One featured board, the “Get to Know You” board, highlights three staff members from each shift every month. The board offers a glimpse into the personal lives and personalities of colleagues through information they choose to share. In addition to basic details, fun prompts invite participation, such as what item someone would bring to a 1 North potluck, what career they might have pursued outside of healthcare, and other unique facts. This approach encourages interaction while helping staff feel seen and valued.

Another communication board is dedicated to celebrating staff birthdays. Decorated with a monthly theme, the board provides a cheerful focal point in the break room and creates opportunities for staff to recognize and celebrate one another.

A third board, located in the unit hallway, serves as a recognition space visible to patients, visitors, and other hospital team members. This board highlights recent accomplishments and milestones, including nurses advancing in their clinical roles, such as receiving Staff Nurse III certification, and welcoming new team members, including newly licensed RNs transitioning into independent practice.

Since the communication boards were implemented, the break room has become a more personalized and engaging space that encourages connection among nurses. The initiative has helped bridge different shifts and schedules by increasing awareness and familiarity among staff who may not regularly work together. This improvement was reflected in the most recent People Pulse survey results, where the Interprofessional Relationships score improved from 3.47 points to 4.16 points, exceeding the benchmark.

As one staff RN shared, “It’s very nice to get to know my coworkers on a personal level — it helps us work better as a team.” Another nurse commented on how meaningful it is to know a coworker’s birthday and be able to acknowledge them. Together, the communication boards have strengthened team culture, connection, and collaboration across the unit.