When bad things happen to good nursing departments: how to stay hopeful in tough times.

How does a crisis impact a hospital? And how should nursing executives manage the crisis so that productivity and morale remain high? The purpose of this article is to trace an organizational crisis from its inception to its resolution. Every crisis has predictable components that if recognized will enable an administrator to diminish interpersonal hostility and conflict. Key strategies for resolving a crisis include sending objective messages to staff concerning the magnitude of the crisis, enlisting staff support in resolving problems contributing to the crisis, and projecting an optimistic vision of the future.