Lisa Schafer, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, Regional One Health chief operating officer and chief nursing officer (second from right), recently spoke on a Memphis Medical News roundtable discussion discussing key nursing issues with other chief nursing officers in the Memphis area.
Lisa Cox Schafer, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, Regional One Health chief operating officer and chief nursing officer, recently participated in a Memphis Medical News roundtable discussion with other chief nursing officers. The five discussed key nursing issues as the publication celebrates the profession during May, and specifically during National Nurses Week earlier this month.
The participants discussed the nationally high turnover rate of CNOs, the challenge of retaining a reliable staff, current nurse recognition practices and how their personal experiences have assisted them professionally through their respective careers.
In addressing the topic of recognition, Schafer pointed to how she feels when her staff achieves a milestone.
“I’m more metric driven,” Schafer said. “My biggest thrill is when my team achieves a goal we’ve been working toward. It means more to me when something is accomplished by the people I lead.”
Schafer takes great pride in the role she and other Regional One Health executives play in retaining quality staff members. She believes both formal and informal recognition programs can go a long way in retaining nurses.
“Engaging your staff and recognizing them for their hard work is key,” she said. “Our profession is trained to look at problems and make decisions. People want to know they are valued, and it’s our job to focus on them and recognize them.”