Workplace Environment Assessment

Workplace Environment Assessment

Clearly, diagnosis is a critical aspect of healthcare. However, the ultimate purpose of a diagnosis is the development and application of a series of treatments or protocols. Isolated recognition of a health issue does little to resolve it.

In this module’s Discussion, you applied the Clark Healthy Workplace Inventory to diagnose potential problems with the civility of your organization. In this Portfolio Assignment, you will continue to analyze the results and apply published research to the development of a proposed treatment for any issues uncovered by the assessment.

To Prepare:

• Review the Resources and examine the Clark Healthy Workplace Inventory, found on page 20 of Clark (2015).
• Review the Work Environment Assessment Template*.
• Reflect on the output of your Discussion post regarding your evaluation of workplace civility and the feedback received from colleagues.
• Select and review one or more of the following articles found in the Resources:
  • Clark (2019)
  • Hover and Williams (2022)
  • Lee and Miller (2022)
  • McDermott, Bernard, and Hathaway (2021)

*Template completed in the Week 7 discussion should not be submitted with this assignment.

The Assignment (3-6 pages total):

Part 1: Work Environment Assessment (1-2 pages)

• Review the Work Environment Assessment Template you completed for this Module’s Discussion.
• Describe the results of the Work Environment Assessment you completed on your workplace.
• Identify two things that surprised you about the results and one idea you believed prior to conducting the Assessment that was confirmed.
• Explain what the results of the Assessment suggest about the health and civility of your workplace.

Part 2: Reviewing the Literature (1-2 pages)

• Briefly describe the theory or concept presented in the article(s) you selected.
• Explain how the theory or concept presented in the article(s) relates to the results of your Work Environment Assessment.
• Explain how your organization could apply the theory highlighted in your selected article(s) to improve organizational health and/or create stronger work teams. Be specific and provide examples.

Part 3: Evidence-Based Strategies to Create High-Performance Interprofessional Teams (1–2 pages)

• Recommend at least two strategies, supported in the literature, that can be implemented to address any shortcomings revealed in your Work Environment Assessment.
• Recommend at least two strategies that can be implemented to bolster successful practices revealed in your Work Environment Assessment.

Expert Answer and Explanation

Workplace Environment Assessment

One critical factor that influences nurse or staff performance within an organizational setting is the nature of the workplace in place. Studies have shown that uncivil workplaces have a high employee turnover rate, poor quality of services, low employee motivation, and are often subjected to poor client reviews (Khan et al., 2021). This paper will highlight the results gathered from an environmental workplace assessment and relate the results to research conducted on the topic. The paper will also provide evidence-based recommendations on how the workplace environment can be improved to support the delivery of quality care.

Part 1: Work Environment Assessment

Clark Healthy Workplace Inventory is a tool that uses different elements within the workplace to assess civility. The following are the results collected from the assessment, which define my workplace environment.

Review of Work Environment Assessment

Clark’s Healthy Workplace Inventory is a tool that has 20 questions targeting the level of civility within the workplace. The tool considers various themes, such as employee satisfaction, teamwork, conflict management, and empowerment opportunities. The inventory had six different ratings for workplace civility, which include very healthy workplace, moderately healthy, mildly healthy, barely healthy, unhealthy, and very unhealthy.

Description of Work Environment Assessment

After conducting the assessment, the results reveal the workplace as moderately healthy, scoring 84. Two areas were noted to have good scores, including teamwork and collaboration and reasonable and fair workload distribution. Several areas had moderately good scores, including an emphasis on employee wellness and self-care, employees being viewed as assets and valued as partners within the organization, and employees being treated fairly and respectfully. Areas with poor scores include a low score in having a comprehensive mentoring program for all employees and an effective conflict resolution mechanism.

Two Things that Surprised Me

One of the surprising aspects of the workplace inventory was that the workplace was lacking in areas where the organization did not have a conflict resolution mechanism. I had previously thought that there was one that was existent. Another surprising area from the inventory assessment results was that many aspects go towards defining the lack of civility in the workplace, such as a working mentorship program in place. My idea of civility centered around how people treat each other while overlooking other aspects surrounding good leadership that significantly influence the level of civility within the workplace.

Assessment and Civility In the Work Environment

The results from the workplace inventory revealed that the workplace was moderately healthy. These results show that while the workplace had some areas of strength, it had a few areas of improvement that could be improved further. This means that the organization will have to go the extra mile, for example, by implementing workplace improvement initiatives, to have a workplace where all staff feel included, respected, and valued, allocated enough opportunities for growth, and one that fosters positive leadership with shared values.

