Peer Social Support: A Key to Care Giver Morale and Satisfaction

Social support is a group dynamic, but studies have not identified specific strategies for managers to use as direct environmental resources. The authors discuss a study that explored group social support as a component of job morale for bedside care givers. Specific unit-based factors are identified for managers to develop focused staff social support activities. These include means of universal recognition, use of common space, methods to develop team culture and styles, and methods of communication.