School’s efforts to sustain healthy work environment garners award from Sigma

The Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) named the University of Minnesota School of Nursing the academic recipient of the 2021 Healthy Work Environment Award.

Sigma’s Healthy Work Environment Awards recognize and honor clinical facilities and academic settings that have demonstrated commitment in promoting a healthy work environment and have demonstrated excellence in health care outcomes. Saint Peter’s University Hospital Nursing Workplace Environment and Staffing Council received the clinical award.

“The sobering events of 2020 have reinforced the importance of our work environments,” said Sigma President Richard Ricciardi, PhD, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN. “It is an honor to recognize these recipients for their efforts, especially when so many of our colleagues are currently risking harm and hardship to serve in high-risk medical environments. I congratulate the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and Saint Peter’s University Hospital Nursing Workplace Environment and Staffing Council for their award-winning work and for their continued efforts in these challenging times.”

The school’s Employee Engagement Taskforce, which represents all the units and types of faculty and staff in the school, has led initiatives focused on sustaining a healthy workplace environment, including wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, professional development, recognition, respect, supervision and leadership.

The school was recognized during Sigma’s Creating Healthy Work Environments event, which was held virtually in February. Senior Executive Associate Dean of Academic Programs Christine Mueller, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, presented about the school’s ongoing journey to create and sustain a healthy work environment.