Handling delegation

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

I know that most of you have had to deal with co-workers who are not as "on task" as you expect them to be. When I am at work, I WORK. I don't dilly dally, I don't spend 20 minutes talking to my friends in the hall and I don't drag my feet close to quitting time. I have to delegate tasks to some of my co-workers because we work as a team in the OR. There are certain duties that are expected of each member of the team.

In the essence of expediency and efficiency, I tend to work quickly, being mindful that x must be done prior to y being accomplished. I get my tasks done early so that I may help my teammates and thus decrease turn over times between cases. I am ribbed a lot by my peers, "Uh oh, here comes Canes. She is walking fast. Everyone get to work!" They are joking, and that's cool with me. BUT...they are not taking advantage of the extra time that I worked so hard for us to be ahead of the game. They are taking breaks in the lounge, talking to friends, goofing off...you name it. I have tried to not let this get to me, but when my scrub tech scrubs in without getting all of the requisite supplies, I am having to work harder because they did not prepare appropriately. I have spoken to the techs that have not prepared (one on one and privately) and it has made me less than popular. It irks me juuuuust a little that they are taking offense to my asking them to do their duties in a timely and efficient manner.

I have brought this to the attention of my NM. She sees it daily. I don't know if she speaks to the team members or not, but I have seen no change in behaviors. I have a hard time being tough with my peers, however I have no problem being assertive when I need to (like patient advocacy, correct technique, a screaming surgeon). I feel that it is not my place to "crack the whip" so to speak when my peers are slacking off.

Here is what I need from you guys: Should I read some books about being more assertive with peers? Should I try to find out why I am so hesitant to call someone out on being slack? As I said, I have spoken to my NM without result. I feel like I am knocking myself out doing 3 jobs at once so that the surgical schedule can stay on time. I am beginning to feel some resentment, and I know that I need to deal with that feeling NOW so that I can grow and learn. So tell me what you have done in a similar situation. I appreciate your feedback.

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Sounds like you're going overboard. I wouldn't like to work with someone like you. Are you a supervisor?Is it your responsibility to get the cases done on time? You can only control what you do not what others do. You'll look a lot better in everyone's eyes if you stop worrying about what others are not doing.Concentrate only on what is your responsibility. As far as your techs not being ready its a game and your not playing well. They know that you'll scramble to get what they should have had already. Next time play it cool.I'll get what you need,Say I thought so and so had that already for you. And take your time getting it. The tech is the one who will look bad,they should be ready. Again its a game that you're not playing well.

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She's right Canes, seriously. Get some xanax first, 'cause I know you will need it if you are going to survive letting the chips fall where ever they may. Let the holes in continuity/schedule open wide while you calmly say, "hmmmmmmmm, I wonder whose duty that was supposed to be?"

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Another thing always ask your tech before the start of the case,do you have everything you need? Then baring anything unforeseen,you will both know who's fault it is when they are not ready. If there is time,have that person break scrub to get what they forgot,they'll get tired of the game quickly.

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I've had some wise people in the health care field tell me that anyone who has a problem with someone who is "over-efficient" or "on-the-ball" is jealous. Like you, I pride myself in busting my butt too. On a lot of days, I have my 9 am meds passed on four patients, as well as all my documentation done by 9am--and we have 4 VERY sick cardiac step-down patients on a "good day." I get "kidded" all the time. But if my work ethic makes someone else look bad, tough you-know-what. The difference is, I don't worry about anybody else. I know the situation is different in the OR, but I say do your job--and your job only. Long as the patient is safe and cases get done, let the others mess around and hang themselves on their own rope. Don't cover for anybody but yourself.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
Sounds like you're going overboard. I wouldn't like to work with someone like you. Are you a supervisor?Is it your responsibility to get the cases done on time? You can only control what you do not what others do. You'll look a lot better in everyone's eyes if you stop worrying about what others are not doing.Concentrate only on what is your responsibility. As far as your techs not being ready its a game and your not playing well. They know that you'll scramble to get what they should have had already. Next time play it cool.I'll get what you need,Say I thought so and so had that already for you. And take your time getting it. The tech is the one who will look bad,they should be ready. Again its a game that you're not playing well.

Wow. So here's the way it happens: if our cases are not done on time, we get stuck. Meaning we have to break any plans that we had after work, we have to stay until we get relief...and who knows when that will be. We are understaffed. So you think I should chill? The tech can't drop scrub while holding a retractor. So I am stuck running for things. I agree that the tech looks bad, but the case must go on and yours truly is left holding the bag. It gets old.

BTW, I admit that I SUCK at game playing. When I am at work, I see an objective and a goal. I go from point A to point B. I just want to get the job done. Believe it or not, I am a laid back person in general. But I feel that when I am at work, I need to WORK. I have trouble separating the two. So how would you suggest I play it cool while still moving cases along?

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
She's right Canes, seriously. Get some xanax first, 'cause I know you will need it if you are going to survive letting the chips fall where ever they may. Let the holes in continuity/schedule open wide while you calmly say, "hmmmmmmmm, I wonder whose duty that was supposed to be?"

