Friend who does not do their work

[athoes]

Hi everyone,

I am having a problem with a co-worker who is also a friend. Not a close one, but someone I've know for awhile. We work different shifts and everytime she is on the shift before me, she doesn't do some of the work and passes it on to me. Usually I just say ok even though it makes me extremely busy, but it's become a bit too much. I've tried to be nice because I know she is going through personal issues, but it's unprofessional and it's crossed the line. I've heard she's gotten in trouble for other things, and she just brushes it off like it's not her fault. I don't know how to approach it because she is a friend. When the supervisor spoke to her on another issue, she just got defensive and justified her behavior and brushed it off. I'm not sure if I should say something to her directly or have the supervisor say something to her. I don't want her to get in trouble but I also believe her work is not helping the patients and it's creating a very negative work environment for me. Has anyone had this problem before? What did you do?

Thank you!

[nursedeb1967]

I have found that in my years of nursing, people will take advantage of you if they think they can. this person is because you are friends and dont want to offend them by saying something about their lack of work and your work overload. gotta take them aside and tell them what is happening and what it makes you feel like when they do that to you. friend or not, it is only fair to pull ur full share. if they bolt as ur friend then it wasnt much of one was it?

[sameyjaney]

I agree with nursedeb1967. Some people may take advantage of a friend's willingness to help. You need to say something to her directly. I would bring it up discretely though. Something like, "I've noticed that you haven't been able to complete your assignments lately. I am bringing this up because I would like to help both you and myself. When you pass of your unfinished work off to me it makes the workload for my shift very difficult to complete."

[Five&Two Will Do]

I come to work knowing what I am going to do and budgeting my time so I may complete everything. In the ICU of course things come up so it is important for me to be proactive and do everything that I can as early as I can. In my opinion part of my job is to leave my patient's rooms clean and orderly and stocked for the next shift. It is very frustrating to come in to work to a messy room with a lot of work that should have been done. Labs left uncollected, old IV's etc. Even if the same person is coming in that left me in a bind, I do the same job day in and day out. I have that sort of integrity and I am sure most of you all do too. You can say something if you want, but my experience shows that people who are preoccupied at work won't hear much of what you say. Encourage your friend in a kind way. That will probably go further

[crb613, BSN, RN]

I agree you need to say something to her. I would let her know we all get behind sometime, but this has become a habit, and its not ok. You say you are friends, and you don't want to get her in trouble....it seems like you are the only one that is being a friend. What about her responsibility to you as a friend, and co-worker??? What about her responsibility to her patients? You can only be taken advantage of if you allow it. I think you already know what you need to do....good luck.:)

[athoes]

Thanks everybody:) I'm going to say something to her and I hope she is mature enough to really hear it instead of just getting defensive.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

she does not seem to have a problem offending you so why are you enabling her bad behavior? Have a heart-to-heart.

[athoes]

I agree. If I keep letting her doing it, it's not helping me or her. Still not looking forward to the talk...lol but I will have to do it when I see her on the weekend.