have you ever worked with a nurse who thought she needed to be super sweet to get the aides to do their terribly hard work? who frequently brought them food and thanked them all the time for doing what they are paid to do?
i believe in being as nice to everyone as possible, showing respect to all. and being a guy, i do a whole lot of helping the ladies with heavy patients. i don't quite understand the mindset of thanking someone for coming to work and doing what they're supposed to do, what they are hired to do. they are not children and they don't need me or anyone else to mother hen them. imho.
that's not to say that i don't appreciate them or tell them i appreciate them or say things like, "we had a good day, yes? thanks, you guys." or even occasionally take in some bagels or donuts. but i think there's not a requirement for me to spend my hard-earned money on my coworkers. i think being courteous and helpful every day, thanking them as we go if they do something truly over and above, letting them know that i really do appreciate when they go the extra mile - these are enough. no one is thanking me for my everyday work. no red carpet is rolled out when i arrive. why must i do those things for the aides?
i think that adults should come to work when scheduled, short of a true emergency. they should have a positive attitude on the job, leaving their personal woes at home. if they are too overwhelmed by a personal matter, it might be best for them to not come in. really. i don't have time to worry about them while i'm supposed to be taking care of patients. it's not that i don't care about my coworkers, although i probably don't care as much as i used to. it's just that, over the long years of my working life, i have learned that some people will suck you dry, given the chance. they will talk incessantly about their ex or whoever/whatever is going on in their lives. they will complain from now to next july about the assignment, lack of supplies, or whatever - but never talk to someone who can actually make needed changes - they want me or someone else to go to bat for them. i have enough of my own issues to try to change. i try to get them to see themselves as change agents and speak up, intelligently and professionally, of course, to the right party. they rarely do. so, they just go on moaning and complaining about management and insurers and the other shifts.
i guess i'm not a good motivator. personally, it is fear (of not having an income or benefits) that motivates me. most people are probably seeking more from work than just the money and benefits. yes, i do enjoy helping people, solving problems, and knowing that i am a good nurse. but i am not looking to buy friendship with food or kudos.
does it make me a bad nurse or a bad person if i choose to not mother hen the staff?
of course, as a guy, it's a little hard to mother anyone. imagine if i were papa roostering them, though!