How do you deal with a unhelpful colleague?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 14, 2006

I would be callling the charge nurse (or, at my facility, the house supe) and asking her for help. When she asks why Nurse Lazy isn't helping, I would repeat the conversation.

Same here.

ArmyMSN · Oct 14, 2006

You are caring for a patient after his surgery and you also have 6 other patients one of whom is actively hemorrhaging. You ask for a colleage's to help by helping you hang a IV for one of your patients so you can deal with the one that is hemorrhaging. But she responds, "sorry I am busy too; you will have to deal with it yourself!". You note that she has been talking with her husband on the phone for the last 20 minutes.
How can you respond in an assertive manner?

Nothing like teamwork.

I'm curious. Have you ever left her hanging in need of assistance? Maybe she's reciprocating. I've seen it where nurses help those who have helped them. Just one of those things some nurses do (not that I agree with it).

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Oct 14, 2006

Wow...I am so lucky that I don't have that probelm...when there is an issue of importance or emergency we all pitch in and help that nurse! We have good teamwork because we truely care about one another, and know it is their time this time, perhaps ours the next!

In that case I would get to a safe time and tell my charge! Also, in effect, my charge should be helping me as well in any emergency to provide coverage for my non-emergency pts on the floor since that is their responsiblity too!

My charges are so cool! They have the option to float a nurse for a while to help in emergencies and/or cover the desk/floor or what not that is needed (sometimes just simply being an Aide helps!). And we get perks for that...like a grocery voucher, free meals, ice cream...etc!

Can you tell my hospital is run by RN's? LOL!!!!!!!!! (founded by a single RN, RN's are on the board and admin for the hospital, AND a union founded by the RN's of the county!).

banditrn · Oct 14, 2006

Yes, call the house supervisor or someone else. Keep in mind, tho, that you'll probably have to keep working with this gal.

At the hospital where I worked, the last department I worked in was full of people like that, and they were the 'stars'!!

When I'm at work, my family KNOWS they'd better not call unless someone is dying, but these people were on personal phone calls all day long. Once, one of them even carried our portable phone around, and kept calling home - because her cat was sick.

I have NO patience for that attitude or those behaviors. :madface:

TrudyRN · Oct 14, 2006

If I could, I'd march myself to where she is on the phone, ask her if it was a personal call, ask her if it was an emergency. If not, I'd disconnect her call, tell her to come help me NOW, as I have a pt who is bleeding to death. I'd look her right in the eye and speak very ominously, no smile, in a low, unmistakably serious voice.

When it was all over, I'd write her up and send copies to the top brass at the facility, not just to the immediate supervisor. She is a danger to her patients and to her own license.

I understand that we all need to call home sometimes. But such calls need to happen in the lounge on our breaks if at all possible.

TrudyRN · Oct 14, 2006

Yes, call the house supervisor or someone else. Keep in mind, tho, that you'll probably have to keep working with this gal.
At the hospital where I worked, the last department I worked in was full of people like that, and they were the 'stars'!!
When I'm at work, my family KNOWS they'd better not call unless someone is dying, but these people were on personal phone calls all day long. Once, one of them even carried our portable phone around, and kept calling home - because her cat was sick.
I have NO patience for that attitude or those behaviors.

It doesn't sound like you write them up, Bandit, or have I misunderstood you?

banditrn · Oct 14, 2006

It doesn't sound like you write them up, Bandit, or have I misunderstood you?

No, we didn't 'write people up' for things like that - but I would go to my supervisor who would say things like "I know, its such a problem." and that would be the end of it.

I eventually quit, after I found out they were 'falsifying' documents by just making up vitals, etc. I complained - nothing happened.