Are You Popular At Work?

icyounurse, BSN, RN · May 24, 2009

I am pretty popular

But I think it has less to do with my stunning personality and good lucks (haha) and more to do with the fact that I am in the staffing pool and keep whatever floor I am sent to from being quite so short staffed:specs:

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 24, 2009

I'm told that people like to work with me because I'm laid back and never freak out, and I don't micromanage.

Well, I've never seen a situation yet that was made better by panicking, and as for micromanagement..........I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Besides, having been a mom for the better part of thirty years, I've learned that people will generally live up, or DOWN, to others' expectations of them---I simply expect my staff to act like the adults they are and do their work, and for the most part, I have no issues with them.

No, it's definitely not my stunning personality or good looks........probably has more to do with treating my staff with some respect. :)

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · May 24, 2009

It varies-

I am a traveler and am very popular and very well-liked at some units, and have been disliked and unpopular at other units. It depends on the culture of the unit, really.

I find I am more popular at units where good pt care is the main concern of the staff- I think it's because that is my focus, as well.

onetiredmomma · May 24, 2009

Don't know, don't care.

emmalou* · May 24, 2009

Lol. This question reinforces my long held view that the workplace really is like high school (no offence to the OP - it's a very good topic).

I've worked in a few places where I just didn't fit in. Wasn't anything I did specifically (I am a bit left of centre and offbeat in some ways I guess though :smokin: ), I just wasn't somebody who made a lot of friends. I did my job, got along fine with everyone, and went home basically. Interestingly, these were the jobs where the managers liked me and offered promotional opportunities.

Other jobs I made friends, went out socially and kept those friends when I left. I was ok at the job, was competent but didn't climb up the career ladder, as it were.

Two places, I hated. People who would stomp all over you just to get up the ladder, backstabbing, rumour mongering, sabotaging, the works. Workplaces with bad workplace cultures are very difficult to fit into, because people aren't that professional in the first place, and tend to be threatened by new staff. I'm also not somebody who will resort to nasty behaviour just to get by so I probably annoyed a few people because of that :cool: . Oh well, win some lose some!

With regards to the question - do I care if people like me? Not so much these days. I mean I do care, in that getting along with your coworkers means clients are cared for appropriately and you have more good days than bad, but insofar as personal opinions, people can take me as they find me these days.

My prior work experience has been a mixed bag really. Kind of like me! :jester:

showbizrn · May 24, 2009

my co-workers on the unit

enjoy working with me

(so i am told:d).

anyway,

i only care

if the dislikes

interfere with patient care :twocents:

ChristineN, BSN, RN · May 24, 2009

I feel that for the most part I'm not popular. I do get along with some staff members and am always willing to help out. However, I have better things to do while at work that to gossip like many of the girls love to do. So, that's why I don't think I'm popular.

RNperdiem, RN · May 24, 2009

I feel that I am neither especially popular or unpopular.

Since I only work per diem and once a week, I am something of an outsider anyway.

I get along fine with everyone and am pleasant and helpful when possible.

I put most of my energies into building and maintaining relationships outside of work.

I don't expect my coworkers to be my friends in the sense of real, personal' lifetime relationships, so my popularity is not an important issue to me.

mom4josh · May 24, 2009

I had been working 7p-7a for six years, but in January changed to 7a-7p. Although I knew everyone on the day shift, if only in passing, I was concerned about how I would be accepted, especially since I was in charge most of the days I was there. About a month into my new shift, my boss told me that she had been asking around and everyone liked working with me.

I've always tried to be fair in everything, not micromanage, but always be available when people need help. It's not always possible, but I try.

Popular? I suppose. If popular means well liked and well known. But I don't do what I do to be popular, I do what I do in the best interest of the patients. Do I care that people like me? Sometimes, because I often find that people who don't like me don't know me and they like to cause trouble. If they just avoid me and I avoid them, that doesn't bother me. Then there are those who don't like me because I expect them to do their jobs correctly. But that's another topic altogether.

nminodob · May 24, 2009

I recently got hired as a new grad on a unit where I had been a CNA and an intern for a total of 4 years (all through school). I was very friendly and popular with the day staff after all that time, but my NM wanted me to start on nights, and I had heard that I would be shunned by them at first because "that's how they are" - to my surprise and joy the very first night an empty chair was pulled up to the table (we start with a unit-wide report), and the charge nurse said, "Come one! Join us!" You can imagine how thrilled I was to find out that everything I was told was dead wrong! Since that time I have found the noc nurses to be tough, smart, and very nurturing...Lucky me, lucky patients!

allnurses Guide · May 24, 2009

My immediate work unit is just me, 2 other women, and 30 guys. 5 of us are fulltime, and we get along great. I'm going to my boss' wedding in 2 weeks, we all go out, we are very good friends. I think when there are less women, there are less dramas and popularity contests.