Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation® Blog: How to Ensure Your Colleagues Know They Matter
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5 tips to build a more supportive nursing culture
Beauty brand mogul Mary Kay Ash once said, “Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don’t keep it a secret.” Mary Kay understood the importance of mattering and making others feel like they matter, too.
According to Harvard Business Review, people thrive when they know they are valued. Feeling like we matter at work boosts our self-esteem, self-confidence, and performance. Collaboration and teamwork improve — and turnover rates go down.
A Crisis of Culture
Nurses have a tremendous impact on their patients’ health and well-being. Their work is crucial to the health care system (and public health in general). However, in a recent American Nurses Association (ANA) survey, 47% of nurses reported feeling undervalued, and 39% said they felt unsupported at work.
These survey results reflect a need for cultural change within health care. When nurses feel like they matter, everyone in the system benefits.
Moving the Needle
A healthy work culture doesn't happen by accident — it starts with making people feel truly valued. In the fast-paced world of nursing, it's easy to become so focused on patient care that we overlook our well-being and the well-being of those working right beside us.
Yet, behind every successful shift is a team of nurses supporting one another. By taking simple, intentional actions to uplift our colleagues or direct reports, we can strengthen team cohesion, reduce burnout, and boost morale. And we can lead by example to effect positive change throughout the workplace.
Here are 5 practical ways to help nurses know they matter:
Some simple — yet impactful — ways to publicly recognize a colleague include:
Private acknowledgements can help build relationships and foster trust. They can also allow for a more emotional or heartfelt conversation and expression of gratitude. Consider recognizing a colleague through:
The key is to be specific. In your recognition, include details on what your coworker did, why it mattered, and how it made a difference. This makes the acknowledgement “stick.”
Welcoming feedback also helps nurses feel that their contributions can influence practice and policy and reinforces that they are agents of positive change.
A simple way to nurture open communication within your unit or team is through active listening. This communication skill demonstrates you are present and engaged in the conversation. Active listening creates a space for your fellow nurse to share thoughts or concerns without fear. Showing this level of respect helps your teammate feel valued.
Create a Culture That Values Nurses
Every nurse has the power to make a colleague feel valued. During your next shift, try one new idea to show someone they matter. Look for opportunities to create team-based initiatives that demonstrate recognition and support. These are the building blocks for a stronger and healthier workplace culture.
How do you show colleagues they are valued within your organization? Share your tips and ideas in the comments.
Not a member of Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation (HNHN) yet? Join today!
Join our monthly challenges at hnhn.org/challenges.
According to Harvard Business Review, people thrive when they know they are valued. Feeling like we matter at work boosts our self-esteem, self-confidence, and performance. Collaboration and teamwork improve — and turnover rates go down.
A Crisis of Culture
Nurses have a tremendous impact on their patients’ health and well-being. Their work is crucial to the health care system (and public health in general). However, in a recent American Nurses Association (ANA) survey, 47% of nurses reported feeling undervalued, and 39% said they felt unsupported at work.
These survey results reflect a need for cultural change within health care. When nurses feel like they matter, everyone in the system benefits.
Moving the Needle
A healthy work culture doesn't happen by accident — it starts with making people feel truly valued. In the fast-paced world of nursing, it's easy to become so focused on patient care that we overlook our well-being and the well-being of those working right beside us.
Yet, behind every successful shift is a team of nurses supporting one another. By taking simple, intentional actions to uplift our colleagues or direct reports, we can strengthen team cohesion, reduce burnout, and boost morale. And we can lead by example to effect positive change throughout the workplace.
Here are 5 practical ways to help nurses know they matter:
- Recognize Efforts — Publicly and Privately
Recognition of a job well done helps people feel valued and seen. The simple act of acknowledging a colleague’s work can:
- Boost their morale and motivation
- Rekindle their passion and commitment (especially helpful after a tough shift)
- Reduce feelings of burnout
- Encourage professional growth
Some simple — yet impactful — ways to publicly recognize a colleague include:
- Team meetings or huddles: Give your fellow nurse a shout-out so the team can celebrate them.
