Professional personal persona?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I was talking to my Charge Nurse the other day (for those that know my post, it was the day of my dilaudid mistake), and I found out some interesting things about people!

I am a very very cheery nurse at work, very helpful, always smiling and there if someone needs me! That is actually how I got my job (I was agency and they begged me to hire on..and I did!). I can be very appropriately humorous, and love my job and it shows!

I have had so many thanks yous, and cards sent to me from pts thanking me for my care of them! I feel honored and well...it is kinda freaky really...I was just doing my job! LOL!

Anywhooooooo...not meaning to toot my horn..there is a point! I found that some people DON'T like that!!!!!!! That a few pts thought I was being scarcastic or unprofessional! WOW! Made me instantly sad that kindness is looked upon in such a way...what, we don't have enough true kindness that folks are put off by it when it comes? One guy thought when I was being wierd when he asked for a cup of ice for his wife and I said "certainly, I will bring that to your room!" with a big honest smile! WIERD??? Hmmmm.

So it brings me to my question...what would be the perfect professional persona? I found myself being more quiet but that isn't me, and that scared people...LOL! So, after 7 years of a working thing with my persona...I get to re-evaluate. Less cheery, more stoic? LOL!

(and no, I don't go overboard with cheer...you have to guage it dependant on situation and pts/families, it can be too overwhelming to some and cause anxiety or mistrust..I am typically good at toning it down for most..but guess a few got through my radar!).

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

Don't change. Sounds like those pts had underlying issues with trust that are far deeper than you could reach by changing your persona. You said that the majority of pts like it...so keep on sista!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Don't change. Just be yourself.

I think that many people feel that those kind of people aren't sincere and are phoney....."no one can be that happy". Also, some of the quiet loner type personalities aren't a good fit, but there's nothing you can do about that.

The option for you is to be someone you're not, which is going to cause undue internal stress and strife.

As long as you know what "appropriate" and I'm sure you do. Keep on keeping on.

To me, that's the key.....when to be quiet and listen, when to give space, and when to laugh and be cheerful.

NEVER EVER EVER EVER walk up to a person and say "SMILE!!!!". Do that to me and you're likely to get slapped. LOL

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

NEVER EVER EVER EVER walk up to a person and say "SMILE!!!!". Do that to me and you're likely to get slapped. LOL

:lol2: Tweety, you're a riot.

Triage, don't change. But remember, humor can get you into trouble. Like the time I had a patient-- young person, lots of scars all over the legs, admitted for something totally unrelated, like a fx'd arm. Fascinated with the scars on the legs, he saw I was staring, so I popped out jokingly, "OK, no more skydiving for you!"

He immediately blanched and said, "How did you know?"

:uhoh21: Oops. My nurse-tuition misfired again...

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
NEVER EVER EVER EVER walk up to a person and say "SMILE!!!!". Do that to me and you're likely to get slapped. LOL

I second this. You never know the real reason someone's not smiling. Someone did that to me a week after my Grandma had died, and i just wanted to smack 'em.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Oh man, I would never tell someone to smile! Holly cow that is a fast way to a growl or slap! LOL! My luck someone would have a death in the family and wow...ummmmm...wrong moment....SLAP! LOL!!!!!!!

Typically I go into my primary assessment and start normal chit chat and questions...I can typically guage people upon their responces and body language and can either go more light hearted, humorous, strictly professional (for some folks they need that!), or respect space and only come in if they need (if that is okay with them). So this one kinda threw me a bit...but hey...can't please everyone...even if you are being kind!

My manager said "I love your bright cheery persona!" so I guess it is doing fine, just wierd that someone would actually tell my charge nurse I was too cheery and unprofessional (what..didn't wear a white coat and speak in med??? Uhgggggg!).

Yeah, if I had to be different...I would find that difficult and move on...I have to be me!

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Specializes in ER.

Triage,

I am just like you. I am quite certain that some people find me annoyingly (is that a word?) nice, but heh, at least I'm not a b____ right?

The thing that bothers me is when I am accused of "sucking up" to nurses or doctors because I am friendly. Guess what? I treat the mailman, trash man, and cashier at Target the same way so it's not sucking up, it's just plain happiness:)

Don't change a bit!!

T

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Specializes in Maternity & Well Baby Nursery.

I have been accused of the same thing. That I must be "sucking up", when the truth of the matter is that I am usually just a happy, like to help out kind of person. When I try to be anything but what I am, I fail miserably. Really miserably. So I just say to myself, "this is who I am and I am a good person".

Triage, you sound like a good person!:icon_hug: And I think it would be great to work with you! Sometimes I get tired of being the morale booster (I like the job!) but it helps when some people around you can morale boost too.

Aradien

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

It is kind of funny...since I have been there...even as agency the moral of two floors has improved big time, and they thank me all the time! I still can't believe it is just me...can't be...but maybe making one person smile a bit chain reacts!

Yeah, I have been accused of being a suck up...untill they realize I am cheery with everyone! Hard to be a suck up when you do it to everyone consistantly huh? LOL! But yes..I do worry sometimes if people think that of me..but what can I do? Can't go on being only friendly to certain folks and too scared of others! Ehhhhhhh no way!

I think I love this new job because one, I had time to see it without the stress of having to go back at first (agency), then saw how well I fit in and how greatful folks seemed to be, then they got cheery and fun too...and well...it is great!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Triage - that describes me to a T. In the 10 years I worked in the ER, everyone thought I was funny, cheerful and lots of fun to be with.

Now, that I'm an APN, my personality has helped me too. The practice that I'm in thought I was about 35 because I was so friendly and bubbly! They of course can't ask how old I am (I'm 48 and look my age, believe me). However, a smile and cheerful disposition can make you appear younger.

I don't go around telling folks to smile though.

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Triage,

I am just like you. I am quite certain that some people find me annoyingly (is that a word?) nice, but heh, at least I'm not a b____ right?

The thing that bothers me is when I am accused of "sucking up" to nurses or doctors because I am friendly. Guess what? I treat the mailman, trash man, and cashier at Target the same way so it's not sucking up, it's just plain happiness:)

Don't change a bit!!

T

I couldn't have said this better! I am also very cheerful, optimistic, bubbly type personality. I treat EVERYONE this way from the Docs to the Janitors to the cafeteria workers.

If someone thinks I'm annoying...oh well. I don't put a lot of weight on what 1% of the patient population thinks of me. That is their own problem. I am at work for a big 8 hours a day and I'm just trying to give the best care :)

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I just don't know...why would people think that bubbly cheery people are not professional or being honestly this way??? When I was a child it was okay to be happy and show it....and now? I don't know anymore....

BUt I will stick with it...you guys too...I would LOVE to work with you all! What a happy floor that would be! And...a very personally satisfying work expreience and pts would reap the benifits!

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