It's taken me a long time to realise it - apologies to all those nurses who cottoned on earlier than I did, yes. perhaps I'm a slow learner - but having spent the last nine years back working at the bedside, I've come up with an idea.

Bear with me for a moment. I know UK nurses will understand this instantly; I can't speak for colleagues elsewhere, but I suspect they might recognise the syndrome...

When something goes wrong on the ward, be it a clinical error or a serious complaint from a patient/relative, we suddenly see all sorts of highly-paid people whose existence was previously largely unknown to us, issuing orders and demanding that more new forms be filled in to ensure that whatever it was a) doesn't happen again, and b) if it does, the new paperwork will absolve them from any responsibility.

Anyway, here's my idea.

Every week, those senior desk jockeys should visit each ward where nothing bad has happened, and shower the staff with congratulations, flowers and hugs (where appropriate).

If nothing has gone wrong, then there must have been some seriously good nursing going on. The best nurses see trouble ahead and run towards it, in order to sort things out. If they are successful... well, no-one ever realises. Every day, skilled nurses avert disasters and don't think twice about it.

Unfortunately, neither do their superiors.

Industries like airlines and nuclear power providers pride themselves on 'nothing happening'. Our profession doesn't; it only takes notice of the little guy when he or she makes a mess of something.

On the day I see senior nurses celebrate 'nothing happening', I'll know we've grown up as a profession.

I agree with you. Morale would be better, and we would definitely feel appreciated, if we got recognized for doing a good job.

A thought just came to me, remembering a past potentially newsworthy problem with a mentally ill relative, which we sorted out before it escalated into a siege. Not our problem, some said; others realised that it directly affected our patient.

Perhaps we're like bomb disposal experts - no bang, no big deal.

"Senior desk jockeys"

Good description of the way it is in nursing. I believe it's because we are a female dominated profession. We are expected to be nurturers and peacekeepers, while we keep the floors clean.

We are not congratulated for a job well done, because the jockeys are too busy congratulating themselves.

There's a popular saying over here: 'if Florence Nightingale had been Fred Nightingale, it would have been a whole different ball game'

"Senior desk jockeys"

...We are not congratulated for a job well done, because the jockeys are too busy congratulating themselves.

This is SO true!!

There's a popular saying over here: 'if Florence Nightingale had been Fred Nightingale, it would have been a whole different ball game'

One past manager wrote an essay titled "What if Florence was Lawrnece?"

Brilliant idea, one that works and goes back to the Buddha and beyond: "Cultivate the good." Also, I've heard "Catch them doing something right."

I'm going to do what I can to institute this into my organizational culture. Even if it's only me, the lowest of the low, who acts according to this ethic. Maybe I'll even catch one of those desk jockeys doing something right. I'll sure try....

'Catch them doing something right...' Why have I never heard that before? Genius

My facility does recognize a job well done, both in little ways (gift card) and in bigger ways ($50 added to your paycheck and a sterling silver star stickpin that you can put on your lanyard). I think I work for a pretty neat organization.

One thing I learned and took to heart in a management training class they sent me to, "always criticize in private, and praise in public"