Within a joyful and supportive environment that nurtures professional formation and career development, effective care teams continually strive for excellence on medical-surgical units.

Institutions that put strategies in place to enhance staff effectiveness and vitality demonstrate increased patient and care team satisfaction, reduced staff turnover, and better clinical outcomes. In addition, with the cost of nurse turnover estimated at between $50,000 and $65,000 per position depending on specialty, a sound business strategy includes an emphasis on retaining good nurses. [Kemski A. Market Forces, Cost Assumptions, and Nurse Supply: Considerations in Determining Appropriate Nurse to Patient Rations in General Acute Care Hospitals R-37-01. SEIU Nurse Alliance, December 2002. (As cited in the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, The Costs and Benefits of Safe Staffing Ratios, Fact Sheet 2003).]