how to handle difficult personalities

[nurseyNJNYC]

here's the situation.

for the most part, we've always gotten along as a team and take pride in our work. recently, the workload has been getting more demanding and my team, particularly the nurse aides, seems to be falling apart. i try my best to be supportive and positive. i try my best to be fair, objective, and accommodating.

some of these grown women have really inflexible counterproductive attitudes. for instance, a 60 year old staff member continues to hold grudges and bicker with a 20 year old staff member. or the staff member that is constantly paranoid about her other coworkers because she believes that they are singling her out and putting her down. or the one who instigates drama between other staff members. i am in my 30's and honestly, i cannot believe that grown women can act this way. we used to be cohesive team, and now its pointless bickering that eventually affects our work for our patients.

i encourage teamwork and speak to them individually about not taking things personally, and not reacting to the other person. otherwise, i can pick out where the problems lie, but i just don;t have the power to change people's stubborn or negative ways.

what do i do??? im feeling the heat from upper management.

[psychRNmom2]

I would document the conversations that you have had with them and follow the progression of discipline. When I coach people, I say to them "I am documenting that I coached you about this, if I have to talk to you again, it will progress to the next step (verbal warning)" Coach them up or out. There is such a thing as a good turnover. If it's affecting patient care, they need to be disciplined. Oh the joys of management!

[toomuchbaloney]

I would recommend you read the books by Lencioni, specifically "The 5 Dysfuntions of a Team".

You are correct that you must address the counterproductive and unacceptable behavior. I think you might pick up some valuable ideas from that book or others that he has written.

Good luck.