Bragging Rights?

[NewNurse16]

Ok, so maybe "bragging" is an exaggeration.......Need your opinions. My BIGGEST pet peeve is when nurses continuously pat themselves on the back (kind of like being a know-it-all ALL the time) and go on and on and on about what a good job they did and opportunities they have been given or positions they were chosen for. Reason being, in my mind a really good nurse does the job and does it well and may know he or she did a really good job, but keeps their thoughts to themselves and then continues to do a good job. That being said, I feel like I may have broken my own rules and I am sooooo annoyed at myself for doing it. Every nurse on my floor wants the opportunity that I have been given recently...the thing is it is ALL luck (working at the right time, taking care of the right patient) and the chances of it happening to you a few times in a row is very slim. Well, for me it has happened back to back to back and it is so bizarre that it has happened that way. And last week when the opportunity came up AGAIN I just happened to mention that this was the third or fourth time it happened to me and I think other people were annoyed by it...but again I was not chosen for it. I just happened to be taking care of the pt when the opportunity came up...and I did not even do a single spectacular thing except be part of very exciting moments in my patients' lives in the recent past. AGAIN ALL LUCK....your opinions,please!!! Should I have just kept my mouth shut about it? I think so and I am disappointed in myself for "bragging" so to speak:scrying:

[HeatherISU]

What is it that you were able to do? Your post is a little vague.

I think that in ANY situation, its annoying when people continually brag. Ugh! Just annoying! Especially with me being new I try to be humble and just do my job the best that I can. As for me, I get embarrassed when people say I am doing a good job or get compliments. I think as a nurse you should be humble but accept compliments graciously. But hey... don't beat yourself up! If you did something good then you deserve someone to notice! (Don't we all hate it when it goes unnoticed continually!)

[neonatal_nurse]

Bragging is such a turn-off. It gives you this arrogant air about yourself.

My advice, you can just casually mention something in a nonchalant manner. Say something like, "This patient always asks for me even if other nurses nurses are in charge of him." Believe me, they'll get the picture. It's sharing about something good you've done without being boastful about it.

Keep your feet on the ground. Good work.

[sonnyluv]

I think you should appropriately state what you did and why it was strong work. Often, we nurses don't give ourselves credit for the great work we do. And pointing out the code you had that went well (sounds like) reminds everyone what we are here for and what nurses can do. Take some credit!

[rngolfer53]

I was lucky enough to get some very good advice many years ago when I got my first real job out of college (in a different industry):

Be quick to praise others and slow to praise yourself.

At least as far back as the ancient Greeks, boastfulness has been seen as a fault, or at least annoying. The old proverb goes that those whom the gods would humble, they first make proud.

[CECE,RN]

Since this is your first time "bragging", you are forgiven. Take note to the reactions others had on your comment and learn from it, that's all you can do....still says alot that you are continously chosen for opportunities others wish they could have, so don't really look at it as Luck...take it as you're doing a good job in your field. Trust me, when you are genuine at heart in what you say, people notice...and vice versa. Good Job!