Daily assignment sheet

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2014

How can I get my supervisor to write a daily assignment that is weighted properly.

Unfortunately, you cannot make your supervisor complete something that she has already stated she will not do. I am a supervisor in a different workplace setting, and the floor nurses do not get to tell me what to do.

If some of the nursing tasks start going unfinished, perhaps your supervisor will realize that an assignment sheet will come into handy. Hence, my advice is to stop allowing the lazy nurses to bully you into doing an unequally weighted share of the workload.

Develop some very strong personal boundaries and stand your ground. Bullies tend to target the one who is seen as the weakest link, and you're a target probably because they know they can coerce you into doing the tasks that they do not want to do.

Give me a break · Oct 10, 2014

I appreciate your help; but I've worked as a nurse in many different settings and I don't recall ever not having an assignment board. I need to know exactly what is expected of me, what I am responsible for. There are too many nurses that will let something go and leave it for the next shift. I realize that our medical unit is understaffed and the nurses are tired, But because of her lack of making a clear daily assignment the nurses have acquired a "I'm just going to do what I can do" attitude, or, "this is a 24hr facility, that's what the next shift is for" attitude. You say if some of the nursing tasks go unfinished she will realize an assignment sheet may come in handy and floor nurses do not get to tell you what to do, I'll bet its because you use an assignment sheet. Also, I'm not a target because I'm seen as the weakest link. That medical unit breeds bullies and has a long reputation for a hostile work environment because they lack leadership and when I set a good example they get mad at someone raising the bar. I'm done working with nurses who don't care about anything but a paycheck and supervisors who only want a warm body. But thanks, you've helped me decide to move on, really, thank you.

Give me a break · Oct 10, 2014

Your advise is for me is to stop allowing the lazy nurses to bully me into doing more than my share, that sounds like something my supervisor would say. My thought on that is, why do you allow lazy workers period. I'm not here to get them to stop bullying me and to get them to share the workload, that's your job. The supervisor needs to set the work priorities and stand her ground, make the lazy nurses accountable for there neglect of nursing duties. I'm here to work and your here to supervise,so the work gets done. (Ever hear the saying, too many chiefs not enough Indians).

Seems to me, if the supervisor took the time to specify what needs to be done and who's gonna do it, then it would get done,and there wouldn't be bickering bullying and backstabbing. We'll I'm writing myself an assignment right now, to allow myself the right to work in a setting that cultivates growth and good nursing and never allow retaliation from supervisors or bullying from co- workers again.

rpsychnurse · Oct 10, 2014

I agree with TheCommuter.

You cannot make your nurse supervisor make an assignment sheet. I can certainly agree that assignments can be very helpful. I would continue to bring up why you feel assignments are necessary to your manager, perhaps citing past successes and experiences. Perhaps try to divy up the work between the nurses at the onset of the shift yourselves. Bring up your concerns with co-nurses an stand up for yourself and your patients!

Sounds frustrating- best of luck!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2014

Your advise is for me is to stop allowing the lazy nurses to bully me into doing more than my share, that sounds like something my supervisor would say.

In school, the workplace, and other situations in life, we teach people how to treat us. We convey to people how much or how little nonsense we'll take from them. Some people are skilled in interpersonal interactions and can navigate these sticky situations while standing their ground, whereas others are perpetual victims who need someone to constantly intervene on their behalves.

My thought on that is, why do you allow lazy workers period. I'm not here to get them to stop bullying me and to get them to share the workload, that's your job.

You have more control than you realize. Empowerment is the most liberating feeling in the world. On the other hand, supervisors do not have as much control as people think. We cannot fire lazy people or change the aggressive personality that a nurse has displayed since childhood.

orange_dolphin · Oct 11, 2014

I would just continually work at a steady pace, take the highest priority job and work my way down, and what gets done gets done. What doesn't get done, isn't my problem.... it's the supervisor's problem. If I see that any patients are in jeopardy, I would let the supervisor know. If that doesn't work and the patients aren't being cared for, is there a way to go above the supervisor's head confidentially.

Give me a break · Nov 17, 2014

Hi your the first response that makes sense. Are the above responces kidding? " my staff doesn't tell me what to do? " Are you kidding me? You supervisorers wouldn't know what was going on if we didn't tell you.My supervisor has a masters degree and treates her staff like slaves. If the nurses who make a difference and really nurse, have to listen to these master degree nurses who are so full of them selves they forgot what nursing is, then I guess I should leave nursing. Get a clue you supervisors, nurses are not slaves! We don't work for free, and stay after because you give us more work than humanly possible. And, when you work all your lpns to death then you'll have to do all the work yourself. Ha ha.

caliotter3 · Nov 17, 2014

I was going to suggest you have a talk with the supervisor's supervisor, with suggestions, but if you allow your somewhat antagonistic attitude as displayed here to come through, you would get nowhere. You know what they say about honey versus vinegar. Orange_dolphin has the best response. Take a pragmatic approach to your duties and let the chips fall where they fall, just as long as your assigned patients are not neglected by you.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2014

I was going to suggest you have a talk with the supervisor's supervisor, with suggestions, but if you allow your somewhat antagonistic attitude as displayed here to come through, you would get nowhere. You know what they say about honey versus vinegar.

Bingo. You hit the nail on the head, caliotter3.

The victim mentality is one of society's greatest travesties because some people interweave it into all aspects of life, especially the workplace. Why do some employees do this? Because living as a perpetual victim is effective for them up to a point. Victimization prompts employees to dodge personal responsibility because now all events are beyond their control, and so it isn't right to blame them. So blame the coworkers. Blame the supervisor. Blame the patients. Blame the boss with the MSN degree. Blame everyone but me because I'm the victim here, so nothing's my fault.

It’s a very simple concept to wrap around one's finger. The more you allow people to rent space inside your head, the more you become trapped in the workplace victim role. The more trapped you are, the less empowered you are to work on the issue. The cycle repeats until one's workplace victim status is solidified and written in stone. In actuality, our inner self-esteems heavily shape our realities. Wouldn’t you prefer to be the one to call the shots in various situations in life? It's empowering.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Nov 19, 2014

Try asking for a copy of your job description. Then, do as the OPs have said and prioritize your time and document well.

nursefromcali · Dec 5, 2014

Which prison do you work if you don't mind? Thanks.

Well I think supervisors should make a to do list for his/her nurses everyday. It his/her job to make the working flow light and free from chaos. And you have the right to give an opinion too especially if the working environment is affected already.