How do you deal with lazy co-workers?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been an RN for 4 years and have always considered myself to be a "team" player. One of my fellow RN's who I work with on a regular basis, just does not seem to be as helpful. The other night I was extremely busy and asked her politely if she would mind attempting to re-start an IV for me. I had already tried myself and was unsuccessful. She said Oh I have a dressing change to do. But at the time she was just standing at the nurses station doing absolutely nothing. This made me very angry as I offer my assistance to her when she is busy and I am not. It makes me want to just not offer my assistance to her any more. She gets her work done but NEVER offers to help anyone else who might be in need. There have been numerous times where I have noticed her sitting at the computer playing solitaire when the rest of us are running around like chickens with our heads cut off! What should I do? Do I confront her? I am not very good at confronting people as I like to avoid conflict whenever possible. Or do I just not offer my help anymore? What would you suggest?

Thank you for your input.

Kelly:)

Specializes in ER, PACU, OR.

Kell?,

I walk up to them ind give them something to do! LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Canoehead-- Could we possibly work at the same place? Sounds a lot like where I work, and being from the same state! I'm in central Maine at a small rural hospital. I do know exactly what you have described. Been there, done that!

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Hi kaknurse. I'm sorry you're feeling so much pressure in your job. It seems to be par for the course everywhere as health care goes through trials and tribulations. I do hope that you are able to get relief this weekend and be able to start anew the next time you go to work.

One of the things I've observed with bedside or direct care nursing is that it seems easy for some nurses and nursing staff to hide their mediocrisy behind other staff. I agree with Mustangsheba on this one. If these same nurses such as the nurse that you and others described in your posts were to work in a more independent role that measured quantity as well as quality, they would not make it.

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I have to say that I have always been willing to help others out unless I have a crisis of my own. Believe me, I have worked with many lazy "coworkers". In the past I have always "killed them with kindness" by either answering call bells, starting IVs, etc and then I let them know that I have done this for them. After a few times of me helping them without being asked, they will normally reciprocate. Of course, there are always a few that won't budge.

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Although I'm only in nursing school, I have been working in the medical field for over 10 years. Unfortunately, there will always be slackers. I, for one, can't stand to do nothing and if there is something I can do, I will. I'm sure that there are other nurses on your shift that feel the same about this co-worker. I personally would see how those of us nurses who are working act as a team, and I would first help out my teammember before helping out the slacker. Hopefully they will get the hint to join the team. I wouldn't cry over them either.

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Specializes in Pediatric Rehabilitation.

Why is it that management always thinks these slackers are very good time managers? Then the nurse that offers help to everyone and is staying ot to chart is "riding the clock".

I agree with confronting the slacker out loud. You'll be surprised how quick coworkers will follow your cue and begin confronting them also.

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Here we go again.....:rolleyes:

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Specializes in Pediatric Rehabilitation.

Nursz,

I feel your pain and apologize. I imagine it does get old, eh? You can rest with ease. I refuse to destroy someone's thread again with childish poking. I saw it last night and refused to reply. Unless I have something to add to the topic of discussion, you won't see me post.

Tracy

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Specializes in ER.

Geez, I am tired of all the barbs when people post for a little support.

RN2B- Wildtime keeps a file on everyone who posts about their personal stats in case he can use the information against them at a later date. So if you like email me [email protected]. I don't want to post location etc because of that, I've been burned before.

FYI when a nurse sucks up to supervisors we are not stupid, true some sups suck it up like a Hoover, but at my hospital we smile and then forewarn our colleagues. If one nurse stays late every night, or if someone has enough time to schmooze endlessly there is something wrong with their priorities.

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Originally posted by kaknurse

Thanks to everyone for their input.

I just got home about a half hour ago from an Extremely busy evening shift. We started out the shift with 17 going to 19 pts. There were 3 RN's assigned to our unit. Plus there were 2 new admissions (directs from the doc's office). I started out with 7 patients(including one of the new admissons). Had to start an IV on her, get her meds caught up. Thank GOD she came with orders from her doctor. Then, I had one of my pt's discharged and another pt had to be transferred to the in-patient Skilled Nursing Unit, at or before 6pm. I had to get all the paper work in order for that patient and still finish my admission. Then at 7pm-the admitting office called with the 4th admit of the night! Well guess who got to do that one! ME!!!!

What a horrible shift. The nurses in the cities recently added wording to their contracts giving me them more control over refusing admissions due to staffing. A friend, who was working charge, recently refused an admitt due to staffing and the supervisor sent the patient elsewhere. However, the local news paper are deplecting patients being refused by ER and details an elderly person experience being shipped from ER to ER.

At the end of the day, assignments that are overwhelming or impossible will put our licenses at risk since an error being made are more likely. Saying you had too heavy of an assignment has not been an acceptable reason for an error. No one wants to be in this situation and I wish someone had the answers to this problem. Time will tell if the new contract language helps charge nurses control the amount of admissions they must take under situations where they are unable to do so.

Where I currently work, I can't complain too much. I generally work nights and we have a strong team that works very hard and helps each other out . No one sits down without asking the other if they can do something for them first. Our assignments are rarely overwhelming and I average four patients on days/evenings and six/seven or nights. I've worked hard to gain organization skills over the years which are essential, but there are shifts like the one you described that organization goes out the door since it is too much for one person to do. As for the person that seems to have more time on her hands then most, I wonder what she is doing or actually NOT doing to afford her the luxury to have as much down time that she seems to have?

My guess is that you are giving better patient care then this nurse who is "lazy." Goog luck on your vacation request.

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It's taken me a long time and many a tiresome shift and many years in management to learn this one!

If you are the charge nurse then take charge. If you aren't, find her and have her delegate. If the charge nurse doesn't take charge then find the house supervisor. There is a chain of command for reasons. I have had to hire and fire and believe me, for every gung-ho worker there are 10 lazy ones! Sometimes laziness is misconceived as organized as well as overwhelming circumstances in personal lives. Use your chain of command.

If that doesn't work, call me, I'll come help ya!

Love my patients!

Lisa :cool:

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

Thanks to all for their support!

On evening shift at my place--there is NO charge nurse. Only the house nursing supervisor. Over this past weekend we again got bombarded with admissions and I AGAIN asked the sup for help but was declined. As I posted before--the powers that be are only concerned with the number of patients on the floor not the acuity of the patients. For example--this weekend I was assigned to care for a chronic trach/vent patient along with 4 other patients. Our policy states that the RN who is caring for such a pt is to have only 3 other pt's. Well since this pt is not really on a vent(he's on C-PAP mode but did I mention that he is also on ORSA precautions?) and "really isn't a lot of work" , they changed the ratio to 1:6 for the RN caring for this pt--this includes ALL THREE SHIFTS!!! And the other RN's are assigned a max of 6 pts. Plus this pt is a full code! They change the rules to accomodate staffing--which is really unsafe and I also was caring for a severly hypogylcemic pt as well! Oh I could go on.

I am really at my wits end!

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