come from the meetings, but Sheppard Pratt has also implemented morale boxes where anyone can write a positive acknowledgement about a co-worker.
The morale teams try to
plan an event once every
three months, often coinciding
with the different seasons
or holidays. During the
Valentine’s Day celebration,
chocolate lovers indulge
in all kinds of chocolate,
including cake, chocolate
covered strawberries, and
brownies. Employees can
enjoy an indoor picnic,
complete with fried chicken,
hot dogs, and hamburgers
during the summer months,
as well as ice cream socials.
Night-shift workers are
pampered with a sit-down
breakfast of eggs, french
toast, bacon, and sausage.
"People really look forward to the time spent socializing and eating with their co-workers," says Annette McGann, mental health worker and morale team member. McGann feels that the program has been very effective in boosting morale throughout the hospital because it shows that people are willing to go the extra mile to make everyone happy.
A survey, taken two years after the program started, showed that employees were pleased. Suggestions also emerged from the survey, including a request for a cultural diversity day to recognize workers from different cultural backgrounds.
"That was a big success. Folks made food that was culturally related, we had various types of art and other kinds of things that folks contributed and wanted to be on display during that time," said Cosby.
Since the program’s inception, it has expanded into other units throughout Sheppard Pratt. Representatives from those units are invited to morale team meetings to share ideas.
Of course, endeavors such as the morale teams do cost money. Sheppard Pratt provides a budget to allow the morale teams to plan their activities, but Cosby and a few physicians also contribute money towards the holiday party.
"The goal for me was to keep alive [the fact] that there’s a lot of positive things that folks do on a daily basis," Cosby said.
Contact:
Ernestine Cosby, R.N.
Inpatient Unit Directo
Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital
410-938-4742
(Back to the top) |