Part 2: Reviewing the Literature

Description of Theory/Concept

The theoretical framework selected is the Pathway for Fostering Organizational Civility (PFOC) framework proposed by Clark (2019). The PFOC framework provides a dynamic step-by-step approach that aims to create healthier and more civil workplaces by transforming the organization’s culture. The first step in building a culture of civility is building awareness and gaining support from the leadership. By helping stakeholders understand the issues presented by incivility on individuals, teams, and the organization, they are likely to appreciate the need for a culture of civility within the workplace. Creating such a culture also requires support from the leadership from the onset of the transformation (Clark, 2019).

The second and third steps of the framework are to establish and empower a civility team and seek broad-based support, after which a workplace assessment is held to ascertain the level of civility, lacking areas, and areas of strength. The fourth step is developing an evidence-based, data-driven action plan followed by its implementation. The fifth step in the framework is to co-create and implement team norms to have a culture of teamwork and high performance within working teams.

The sixth step is to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the framework in fostering a culture of civility within the workplace, identifying areas for improvement. The second last step is to reward civility and consolidate success, and finally, to expand civility by disseminating the knowledge, lessons learned, and experience (Clark, 2019).

Theory as Presented in Articles

The theory, as presented in the article, highlights the need to have an effective conflict resolution mechanism in the workplace, an aspect that was captured during the workplace assessment. The importance of leadership in forging a civil workplace environment was also evident. According to Clark (2019), leadership plays a critical role in creating a compelling vision to foster a healthy work environment. In another article by McDermott et al. (2021), it was indicated that a positive work environment of responsive leadership and structural empowerment reduces workplace incivility, showing the implications of leadership and its role in defining the results obtained from the workplace assessment, especially in creating opportunities for empowerment and mentorship.

Application of the Theory

Clark’s PFOC framework could be used to create a civil workplace environment that fosters a higher sense of employee satisfaction and well-being. The framework provides evidence of the need for communication, conflict resolution process, and collaboration that is required to create effective teams and foster a culture of civility within the workplace. The framework also highlights the role played by different stakeholders in promoting a culture of civility, for example, leaders who have a role in creating a compelling vision and creating an environment that fosters staff empowerment and respectful engagements.

The framework also emphasizes the need to implement civility at all levels of the organization structure, including within collaborative teams, to make them more effective. The framework also captures the need for inclusivity when developing group norms to prevent divergent issues that could spur conflicts from arising.

Part 3: Evidence-Based Strategies to Create High-Performance Interprofessional Teams

Two Strategies from the Literature

As noted in the assessment, one of the strategies to address the issue of conflict resolution within the workplace is developing a conflict-capable workforce. This can be achieved by building effective communication and conflict negotiation skills (Clark, 2019). There are various strategies that Clark (2019) proposes that can help address conflicts that arise due to incivility, such as the use of cognitive rehearsal and evidence-based scripts as learning strategies to foster communication during uncivil encounters in the organization or within working teams. McDermott et al. (2021) also support the use of cognitive rehearsal as a way of recognizing and effectively managing incivility experiences.

The second strategy is to implement continuous training and learning opportunities on the need for a civil workplace and the consequences of incivility as a way of raising awareness among key stakeholders and emphasizing the importance of creating a culture of civility (Clark, 2019).

Two Strategies that Can Be Used to Bolster Success

One strategy that can further bolster successful practices within the work environment is to reward civility (Clark, 2019). The reward system will help motivate staff to support initiatives put in place to foster a culture of civility. The second strategy is to monitor and evaluate progress toward achieving the desired goals in creating a civil workplace (Clark, 2019). With effective tracking and evaluation of progress, teams can implement interventions and policies that further bolster a culture of civility in the workplace.

Conclusion

Workplace civility is a critical component in determining staff performance and creating a safe environment to deliver quality and safe patient care. The workplace inventory assessment provides a good measure for an organization to assess its level of civility, identifying areas that need to be improved to bolster workplace civility. One framework that can assist in creating a culture of civility is the PFOC framework, which provides a dynamic step-by-step approach to developing a civilized workplace.

References

Clark Healthy Workplace Inventory. (2015). American Nurse Today, 10(11), 20.

Clark, C. M. (2019). Fostering a culture of civility and respect in nursing. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 10(1), 44–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(19)30082-1

Khan, M. S., Elahi, N. S., & Abid, G. (2021). Workplace incivility and job satisfaction: mediation of subjective well-being and moderation of forgiveness climate in health care sector. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 11(4), 1107. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe11040082

McDermott, C., Bernard, N., & Hathaway, W. (2021). Taking a stand against workplace incivility. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 52(5), 232–239. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20210414-07

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Healthcare Worker Environmental Safety: A Critical Foundation for Quality Care

Healthcare workers represent the backbone of our medical system, with over 22 million U.S. healthcare workers dedicated to patient care and safety. However, these essential professionals face significant occupational hazards that necessitate comprehensive environmental safety measures. Understanding why environmental safety is crucial for healthcare workers requires examining the multifaceted risks they encounter, the impact on patient care quality, and the regulatory frameworks designed to protect both workers and patients.

