charge nurse: dealing with negativity

[aimric]

I recently started as a fulltime charge nurse on my unit, I was wondering how others deal when people constantly complain about their assignments, it seems that no one is ever happy no matter how accommodating you are with the assignments, it's exhausting. I'm happy and grateful to have my position but it's tough dealing with such negativity.

[been there,done it]

There's a fine line between empathizing and acknowledging. Be careful doling that out. You are their charge nurse, not their mother.

It's unprofessional to constantly complain about an assignment. That's a broad topic discussion that should be brought up in a meeting.

As you have your own assignment, you should not be expected to help with basic tasks. An emergency, certainly.

Unless it's apparent that a nurse is drowning, for one reason or another, a simple " yes, we are all busy today" will suffice.

[Caffeine_IV]

This is one of the many reasons I hated being a charge nurse. Everybody hated their assignment, hating getting an admission etc. Far too much stress for 90cents extra per hour.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

For myself, usually I need to vent, the charge nurse is my venting post, bless her shrivelled little heart. (thanks!)If someone needs to vent, you don't need to fix it. Some days everyone is busy as heck. We all just do our best to get through the day. But if you start trying to solve people's problems you become the person they go to first, before trying to solve their own. It's a fine line.

[RNJill]

I echo what Brownbrook said...although obviously you cannot be expected to help out if you have your own full assignment. Super glad that my own facility doesn't do that. If people seem overwhelmed or are complaining I've definitely learned that it is helpful to gently but firmly ask, "What can I do to make things better?" Once people realize your sincerity they'll usually allow you to help them - I know from sometimes being a floor nurse on certain days that just those little bits of help can really smooth out your day. If people enjoy playing the martyr role (we have a few who love to complain about having "the worst day ever" but won't accept ANY help!), I've been known to tell them that we ALL need help from time to time and part of their responsibility as a team player is knowing when to ask. I know that sounds a little aggressive...doesn't need to be if it's said in the right tone!...and it has truly helped cut down on the martyr-ish complaining from a few.

I also have found it effective to check in with people on the off going shift if I know they've had one of our "problem child" patients during their last shift. Usually I just ask if they want their exact same assignment back or need a break from that patient. I really try hard to be fair with the assignment overall and I believe that if people realize your effort the complaining will lessen at least a bit. If I make a mistake I apologize though; being defensive in those situations definitely makes it worse.

[nursefromcali]

I feel you!! I work also like a charge but my job is a clinical lead nurse in out patient care in the hospital. Some MAs will follow me, some don'. good this my LVNs are very nice and very hard working. Sometimes if they are lazy I just smile and ignore them. instead of complaining to them and telling everyday what to do. I just do their work and finish their thing. Sometimes I feel like I'm spoon feeding them. But there were times I keep quiet at work then everybody seems is affected and keep asking me what's wrong then they will start to work and no drama at all. AHAHA. I handle negativity by showing positive feedbacks to them and I try to balance their work load as well :)

[Schooler]

There are those who will always see themselves as the victim no matter what the assignment. Charge nursing where I work is awful because we get no extra pay for doing extra work (full patient load) and then we have to deal with the drama of assignments. ...and brace yourself if you give a certain someone an admission... good grief. It's always the same people though so I know it's not the assignment but the nurse who needs adjusting.

[heron, ASN, RN]

It's what I hate about any kind of management role: everyone's drama lands in your lap. It's like being a volunteer therapist.

Supervising anybody is torture for me - but it comes with the license, so I had to learn. Am still learning. I've been lucky that I've worked with some very skilled managers. Good models are important.

So ... Is the work getting done?