Vent: Recognition from employer

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

This sounds so petty, but I need to vent anyway, because it's really bugging me.

At our facility, we have a recognition paper that someone is to fill out if they catch a co-worker doing something nice for a patient or other co-worker. They are then posted for everyone to see.

What bothers me is this seems to be a popularity club. I swear the same people are always tagged. I have been at this facility almost a year, and have never had one filled out.

What really rankled me, was the one I saw the other day. It was filled out by the manager for a nurse that is as lazy as they come. I guess she FINALLY got up from the desk to help when asked. The manager saw this and filled out the form that made her sound like a saint. What about the other zillion times she's ignored her patients and pretty much passed meds and sat at the desk?

My pt's tell me all the time how good their care was, and I was the 'best' nurse they ever had. I help any co-worker at any time. If I see someone struggling pt load wise, I'm right there to hang an IV or give pain meds. No questions asked. The other day, I was 40 min OT helping with a grieving family, who's family member passed away toward the end of the shift. They thanked me profusely for the hugs, and caring I gave them. My manager asked me why I was so OT (that I didn't put in for, because I wanted to stay, I wasn't forced)and I told him I wasn't putting in for OT, but just wanted to stay with these people toward the end, because they trusted me and were scared out of their mind.

Now did I see my name up on the wall?? NOOOOOOO.

See, I told you it sounds like I'm petty and doing good care because I only want recognition;), but that is not the case. I'm not going to quit doing the good job I do, because it's my work ethic.

I guess I need to sit at the desk for a few months and then suddenly jump up and help someone.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

We used to get $5 for every written recognition given-some nurses and PCT's used to give out cards to their patients to fill out give back and bingo they got $5 sometimes in a month they got 20-30 cards filled!!!

I would rather poke a pencil in my eyes than give a pt a card to fill out

[sunnycalifRN]

Yeah, it's petty. If you're a diligent, competent and caring nurse, that's what counts. Some stupid paper is just that, stupid paper!! Anyway, usually the people that matter, your patients, will recognize your care and thank you for it, as they have in your case!

[rn/writer, RN]

Sorry you're having this negative experience. It's not uncommon for the "recognition" to be lopsided, not that that's any comfort. I have experienced this as well. Same people get their name up in lights over and over. But there's no notice of extra efforts on the part of others. No, I take that back. There is notice when you do something wrong, but the extra efforts must be on a different radar screen because that stuff just seems to disappear without a blip.

It does get disheartening, but what can we do? We don't go that extra mile to earn brownie points, but it certainly would be nice to have someone say, "Good job," now and again.

Good job, tokmom, for staying with that grieving family. I'm sure your efforts meant a lot to them in their time of need. I'm so glad you were there for them.

[HmarieD]

I worked at a hospital that did something similar. If you got 3 thumbs up, you got a $15.00 gift card for the local mall. All the second shifters were constantly getting gift cards because they would all get together and each person would write one for another person on their shift. Every night. Total BS.

Because of obvious manipulation like this, it cost the facility a small fortune and it went by the wayside pretty quickly.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

OMG, I'd be right there with the pencil in my eye, if I had to have pt's fill out those forms. The "How did we do" forms are in the d/c paperwork but I only tell them to fill them out so we can improve our customer care.

So true about it being lopsided and only the bad get's recognized more than the good.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

These were like special cards printed by the hospital where you could put the staff members name and a comment!

You are so right it was the nurses who were the bad ones who got these cards filled out. I am sure the pts were bullied into completing them!!

[caliotter3]

Be content in the knowledge that the people who count know what a good job you do. The system is meaningless because not only does it reward the wrong people, it is creating a negative impact on you, one of the good workers. Do not allow the falseness of this gimmick to come full circle by impacting your behavior. You know that saying about the Higher Power. He sees all. Think of it that way and laugh at your facility management for their foolish efforts.

[leslie :-D]

i'm wondering if they credit the lazier employees, as a means of providing incentive for any positive actions they take?

to me, it only creates a competitive and potentially hostile work environment.

there are other ways to boost morale, without undermining those who are worthy of recognition.

leslie

[Moogie]

i agree with the previous posters in that you can and will rise about the pettiness of this so-called incentive system and that you should continue to do a good job because it's part of your work ethic.

You can know in your heart you're doing a good job. You can receive positive feedback from your co-workers, and, most importantly, from your patients and their families. You know you have personal integrity, can sleep well at night, and that you are doing the type of job that morally and ethically you know you should be doing.

However, is it really asking too damned much for management to toss an "Atta girl" (or an "Atta guy") someone's way just ONCE in a while?

The best boss I ever had was not in nursing; he owned a small store. He was not well-educated or particularly articulate, but he knew how to motivate his employees by catching them doing a good job. He'd give unexpected, positive feedback, and he made me want to work as hard as I possibly could to please him. No, he didn't lavish praise on us for everything he did. If an employee messed up, that employee would hear about it. Yet, he was never rude or belittling to his help and his help stayed with him for years. I have NEVER had a boss like that in nursing. It's very sad.

[leslie :-D]

oh gawd, i'm remembering a nm that actually criticized me for giving positive feedback to the aides and nurses.

she actually said, "we're not accustomed to doing that here". (i was relatively new there.)

all i could do is look at her in shock and respond with, "how sad".

and of course i continued with what i perceived to be, good care and good calls.

some folks just never cease to amaze me.

leslie

[belgarion]

Spending years in a large corporation you see these kind of programs come and go. At one plant where I was working some bright boy decided housekeeping needed more attention, hence another program was born. Several CASES of poker chips with a catchy little slogan printed on them were ordered. Whenever an employee was spotted by a member of management stopping to pick someting up from the floor or straighten out a messy area or whatever, they were given one of the chips. The chips could be collected and traded in for litttle prizes at HR or food at the plant cafeteria.

Of course like ALL programs at large companies, it didn't last long. Employees would purposely drop something on the floor to pick up when a supervisor was watching. Management people got tired of carrying around a pocket full of poker chips. The whole thing was allowed to die a slow, lingering death and within six months it was just another memory.

I do wonder sometimes what happened to all those freakin poker chips.