HA! Xanax! I admit that I have a problem with schedules/being on time/moving things along. I guess I need to just let it go.

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Specializes in PeriOperative.
Sounds like you're going overboard. I wouldn't like to work with someone like you. Are you a supervisor?Is it your responsibility to get the cases done on time? You can only control what you do not what others do. You'll look a lot better in everyone's eyes if you stop worrying about what others are not doing.Concentrate only on what is your responsibility. As far as your techs not being ready its a game and your not playing well. They know that you'll scramble to get what they should have had already. Next time play it cool.I'll get what you need,Say I thought so and so had that already for you. And take your time getting it. The tech is the one who will look bad,they should be ready. Again its a game that you're not playing well.

It sound like you have not spent much time in the OR. Everything is the RN's responsibility. When the patient is in the OR 10 minutes late because the scrub was on facebook for 30 minutes, it is the RN's fault. And putting the blame where it belongs is usually seen as passing the buck.

Canes, I have found myself in the same situation with lazy scrubs. With big cases, I get there 10 minutes early because my scrub will get there 10 minutes late. I call the charge nurse 1 minute after they were due to be in the room, so that she is aware the scrub is late. When the scrub wanders in, I tell her I have already opened, go scrub. After I tie her up, I leave her while I go get the patient. It sucks to do two people's jobs every day. (OK, not every day, just with a couple of my favorite scrubs...)

I have made sure that everyone is aware of expectations (ie in the room by 0635, 5 minutes out of the room between cases), and I document every time that expectation is not met (for the repeat offenders).

If the scrub puts up an attitude with me during the case (which is the usual response to me calling them on being lazy and failing to meet expectations), I can play that game, and I can play it better than them.

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Specializes in Education, IV Therapy, Travel Medicine.

Canesdukegirl,

I see myself in your comments. First, kudos on being efficient and not a slacker. Secondly, hard to change self much less anyone else although, Peitite had some good tips. Third, I think you have the qualities of a good nursing instructor or nursing entreprenuer/self employeed or contract work. Think about your future plans and whether you do better working in a different environment where you don't so heavily rely on others to meet your goals. For instance, many years ago I made a great home health infusion nurse for those same reasons and loved that time in my life as my organization and skills led me to have lots of free time to visit my children for lunch at school and many other times which I would not have been able to do on a full time job. I made the same money and took excellent care of my patients and had time for me. Those skills led me to where I am. Hey and no to the Xanax. LOL

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Sounds like you're going overboard. I wouldn't like to work with someone like you. Are you a supervisor?Is it your responsibility to get the cases done on time? You can only control what you do not what others do. You'll look a lot better in everyone's eyes if you stop worrying about what others are not doing.Concentrate only on what is your responsibility. As far as your techs not being ready its a game and your not playing well. They know that you'll scramble to get what they should have had already. Next time play it cool.I'll get what you need,Say I thought so and so had that already for you. And take your time getting it. The tech is the one who will look bad,they should be ready. Again its a game that you're not playing well.

I agree....If I had someone rushing around gathering everything for me, prodding me, speaking to me about what they do not like about my work habits (as long as my work habits are good and it isn't a manager/sup, etc) then I would first be offended. I would be offended because this kind of behavior of canes could be seen as the mother hen tidying up and taking care of the little chicks (thereby giving the impression canes believes she is better, more productive, more intelligent, more nurse, more whatever that might flit through the mind of the insecure or just plain hateful people).

I am usually the aggressive type wherein I would say something immediately, but I do know of people (and I have been forced in the past to engage in this practice, as well, albeit rarely) who are very passive aggressive and their way of handling this issue would be to sit back and become slower and start to purposely set up canes to go get their stuff, take care of things, etc. Their thought would be along the lines of "if she's such a super nurse that does better/faster than me, then let her do it."

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BTW, I admit that I SUCK at game playing. When I am at work, I see an objective and a goal. I go from point A to point B. I just want to get the job done. Believe it or not, I am a laid back person in general. But I feel that when I am at work, I need to WORK. I have trouble separating the two.

I have to agree....I despise playing games and dealing with passive/aggressive BS. It just seems so dishonorable, to me. Just be upfront as well as respectful....Although to many, that is such an impossibility due to their own insecurities, etc.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

Here's some food for thought; which, upon it's face may seem to having nothing to do with the nature of this post, but I think it is relevant;

I work in the ICU. I have patient's on cardiac monitors, vented and have 13 different drips going, a CRRT case running, and I'm juggling orders and putting out fires.

I have no one to delegate to. I am my own one man band. I have no one watching the telemetry monitor for me while I'm tied up in a patient's room. I have to canvass the other RN's for help to turn a patient. I have to make up my own drips after pharmacy closes up shop for the afternoon.

If you can imagine yourself without someone to delegate to for even half the stuff that they are supposed to be doing, and imagine yourself doing it all by yourself, I think it may change your perspective.

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