Feb 03, 2008 08:50 AM - Your article misses a fundamental point; it explicitly implies that a nurse should do whatever she can to maintain the status quo--however regressive and/or unhealthy--and affirms the historical fact that nurses should just be quiet little helpers.
“It will not do any good to address this issue with your floor manage…and to complain about her will only make you look like a troublemaker”
Being afraid to be labeled a “troublemaker” is exactly how an unprofessional management team wants its workers to feel.
If an issue is legitimate, and you do nothing about it for fear of being labeled, you are letting down yourself and all the other nurses. In effect, you are actively promoting and perpetuating
just the environment that brought you to the subject in the first place.
Your charge nurse, and those above her/him, know when your issues are real. And they will not confront you if they are. They are not stupid. So,
you can document ‘til the cows some home but by simply apprising them of issues makes
them responsible. If things go wrong, the-- not you--will have to answer to the CEO. And they don’t want to have to do that. If only document and “play nice” I guarantee you will eventual hear, “Well, we didn’t know, why didn’t you tell us?” And you will be the one on the hot seat.
If you have gone up the ladder of responsibility and no one is willing to listen, then you should reconsider where you are working.
“Another annoying coworker is the nurse who talks constantly”
Sure, we know them. Rather than enabling their behavior simply say with a smile, ”I’ll talk to you later, I’ve got to finfish.” Then bury you head in what you’re doing.
No beating around the bush, just clear, concise and truthful. Works every time.
“Lastly, we have all worked with "The Complainer". Every unit has one”
Hey, you’ve probably already labeled
me as the complainer because I’m not agreeing with what, historically, has been
submissive nursing behavior for so long.
Again, this is worst of worst type of advice and it puts pressure on people
to “just be good little sheep.”
They may sound a bit rough but think about it.
Nursing is where it is today in large part because nurses never found their voice to say, for example, ”Stop…you’re asking us to do more and more every year with the same amount of time and the same expectations of perfect practice. “
Nurses, stop being afraid to speak up. No, not ad nauseum about the color of the curtains
or the size of the cups in the breakroom. But voice concerns over real issues. Just make sure you know what you are talking about and that you have some sort of remedy.
Perhaps you should have said, don’t complain for sake of complaining Sure no one likes that, but those nurses are transparent and easily marginalized. By simply saying, with a smile, “Ok, then what’s your solution?” then, “Now go tell the director and let me know what she said.” Then move on to another subject.
Again, I guarantee she/he will back off and get the message.
Stop enabling bad behavior and stop worrying about your popularity in a place where
your patients and their families are your sole employer. Do right by them and be professional to others and you will--in a decently run place-- be bulletproof.
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