The Scope of Healthcare Worker Safety Challenges

The healthcare industry presents unique safety challenges that distinguish it from other sectors. Healthcare and social assistance reported 562,500 injuries and illnesses in 2023, with an injury and illness incidence rate of 3.6 cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). While this represents a decrease from the previous year’s 665,300 cases, it underscores the persistent safety risks inherent in healthcare environments.

Chart: Total recordable injuries and illnesses in selected industry sectors, private industry, 2022-23 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Healthcare workers face diverse environmental hazards including biological exposures, chemical substances, ergonomic stressors, and workplace violence. In 2020, health care and social assistance workers had an incident rate of 10.3 per 10,000 full-time workers for injuries caused by assaults and violent acts by others, with nursing and personal care facilities experiencing rates as high as 21.8 per 10,000 full-time workers (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021).

Environmental Safety as Infection Prevention

One of the most critical aspects of healthcare environmental safety involves infection prevention and control (IPC). On any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection (CDC, 2024). This statistic highlights the direct connection between environmental safety practices and patient outcomes.

The World Health Organization’s 2024 global report on infection prevention reveals alarming statistics about healthcare-associated infections. Globally, as many as 136 million antibiotic-resistant infections are reported annually, with patients affected by health care-associated sepsis facing a 24.4% mortality rate (WHO, 2024). These infections not only endanger patients but also expose healthcare workers to infectious agents, creating a cyclical risk pattern.

Approximately 99,000 people die in hospitals every year due to secondary infections that they contract during their hospital stay (HEPACart, 2024). This sobering statistic emphasizes how environmental safety failures can have fatal consequences, making robust safety protocols essential for protecting both patients and healthcare workers.

The Business Case for Environmental Safety

Beyond moral and ethical imperatives, environmental safety in healthcare settings provides substantial economic benefits. Healthcare facilities that maintain comprehensive safety programs experience reduced workers’ compensation claims, lower staff turnover rates, and improved operational efficiency. When healthcare workers feel secure in their environment, they demonstrate higher job satisfaction and engagement levels, directly correlating with improved patient care quality.

The financial impact of workplace injuries extends beyond immediate medical costs. Facilities must account for replacement staffing, training expenses, potential legal liabilities, and the intangible costs of reduced morale and productivity. Private industry employers reported 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2023, representing a significant economic burden across all sectors (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).

Injury and illness case counts, private industry, 2014–23 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Regulatory Framework and Compliance

Healthcare environmental safety operates within a complex regulatory environment designed to protect workers and patients. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides specific guidelines for healthcare settings, while The Joint Commission has established comprehensive standards for healthcare facilities.

The Joint Commission’s 2024 infection control standards went live on July 1, 2024, requiring healthcare facilities to amend their protocols through focused review of current protocols, completing gap analyses, and assessing educational resources (NETEC, 2025). These evolving standards reflect the dynamic nature of healthcare safety requirements and the need for continuous improvement.

Core Components of Healthcare Environmental Safety

Biological Safety

Healthcare workers routinely encounter potentially infectious materials, making biological safety protocols essential. Healthcare personnel include all paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials, including body substances, contaminated medical supplies, devices, and equipment, contaminated environmental surfaces, or contaminated air (CDC, 2024).

Effective biological safety requires comprehensive training, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), proper waste disposal procedures, and rigorous decontamination protocols. These measures protect healthcare workers from bloodborne pathogens, airborne diseases, and other infectious agents commonly present in healthcare environments.

Chemical Safety

Healthcare facilities utilize numerous chemicals for cleaning, disinfection, laboratory procedures, and medical treatments. Proper handling, storage, and disposal of these substances are crucial for preventing chemical exposures that could harm healthcare workers. Environmental safety protocols must address ventilation systems, chemical storage requirements, spill response procedures, and worker training on chemical hazards.

Ergonomic Safety

The physical demands of healthcare work, including patient lifting, prolonged standing, and repetitive motions, contribute significantly to workplace injuries. Environmental safety measures must address ergonomic hazards through proper equipment design, workplace layout optimization, and training programs that teach safe work practices.

Workplace Violence Prevention

Healthcare settings unfortunately experience higher rates of workplace violence compared to other industries. Environmental safety protocols must include violence prevention strategies, emergency response procedures, security measures, and staff training to recognize and de-escalate potentially dangerous situations.

The Impact on Patient Care Quality

Environmental safety directly influences patient care quality through multiple pathways. When healthcare workers operate in safe environments, they can focus entirely on patient care without concerns about personal safety. This focused attention leads to better clinical decision-making, improved patient interactions, and reduced medical errors.

