An Examination of the Moral Habitability of Resource-constrained Obstetrical Settings

2021 ◽  
pp. 096973302098831
Author(s):  
Priscilla N Boakye ◽  
Elizabeth Peter ◽  
Anne Simmonds ◽  
Solina Richter
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Moral Agency ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Professional Relationships ◽  
Resource Constrained ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Scarcity Of Resources ◽  
Childbearing Women ◽  
Nurses And Midwives

Background: While there have been studies exploring moral habitability and its impact on the work environments of nurses in Western countries, little is known about the moral habitability of the work environments of nurses and midwives in resource-constrained settings. Research objective: The purpose of this research was to examine the moral habitability of the work environment of nurses and midwives in Ghana and its influence on their moral agency using the philosophical works of Margaret Urban Walker. Research design and participants: A critical moral ethnography was conducted through the analysis of interviews with 30 nurses and midwives, along with observation, and documentary materials. Ethical considerations: After receiving ethics approval, signed informed consent was obtained from participants before data collection. Results: Five themes were identified: (1) holding onto the values, identities, and responsibilities of being a midwife/nurse; (2) scarcity of resources as limiting capacity to meet caring responsibilities; (3) gender and socio-economic inequities shaping the moral-social context of practice; (4) working with incoherent moral understandings and damaged identities in the context of inter- and intra-professional relationships; and (5) surviving through adversity with renewed commitment and courage. Discussion: The nurses and midwives were found to work in an environment that was morally uninhabitable and dominated by the scarcity of resources, overwhelming and incoherent moral responsibilities, oppressive conditions, and workplace violence. These situations constrained their moral agency and provoked suffering and distress. The nurses and midwives negotiated their practice and navigated through morally uninhabitable work environment by holding onto their moral values and commitments to childbearing women. Conclusion: Creating morally habitable workplaces through the provision of adequate resources and instituting interprofessional practice guidelines and workplace violence prevention policies may promote safe and ethical nursing and midwifery practice.

scholarly journals Adoption of Satellite Offices in Response to a Pandemic: Sustainability and Infection Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 8008
Author(s):  
Seungbeom Kim ◽  
Yooneun Lee ◽  
Byungchul Choi
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Carbon Emission ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
Office Environment ◽  
Potential Risks

The office environment has changed rapidly due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Companies consider various types of remote work environments to contain the spread of the virus. Among them, a satellite office is a type of remote work environment where a number of employees are allocated to their nearest office. The benefits from satellite offices are twofold: The significant reduction of travel distance also reduces the amount of carbon emission and fuel consumption. In addition, dividing employees into smaller groups significantly reduces the potential risks of infection in the office. This paper addresses a satellite office allocation problem that considers social and environmental sustainability and infection control at work. In order to evaluate the effect of different satellite office allocation, quantitative measures are developed for the following three criteria: carbon emission, fuel consumption, and the probability of infection occurrence at work. Simulation experiments are conducted to investigate different scenarios of regional infection rate and modes of transportation. The results show that adopting satellite offices not only reduces carbon emission and fuel consumption, but also mitigates business disruption in the pandemic.

scholarly journals Association of the Nurse Work Environment, Collective Efficacy, and Missed Care

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 779-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica G. Smith ◽  
Karen H. Morin ◽  
Leigh E. Wallace ◽  
Eileen T. Lake
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Collective Efficacy ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Quality Patient Care ◽  
Hospital Staff Nurses ◽  
Nurse Work Environment ◽  
Missed Care

Missed nursing care is a significant threat to quality patient care. Promoting collective efficacy within nurse work environments could decrease missed care. The purpose was to understand how missed care is associated with nurse work environments and collective efficacy of hospital staff nurses. A cross-sectional, convenience sample was obtained through online surveys from registered nurses working at five southwestern U.S. hospitals. Descriptive, correlational, regression, and path analyses were conducted ( N = 233). The percentage of nurses who reported that at least one care activity was missed frequently or always was 94%. Mouth care (36.0% of nurses) and ambulation (35.3%) were missed frequently or always. Nurse work environments and collective efficacy were moderately, positively correlated. Nurse work environments and collective efficacy were associated with less missed care (χ2 = 10.714, p = .0054). Fostering collective efficacy in the nurse work environment could reduce missed care and improve patient outcomes.

scholarly journals Co-creating Positive Working Environments: a meta mediation perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-307
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Working Relationships ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Working Environments