- Staff emails or newsletters: Write a quick spotlight that highlights a coworker’s great attitude, leadership, teamwork, or other accomplishment.
- Wall of fame: Post your colleague’s name on the breakroom wall with a short note of thanks.
- Formal awards: Nominate a nurse for a DAISY award or an internal recognition program.
Private acknowledgements can help build relationships and foster trust. They can also allow for a more emotional or heartfelt conversation and expression of gratitude. Consider recognizing a colleague through:
- Handwritten notes: Give your colleague a thank-you card or sticky note with specific praise to let them know they’re appreciated.
- One-on-one conversation: Take a minute to pull a coworker aside and express your gratitude for their effort, attitude, or teamwork.
- Token of thanks: Treat a fellow nurse to a coffee, snack, or small gift card with a thank-you note.
- Letting leadership know: Quietly tell a manager or supervisor about the stellar work your colleague is doing. This encourages acknowledgement from leadership, which really reinforces the feeling of being valued.
The key is to be specific. In your recognition, include details on what your coworker did, why it mattered, and how it made a difference. This makes the acknowledgement “stick.”
- Encourage Open Communication
Open communication in a workplace fosters a culture of psychological safety where people are empowered to express their opinions, concerns, and ideas. When it’s safe for nurses to speak openly, they are more likely to feel respected and included — which improves morale.
Welcoming feedback also helps nurses feel that their contributions can influence practice and policy and reinforces that they are agents of positive change.
A simple way to nurture open communication within your unit or team is through active listening. This communication skill demonstrates you are present and engaged in the conversation. Active listening creates a space for your fellow nurse to share thoughts or concerns without fear. Showing this level of respect helps your teammate feel valued.
- Be Inclusive and Acknowledge Contributions
Inclusivity helps nurses from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities feel that they belong and matter to a team or organization. Recognition and inclusion can reduce feelings of isolation and frustration, especially in high-stress environments like health care. Feeling valued helps prevent burnout and supports a nurse’s emotional well-being.
You can demonstrate inclusivity at work by ensuring everyone on your team feels heard during discussions. Give credit to people for their ideas and successes. This builds trust and nurtures a collaborative environment.
- Offer Support During Stressful Moments
Sometimes, being seen is all it takes to feel like you matter. The next time you experience a challenging shift, pay attention to your teammates. If you notice a colleague struggling, offer a helping hand. Cover for them while they take a mini break, offer words of encouragement, or share an inspirational quote or meme.
When you offer support during tough times, it communicates to your fellow nurses that their feelings are valid and they’re not alone.
- Mentor and Advocate for One Another
Mentorship in nursing benefits the mentor and the mentee. Mentees feel supported and encouraged to grow. Mentors have an opportunity to share their experience, gain new perspectives, and contribute to a healthy work culture. Mentorship can be a formal program within your organization or an informal act of taking someone under your wing. Either way, it helps all participants feel that they matter.
Advocacy is another way to promote and protect the voices and rights of nurses. You can advocate at the unit level by speaking up for a fellow nurse’s needs, defending their perspective, or pushing for fair treatment. You can also advocate at the organizational level to address systemic inequities and ensure your team feels respected and valued.
Create a Culture That Values Nurses
Every nurse has the power to make a colleague feel valued. During your next shift, try one new idea to show someone they matter. Look for opportunities to create team-based initiatives that demonstrate recognition and support. These are the building blocks for a stronger and healthier workplace culture.
How do you show colleagues they are valued within your organization? Share your tips and ideas in the comments.
Not a member of Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation (HNHN) yet? Join today!
Join our monthly challenges at hnhn.org/challenges.
Blog Quality of Life
05/22/2025 6:30pm CDT
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