Furthermore, safe healthcare environments reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections, which can significantly impact patient outcomes. Over 24% of patients affected by health care-associated sepsis and 52.3% of those patients treated in an intensive care unit die each year, with deaths increased two to threefold when infections are resistant to antimicrobials (WHO, 2022).

Building a Culture of Safety

Successful healthcare environmental safety requires more than policies and procedures; it demands a comprehensive culture of safety that permeates all levels of the organization. This culture emphasizes continuous improvement, open communication about safety concerns, and shared responsibility for maintaining safe working conditions.

Leadership commitment is essential for establishing and maintaining this safety culture. Healthcare administrators must allocate adequate resources for safety programs, support staff training initiatives, and demonstrate visible commitment to safety principles. When leaders prioritize environmental safety, it sends a clear message throughout the organization about the importance of protecting both workers and patients.

Technology and Innovation in Healthcare Safety

Modern healthcare environmental safety increasingly relies on technological solutions to identify, monitor, and mitigate safety risks. Advanced air filtration systems, automated medication dispensing, electronic health records with safety alerts, and real-time monitoring systems all contribute to safer healthcare environments.

Emerging technologies such as ultraviolet disinfection systems, antimicrobial surfaces, and wearable safety monitoring devices offer new opportunities to enhance environmental safety. These innovations can supplement traditional safety measures and provide more comprehensive protection for healthcare workers.

Training and Education Requirements

Effective healthcare environmental safety requires ongoing training and education programs that keep pace with evolving threats and regulatory requirements. Healthcare workers must receive initial safety training upon hire, followed by regular updates and refresher courses throughout their careers.

Training programs should address specific hazards present in each work area, proper use of safety equipment, emergency response procedures, and incident reporting requirements. Hands-on training sessions, simulation exercises, and competency assessments ensure that healthcare workers can effectively apply safety principles in real-world situations.

Measuring and Monitoring Safety Performance

Healthcare facilities must establish robust systems for measuring and monitoring environmental safety performance. Key performance indicators might include injury rates, infection rates, safety training completion rates, and compliance with safety protocols. Regular safety audits, incident investigations, and employee feedback mechanisms provide valuable data for identifying improvement opportunities.

Benchmark comparisons with similar healthcare facilities and industry standards help organizations assess their safety performance relative to peers. This comparative analysis can reveal areas where additional safety investments might be beneficial and highlight successful practices that should be maintained or expanded.

Conclusion

Healthcare worker environmental safety represents a critical foundation for quality patient care and organizational success. The statistics clearly demonstrate the ongoing challenges facing healthcare workers, from occupational injuries to infectious disease exposures. However, comprehensive environmental safety programs can significantly reduce these risks while improving patient outcomes and organizational performance.

The investment in healthcare environmental safety yields dividends through reduced injuries, lower turnover rates, improved patient satisfaction, and enhanced regulatory compliance. As healthcare continues to evolve, environmental safety must remain a top priority, supported by adequate resources, ongoing training, and strong leadership commitment.

Healthcare organizations that prioritize environmental safety create environments where both workers and patients can thrive. This commitment to safety reflects the fundamental healthcare principle of “first, do no harm,” extending protection not only to patients but also to the dedicated professionals who serve them.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021). Workplace violence in healthcare, 2018. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/iif/factsheets/workplace-violence-healthcare-2018.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, July 15). CDC’s core infection prevention and control practices for safe healthcare delivery in all settings. https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/core-practices/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 14). Reducing risk for healthcare workers. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/prevention/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, November 25). HAIs: Reports and data. https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/php/data/index.html

HEPACart. (2024, July 8). ICRA 2024: Certified infection control solutions for healthcare managers. https://www.hepacart.com/blog/icra-2024-certified-infection-control-solutions-for-healthcare-managers

NETEC. (2025, January 28). The Joint Commission’s 2024 infection control standards: A complete guide for healthcare facilities. https://netec.org/2025/01/28/the-joint-commissions-2024-infection-control-standards-a-complete-guide-for-healthcare-facilities/

Peaceful Leaders Academy. (2025, February 25). 78 workplace violence in healthcare statistics to know in 2024. https://peacefulleadersacademy.com/blog/workplace-violence-in-healthcare-statistics/

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Health care and social assistance had 562,500 injuries and illnesses in 2023, fewer than in 2022. https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/health-care-and-social-assistance-had-562500-injuries-and-illnesses-in-2023-fewer-than-in-2022.htm

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). 2.6 million workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry in 2023, down 8.4 percent from 2022. https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/2-6-million-workplace-injuries-and-illnesses-in-private-industry-in-2023-down-8-4-percent-from-2022.htm

World Health Organization. (2022, May 6). WHO launches first ever global report on infection prevention and control. https://www.who.int/news/item/06-05-2022-who-launches-first-ever-global-report-on-infection-prevention-and-control

World Health Organization. (2024, November 29). Global report on infection prevention and control 2024. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240103986