This article is a practitioner reflection on taking a meta mediation perspective on working with two organizations in co-creating a positive and constructive working environment. This perspective is grounded in the theoretical framework of strategic conflict management systems. The approach taken is to consider a specific process for engaging with organizations by looking at the two case study organizations – one small and growing, the other medium-sized and resource-constrained. The reflection first considers the antecedents for both organizations in engaging in this way. It then sets out the process for whole organization engagement through dialogue. The outcomes for each organization are then shared. The conclusion reached is that both organizations benefited from the engagement in terms of improvements in work environment, working relationships, conflict competence and organizational performance. Some of the ethical considerations for mediators working with organizations in this way are reflected on including neutrality and impartiality, confidentiality and self determination.

scholarly journals Discipline and Work Environment Affect Employee Productivity: Evidence From Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rusdiyanto Rusdiyanto
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Work Productivity ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Employee Productivity ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Public Agency ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency ◽  
Publicly Owned ◽  
Survey Approach

Objective: This paper aims to test and evaluate the Effect of Discipline And Work Environment on Employee Productivity of state-owned public bodies.Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses a quantitative approach using a survey approach. The survey is a study conducted on the employee population of state-owned public agency companies, samples taken from the employee population of state-owned public agency companies to find events related to discipline variables and work environments that can affect employee productivity variables, to analise the influence between discipline variables and the work environment on employee productivity variables using a statistic regression approach. This method is used to explain the influence of discipline variables and work environment on employee productivity variables. This approach is simply to provide a description and test the influence between discipline variables and the work environment on employee productivity variables that can be known how much the influence of discipline variables and work environment on employee productivity variables.Findings: The findings of this study explain that discipline has an influence on the productivity of employees of publicly owned companies, the work environment has an influence on the productivity of employees of publicly owned companies, while together discipline and work environment have an influence on the productivity of employees of publicly owned companies.Practical Implications: The results of the study are recommended for employees to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the performance of state-owned public bodies.Originality: Previous research conducted to test the influence of discipline and work environment on the productivity of employees of manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, the findings concluded that discipline and work environment have an influence on the work productivity of employees of manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. This research object of research on publicly owned companies owned by the state.

Distributed Work Environments

2021 ◽  
pp. 2011-2032
Author(s):  
Edwiygh Franck
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Distributed Work ◽  
Environment Model ◽  
Work Concept ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Distributed Work Environment

Technology is making the traditional workplace obsolete. Companies are taking advantage of the myriads of digital resources available to make their processes leaner, cut costs and have a larger presence in the global market through the concept of distributed work environment. In this chapter, the author provides an overview of the distributed work environment, as well as the impact it has on the human condition in the workplace. Although this technology driven work concept can be beneficial, companies have to ensure that it is the right business model for them and their employees. The author looks at different factors that companies need to consider in deciding to adopt a distributed work environment model. Several companies, over 125 of them, have successfully implemented the concept and the author shares some examples on how they were able to achieve success and employee satisfaction.

Authentic Leaders Creating Healthy Work Environments for Nursing Practice

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria R. Shirey
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Authentic Leadership ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Nursing Workforce ◽  
Healthcare Delivery System ◽  
Healthy Work Environment ◽  
Healthy Work ◽  
Healthy Work Environments

Implementation of authentic leadership can affect not only the nursing workforce and the profession but the healthcare delivery system and society as a whole. Creating a healthy work environment for nursing practice is crucial to maintain an adequate nursing workforce; the stressful nature of the profession often leads to burnout, disability, and high absenteeism and ultimately contributes to the escalating shortage of nurses. Leaders play a pivotal role in retention of nurses by shaping the healthcare practice environment to produce quality outcomes for staff nurses and patients. Few guidelines are available, however, for creating and sustaining the critical elements of a healthy work environment. In 2005, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses released a landmark publication specifying 6 standards (skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership) necessary to establish and sustain healthy work environments in healthcare. Authentic leadership was described as the “glue” needed to hold together a healthy work environment. Now, the roles and relationships of authentic leaders in the healthy work environment are clarified as follows: An expanded definition of authentic leadership and its attributes (eg, genuineness, trustworthiness, reliability, compassion, and believability) is presented. Mechanisms by which authentic leaders can create healthy work environments for practice (eg, engaging employees in the work environment to promote positive behaviors) are described. A practical guide on how to become an authentic leader is advanced. A research agenda to advance the study of authentic leadership in nursing practice through collaboration between nursing and business is proposed.

