Questionable Behavior: Reports and Write Ups

[SisterofMary]

Last night, during my shift, I was having a conversation with a unit clerk over borrowing some equipment from her unit. The unit clerk said something to me that I believe to be inappropriate and unprofessional. It wasn't an attack directed at me, per say, but it was still not appropriate a remark to make in the work place.

I was fuming. I didn't confront her in the moment because I thought I would say things I'd regret. Later on, I figured I would speak to her one-on-one but her shift was over and she already left for the night.

Twelve hours later and I'm still upset with that comment. I would like to report it but I'm hesitant. I don't want to come off as "that" person. I don't want to go to H.R. but I was thinking of e-mailing her manager.

Just advice on how to go about the situation. Do I e-mail my manager? E-mail her manager and C.C. my manager?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[JKL33]

Agree to disagree. I think it is subjective and up to the situation. There are a lot of things that can be excused but not everything.

Agreed.

I mentioned exceptions in my original reply.

It's not my intent to argue here but to put an alternate way of thinking out there because I have come to believe it is much healthier.

Right now you believe it's best to exist as if we have a professional duty to police our peers' day-to-day behavior. Nurses certainly are all educated, at least to some extent, to believe exactly as you do. My angle is simply that that was never an appropriate charge for us to take on any more than anyone else in society would do with their peers. My job is to take excellent care of patients and to help maintain a healthy atmosphere by the way I conduct myself. Others are responsible for the same. But I am not responsible for worrying about whether all my peers meet my idea of professional conduct by always making me feel happy - which is too often what all of this policing business boils down to. That would be an unwinnable situation since we can't control others, and others can't control our emotions. It becomes unhealthy very quickly. And it most certainly doesn't ultimately involve less angst/negativity than the little things people want to police.

This thing of us policing each others' behaviors has hurt the profession of nursing, IMHO. There is a huge amount of ongoing, constantly cycling negativity that plays out in real life based on the belief that this is one of our duties.

Egregious situations of patient safety/ethics would be reported immediately (as mentioned previously), and do not require a period of "stewing" in order to come to the conclusion that they should be reported.

[Daisy4RN]

Agreed.

I mentioned exceptions in my original reply.

It's not my intent to argue here but to put an alternate way of thinking out there because I have come to believe it is much healthier.

Right now you believe it's best to exist as if we have a professional duty to police our peers' day-to-day behavior. Nurses certainly are all educated, at least to some extent, to believe exactly as you do. My angle is simply that that was never an appropriate charge for us to take on any more than anyone else in society would do with their peers. My job is to take excellent care of patients and to help maintain a healthy atmosphere by the way I conduct myself. Others are responsible for the same. But I am not responsible for worrying about whether all my peers meet my idea of professional conduct by always making me feel happy - which is too often what all of this policing business boils down to. That would be an unwinnable situation since we can't control others, and others can't control our emotions. It becomes unhealthy very quickly. And it most certainly doesn't ultimately involve less angst/negativity than the little things people want to police.

This thing of us policing each others' behaviors has hurt the profession of nursing, IMHO. There is a huge amount of ongoing, constantly cycling negativity that plays out in real life based on the belief that this is one of our duties.

Egregious situations of patient safety/ethics would be reported immediately (as mentioned previously), and do not require a period of "stewing" in order to come to the conclusion that they should be reported.

I agree. There is way too much drama because of nurses running around reporting each other for every little infraction or perceived infraction. And, as AnnieOakley pointed out some people are just too easily offended.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Ya know -----in my time as management I have written people up this many times: ZERO.

Because I talk to them, I communicate both in written and verbal form. I warn those teetering on the edge of unprofessional or unethical behavior.

I call them into my office---door shut---- and I LISTEN to what they say about why they are doing what they do. You see, communication should be mostly listening....then assessing the situation and talking about it. This is the most effective way I have found to deal with staff having performance issues.

I don't like writing people up unless nothing -----AND I MEAN NOTHING---- else has worked first. It may come back to bite you in ways you don't anticipate. It won't make you any friends and it may really make things worse.

Ideal discipline is progressive...not just straight to a write-up. That is not going to work and people will not respect you if you don't first try to communicate.

There is a time and place for write-ups, but only as a last resort IMO.