Nursing Work Environment Staffing Councils: An Alternative to Mandatory Regulated Staffing Ratios.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the self-reported perceptions of the healthy work environment (HWE) of nurses who are members of Nursing Workplace Environment and Staffing Councils (NWESCs).

Background: In a statewide initiative, NWESCs were established at hospitals throughout the state of New Jersey as an alternative to nurse staffing ratio laws and to provide clinical nurses a voice in determining resources needed for patient care and support an HWE.

Methods: This quantitative descriptive study presents the results of the Healthy Workplace Environment Assessment Tool (HWEAT) and open-ended questions about NWESCs among a sample of 352 nurses.

Results: Three years after NWESC implementation, all HWEAT standard mean scores increased and were rated higher than the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses benchmark. There were statistically significant differences in clinical nurses' perceptions of an HWE compared with nurse leaders. Respondents also shared their NWESC's best practices and challenges. Responses to questions identified NWESC best practices and challenges.

Conclusion: This study offers insight into the improvement in nurses' perceptions of the HWE after the introduction of a statewide NWESCs. Structures such as the NWESCs may provide an alternative to mandated staffing ratios.