I've recently had to train and supervise two of my friends at work. I thought it would be great having my mates working with me but it has turned out to be a 12 week nightmare.
For example, they need supervision as they are inexperienced and as the CN I have to make sure they are following best practice. When I correct them on something, they automatically get all defensive about it and argue with me. This has never happened with other nurses who I don't socialise with. It's not about it being 'my way or the high way' it's about best practice. For example, if you deliberately put a plastic tip from a hypodermic needle on top of an open sponge sitting on the patient during a laparotomy, chances are it will end up in the patient. I tell this person to remove it immediately and get told 'it's ok I know it's there'.........GRRRRRRRRRRRR
I also feel bad because one of my friends well just seem to be getting it. I may have to write 'lacks forward thinking' and 'needs to improve situational awareness'. The suction bottle will always explode because they never keep an eye on it, they stand there all dreamlike and seem to have no idea what's going on, they need to be constantly prompted to do things. It's not that they want to be lazy but they just don't seem to be able to prioritse very well.
I've already had one friendship end because I've had to speak to them about their behaviour, they kept arguing with me and it got the point where I had to remind them that at work i'm not their buddy, I'm their to supervise them .
Anyway that's my vent over with. Has anyone else here been in a similar situation where they have had to supervise their friends? Has it worked well, or like me been a constant challenge? I don't want to keep losing friendships, but I'm tired of feeling walked all over.
I love the idea of taking a basic management course. The hospital runs free courses each year and I'm fairly certain that they have something along these lines.
Scrubby
1,313 Posts
Thanks for all your advice.
I love the idea of taking a basic management course. The hospital runs free courses each year and I'm fairly certain that they have something along these lines.