Unravelling Workplace Culture in Healthcare

This book explores the factors that create or sustain a toxic or problematic workplace culture in the healthcare sector, and what can be done about it at the individual level. It aims to equip healthcare workers with the knowledge and understanding to challenge the social and cultural practices that contribute to health inequalities and poor healthcare experiences. Throughout the book, examples of problematic practices are unravelled and new perspectives are provided from a wide range of cultural and creative studies, socio-cultural research and educational theories to enable an understanding of the behaviours and factors that support problematic workplace culture in the healthcare sector. It develops individual insight about system politics and hierarchy as well as power dynamics and normative roles in healthcare, and highlights how inequalities are created and maintained for both patients and staff. This book is aimed at healthcare professionals, including nurses, midwives, doctors, policymakers, researchers and health students who wish to engage in practical, personal and professional development that contributes to creating a positive healthcare work culture. Reflective exercises throughout the book enable the application of theory-based action across a range of healthcare settings and prompt exploration of why and how individual behaviour can impact wider culture, practice, and policy.

Lauren Philp-von Woyna is an Associate Professor in Midwifery and program lead for the BSc (Hons) Midwifery Degree Apprenticeship programs at the University of Birmingham. For the last 10 years, she has taught across undergraduate and postgraduate health courses that have included student midwives, nurses, paramedics, doctors, advanced clinical practitioners and other allied health professionals. Her research experience has primarily focused on learning in healthcare education and practice, sociocultural influences, and creativity (the bringing of ideas that may lead to healthcare solutions and innovation). Her doctoral research focused specifically on what, how and why sociocultural factors influence learning, behaviour and idea enactment in healthcare. Lauren's other research has focused on how social and peer relationships influence behaviour and learning, and how local organisational culture can inform improvement plans and direction. She has range of qualifications that have contributed towards her area of expertise and passion, including an undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree in Midwifery, Postgraduate Certificates in Leading Healthcare Improvements and Professional Teaching, a Master’s Degree in Education and Doctorate in Education.

1. Understanding you, your fears, and abilities as a healthcare worker.- 2. The problem with the usual way of doing things: understanding healthcare system hierarchies, normative roles, and how you can positively challenge them.- 3. Are you moving or are you the Status Quo? Understanding how movement and diversity supports a positive learning culture in healthcare.- 4. Overworked, overwhelmed, fatigued, and burned out: reworking wellbeing into healthcare practice..- 5. Disconnected policies and tick box exercises: understanding politics, process, and your power.- 6. Positive workplace culture principles and ways forward.