Socio-Cultural Factors and the Work Environment

2021 ◽  
pp. 97-127
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Organizational Environments ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Emotional Capital ◽  
Cultural Forces ◽  
Social And Cultural Factors

Employees are affected not only by internal organizational environments but also by external ones such as family, community, and society. Social and cultural factors affect how employees are viewed by others in the organization as well as how they respond to their work environments. Immigrants, in particular, are affected by their acculturation processes. Thus, when employees negotiate organizational workplaces, they need to factor in the influence of socio-cultural forces. Stereotyping is one way in which the external environment is manifest in workplaces. It has been found to be persistent, influential, and deeply impactful on careers. Stereotypes are affected by social and cultural factors, and in turn, they affect workplaces by shaping employees' perceptions and experiences. At the same time, the external environment can also present positive attributes for employees, for instance by being a source of social and emotional capital.

scholarly journals Workplace Violence in Work Environments against Gender Violence

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Alicia Pérez-Tarrés ◽  
Joilson Pereira da Silva ◽  
Leonor María Cantera Espinosa
Keyword(s):  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Gender Violence ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Paradoxical Situation ◽  
Personal Variables ◽  
Work Contexts

We aimed to describe and analyze the subjective experiences concerning workplace violence in a group of 20 workers. The scenario chosen shows a paradoxical situation: violence in environments where people work against gender violence. A qualitative method was used and the instrument chosen was the semi-structured interview. The results indicate a reproduction of violence within these work contexts, which manifests itself mainly in a psychological way and whose causes are subject to social, institutional and personal variables. From this research, several notable theoretical and methodological phenomena emerge, as well as the need for profound reflections based on the academic approaches to workplace violence.

scholarly journals Workplace Violence and Employee Engagement: The Mediating Role of Work Environment and Organizational Culture

SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402093588
Author(s):  
Zohra Saleem ◽  
Zhou Shenbei ◽  
Ayaz Muhammad Hanif
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Customer Care ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Employees working across all domains of professions are exposed to workplace violence (WPV). Few researchers have investigated the effects of WPV on employee engagement (EE) and the impact of the work environment and organizational culture on their relationship. The aim of this research is to describe the effect of WPV on EE and clarify the relationship between WPV, work environment, organizational culture, and EE. A cross-sectional study was performed on the data, collected from 178 alumni of a university, currently employed in caring, customer care, managerial, and technology professions in Pakistan. Structural equation modeling (SEM), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey post hoc tests were employed for data analysis. The results showed that 88.7% of respondents had experienced WPV during the last 12 months. Significant differences existed in the work-related harassment and physical violence reported by occupational groupings. WPV had a significant direct negative effect on EE (β = −.556**), work environment (β = −.440) and organizational culture (β = −.758**). Furthermore, the work environment (β = −.123**) and organizational culture (β = −.157**) have a significant negative effect on EE, and both mediated the relationship between WPV and EE. The results show that employees working in caring and customer care are exposed to considerable risk of WPV. The findings underscore that a supportive work environment and positive organizational culture play a mediating role between WPV and EE among employees.

An Evaluation of a Coast Guard “Live-Aboard” Concept: Can Crews Adapt to a Restricted Living and Operational Environment?

1994 ◽  
Vol 38 (14) ◽  
pp. 873-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio B. Carvalhais ◽  
Donald I. Tepas ◽  
Michael J. Paley
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Operational Environment ◽  
United States Coast Guard ◽  
Present Evaluation

The present evaluation was conducted to assess whether crews can cope and adapt to a restricted living and work environment. Two United States Coast Guard small boat stations with similar environmental conditions, mission profiles, and workload levels were selected for this evaluation. At one station, shore-side facilities were replaced with a 50-foot live-aboard boat (NORCREW). The second station, maintained shore-side facilities (COMP). Survey and daily log data on human factors variables, which have been used to predict adaptation to work environments, were collected from 18 crew members. Analysis of these data did not reveal any significant adverse psychophysiological effects associated with the live-aboard concept. Data revealed time-of-day effects consistent with conventional thought and chronobiological theory which leads the authors to conclude that the live aboard concept does not appear to disrupt circadian cycles. Overall, the consistent failure to detect any differences between NORCREW and COMP on human factors variables clearly suggests that further consideration of this concept is warranted.

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