Describe your ideal coworker

srercg · Feb 21, 2016

I got to experience both recently. One nurse was extremely helpful - always understanding if I (new nurse) was still trying to get the hang of things, and was not ready to take on more tasks yet. If I had a question, she had no problem answering them. If she noticed something I had done was not finished, or done quite right - she would come to me and say "hey - did you notice. .. " and she did it in such a way that she didn't make me feel like the stupid new nurse, brought it to my attention, and gave me a heads up to correct it or finish it. . she had my back while I was learning - (had very little training)

Then on the flip side -there was the OTHER nurse - the one who always seemed to take over after my shift - and would search through every detail of what I did that day looking for any thing that she could make look like an "error" . Being new, of course, she found a couple - not serious - but she would run to the ADON and tell her about it - call the DON or the ADON cell. Once I gave her report, and told her I was STILL entering the orders for a pt, if she needed me. All of a sudden about 1/2 way through, I hear her on the phone behind me at the nurses station calling the doctor to verify whether an order was sublingual or ophthalmic - I was sitting right there - it was an order I had just worked on that had auto populated with the wrong option, and I didn't know it - but I heard what she was asking, and said "I'm right here! - why didn't you ask me, I would have told you" - but if she had done that -it would have robbed her of the opportunity to make herself look good for supposedly "catching an error", and me look bad because I didn't notice it had populated wrong. She could have said "hey - did you notice this went in as >>>" or "I was looking at this order YOU JUST entered -and saw it says . . ..did you mean for that to say that" - but no.

I also noticed that the nice nurse who was more than willing to help - was an RN =BSN. The nasty nurse was an LPN. I am an ASN-RN working on my BSN.

woundnurse4u · Feb 21, 2016

Qualities of a great coworker

1. A great coworker will recognize when another coworker needs help- whether is it to accomplish a task, learn a new skill, or find an answer to a question.

2. A great coworker refrains from gossip and does not engage in drama.

3. A great coworker reciprocates favors. Will cover your time off when you cover their time off, will be fair about working on holidays and weekends, etc.

4. A great coworker will support the team when it comes to a legitimate concern or complaint.

5. A great coworker is sensitive to others and recognizes when a fellow colleague is in distress and responds appropriately/rises to the occasion.

6. A great coworker does not bring up controversial issues like politics or religion so as to engage their coworkers in a debate.

7. A great coworker is rarely late to work or undependable.

8. A great coworker honors their commitments to team projects and supports others is honoring their own commitments.

9. A great coworker pursues educational opportunities and invests in their own professional develops so as to not be stagnant (includes being up to date on policies).

10. A great coworker never undermines others, is actively disengaged, or seeks to create a toxic work environment.

Zelda, RN · Feb 21, 2016

Cheerful (or, at the very least, don't complain constantly), kind. I like to know little details about my coworkers, but not their whole life. It makes me uncomfortable when people share indiscriminately. If people want to talk a lot, that's fine, just don't be offended if someone asks you to give them some quiet (I work with a guy who's really good about that).

The best coworkers I've had so far are psych nurses. Those nurses are witty, sharp-minded, and tough skinned. Psych is a very "we're all in this together" specialty - though I didn't realize that until I went to med/surg. Not that med/surg isn't, but it's easier to ignore coworkers struggling in med/surg bc you may only see them a few times bc everyone has their own patients. In psych, all the patients are hanging out together, so it's easy to see when someone's struggling.

PocketSize, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2016

1. On time and does not abuse call-outs.

2. Helps you when you're in the weeds

3. Does not leave a pile of crap for you to sort out

(Aka good time management during their shift)

5. Able to give good feedback

6. **MOST IMPORTANTLY** Does not create a toxic work environment- does not instigate, target an individual, look for opportunities to drag someone down, keeps life and work separated as to not bring last night's bitter attitude into work the next morningðŸ™ƒ

Vacationtime247 · Feb 21, 2016

Someone who calls off work after already being 20 minutes late. A coworker that sits behind the desk on their tablet but doesn't answer the phone. A person who isn't afraid to take the last copy or supply without making copies or resupplying. A brave soul who has no brain to mouth filter. Ideally that person will be late from their lunch break by 20-30 minutes routinely. This person should also never clean up after themselves or anyone else, ever. Insanely irate behaviour with profound cussing. Foul odor is a must. Should always borrow things and not return them. Treats everyone equally bad. A horribly wretched vile human being capable of destroying anyone in their path.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Feb 21, 2016

I got to experience both recently.
I also noticed that the nice nurse who was more than willing to help - was an RN =BSN. The nasty nurse was an LPN. I am an ASN-RN working on my BSN.

It has 0% to do with education level, and 100% to do with personality

duaneconnell7, RN · Feb 21, 2016

It is always nice to work in a friendly, kind, supporting environment. I would enjoy coworkers that are helpful, patient in explaining what outcome they would like, direct, honest, and those that do the extra mile to reach out to you for a better working environment, if not for friendship.

Asking about personal matters, however, may be dependent upon if a coworker becomes your close friend already, but if it's purely business, of course you will be a little hesitant or reserve in pouring it out.

Check this link for more of the tips on building good work relationships https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/good-relationships.htm

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Feb 21, 2016

I like to work with team players. Help each other out, teach each other new approaches to skills and concepts-and is receptive to the same as well, and has your back when code brown hits the fan. I don't need niceties, or life stories. In fact, the less I know about most of my coworkers, the happier I am.

Farawyn · Feb 21, 2016

My ideal coworker? My buds on the SN board.

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Feb 21, 2016

An individual with strong clinical skills who can be equally competent as an independent clinician as well as a team player.

purplegal · Feb 22, 2016

1. Someone who is patient with others and does not expect new nurses to know everything

2. Someone who is willing to help out when needed

3. Someone who has the ability to explain anything to someone else without making them feel like an idiot.

4. Someone who does not go behind your back and report your every move to the supervisor.

5. Someone who arrives early and is willing to stay a bit extra if that helps out with patient needs.

6. Someone who avoids work gossip and work drama.

7. Someone who knows when to ask for help.

8. Someone who is kind to everyone and doesn't show favoritism towards one person over another.

9. Someone who addresses any concerns in person and discusses possible solutions, instead of trying to get their coworker in trouble.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Feb 22, 2016

Someone I know has my back. Someone who I can exchange a glance with and convey a lot.
A COB. I always want to work with COBs.

There for ya , FAR.