Do you ever feel the need to defend other coworkers?

[SilverBells]

At my workplace, I have a coworker whom I have great respect for and work well with.  Unfortunately, there are some other coworkers who don't think as highly of her.  I get the impression some aren't pleased with her work ethic, because they often comment on her "sitting at the nurse's station doing nothing."  The thing is, I can verify that she is not always at the nurse's station and when she is, she most certainly is working.  Sometimes she is charting while other times she's working on orders.  In other words, she's doing anything but nothing.   She's a strong patient advocate all day.  

I often feel the need to stand up for her because I feel she is being criticized unnecessarily.   She is a key asset to the nursing team, and I don't want others to think differently.  

Anyone else feel the need to defend and/or stick up for a coworker? 

[vintagegal, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

On 12/27/2021 at 6:56 PM, SilverBells said:

One instance has come up in which therapy has reported concerns about this nurse's bedside manner; per therapy, a patient has reported her as being rude and difficult to work with.  I know this nurse in question has excellent bedside manner, but now I have to follow up because apparently therapy's opinions trump anyone else's.  I am not sure why, but I perceive the DON as favoring therapy because she always seems to take their word on everything.   I honestly think it's ridiculous to write someone up based on therapy's report.  I do feel the need to stand up for a nurse that I know does a good job, because, from my perspective, therapy dislikes this nurse and to me, their constant criticism of her is undeserved and unwarranted 

In your position, you have to look into any concerns that are brought to your attention regardless of what your own opinions are. That is part of being a manager. If you were a floor nurse, you wouldn’t have to deal with all of this.