Ideas That Work: Take Food-Based Morale Boosters Up a Notch

Practical pearls from your colleagues

Feeding busy hard-working staff is a common tactic leaders use to show their appreciation and boost morale. After all, who doesn’t like free food every now and again? But if you really want to take this tried-and-true appreciation tactic to the next level, consider having leadership feed and serve frontline staff. For instance, the new director of the OR at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo., immediately started holding staff appreciation days where managers of perioperative departments (OR/PACU/SDS) would make breakfast and serve pancakes to staff during busy days. Lindsey Joyce, MSN, RN, CNL, CNOR, a member of the CVOR team at St. Luke’s, says the gesture went a long way with the perioperative team and credits the presence of management as a major part of the initiative’s success. “It’s easy to toss some pizzas in the break room and never see anyone — and you can have pizza any time,” she says. “But the pancake breakfast is a nice break in the morning or before a case, and managers are making the time to be with employees.” OSM