How do you cope with work and co-workers:(

leslie :-D · Sep 29, 2011

i'm experiencing deja vu...didn't i see this thread already?

(just trying to establish if i'm losing my marbles or not)

leslie:)

SweetseRN · Sep 29, 2011

Ouch, it is so hard...But really, all jobs are the same...Nursing or anywhere else you are always going to have "THOSE" people...You have to toughen up your skin and let the BS roll off you. You go to work, do the best you can and do your very best to not get caught up in the drama. I personally have a rule, I am not at work to make friends. I go to work, do my thing and do it the best I can. If someone doesn't like me, that is their problem.

lifein08 · Sep 29, 2011

Ouch, it is so hard...But really, all jobs are the same...Nursing or anywhere else you are always going to have "THOSE" people...You have to toughen up your skin and let the BS roll off you. You go to work, do the best you can and do your very best to not get caught up in the drama. I personally have a rule, I am not at work to make friends. I go to work, do my thing and do it the best I can. If someone doesn't like me, that is their problem.

Yeah I agree that all the jobs are same.

lifein08 · Sep 29, 2011

I guess

ninjago · Sep 29, 2011

"I am not at work to make friends. I go to work, do my thing and do it the best I can." from SweetseRN.....same here. I try to be nice to everybody, but there will always be those kinds of people. Either I just ignore them, give them their own dose of medicine or kill them with kindness.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2011

Ditto. I've always said the same....not at work for friends. I'm there to be civil, friendly, helpful...to a point. I'm paid to do a job and go home. I don't look for conflict, but I also won't allow people to take advantage. And I could care less if people don't like me or want to gossip.

My life is outside of work. Now, if I happen to make a friend in the process, and we get each other, I consider that a bonus.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Sep 29, 2011

When I found myself in a job with co-workers I couldn't stand, I reminded myself that I was there for the customers, not my co-workers.

Zookeeper3 · Sep 29, 2011

I may be rare, but I'm a culture changer. Working in the ICU is different then the floor and I mean no disrespect, but floor nurses do tend to blame the previous shift, the aide, the family. In the ICU, we OWN it all, and have to take accountability from the moment we hit the clock.

I have no excuse about the day nurse... I reviewed the orders, knew what needed to be done, if I didn't do that, I OWN it, if I'm behind on a lab draw, I have to delegate it to a peer, I OWN it... clarify an order... I OWN it.

I simply don't truck along, oblivious and blame others for the assignment that I accepted, which includes incomplete orders. Many will hate me for saying it, but it is true.

A trash talking nurse is confronted by me in private, ONCE, and told, we are a team, you own your assignment and you do NOT look better in the eyes of anyone by trashing a peer, YOU look like trash. We don't tolerate trash here.

Or, In private ONCE, "you're talking about our peer negatively, save it to say it to their face and don't say any of your crap out loud until you have.".

my peeps build each other up, own up to mistakes that even are not our own, and NEVER, EVER throw anyone under the bus.

It only takes one person to set this standard. Have one conversation in private to allow behavior to change, and it won't, and then you'll have to call a peer out in front of everyone. (do as last resort but do it), and then, THEN, they wouldn't dare trash talk a peer in front of you.

This behavior should spread, as others see how it works, and then those cancerous people either leave, or change. These people are cancers and we as nurses have the script to cure them of their illness. It only takes one treatment to start the behavior regressing. We all own this cure where we are.

mikeworksRN · Sep 29, 2011

I may be rare, but I'm a culture changer. Working in the ICU is different then the floor and I mean no disrespect, but floor nurses do tend to blame the previous shift, the aide, the family. In the ICU, we OWN it all, and have to take accountability from the moment we hit the clock.

I didn't want to quote the whole thing. But I do need to save this reply, print it, and post it on my bulletin board.

I work the floor. This is exactly what it's like.

Damn it I think I love you.

morecoffeepls, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2011

I'd say, "Work nights", but I still can't stand certain co-workers & have to deal with the BS of "strong" personalities. I know I couldn't work any other shift, on my unit at least, because of a horrible person or two. I am typically unflappable & always try to see the good in people or what might motivate their behavior, but that's not enough sometimes to be able to tolerate someone or the environment they pollute. I've directly addressed things that bother me because swallowing people's cr*p isn't really an option. But it's never enough to change someone who's only coping mechanism for their own terminal misery is to forcibly share it with anyone within a certain radius. It's a shame - love my job, love the patients, love my unit; but some of the people who work here make it impossible for this place to live up to its potential. I'll stay on nights until I decide to move on. I would blame my nurse manager, but what's she supposed to do about it? Fire long-standing personnel even though "good" nurses leave because of them? I've seen great, experienced nurses come and go, as well as newer, highly motivated nurses do the same. Sure, people don't become nurses to make friends. But why is it impossible to have a professional, considerate "team" of nurses whose primary concern is creating an environment where BS doesn't interfere with patient-centered care?

I'm sure this helped a lot. Sorry, got me thinking is all. I guess you probably know the answer to your question - stay & suck it up, or leave & cross your fingers. Good luck.

LouisVRN, RN · Sep 29, 2011

Honestly I love most of my co-workers. I'd say 90% of them go to work each day and do the best they can for their patients. The ones that choose to go to work and be negative and complain, I try to make them aware of how their behavior is coming off. If they continue to act this way I choose not to be around them. Our unit is large and I can work the same side as someone and still manage not to see them all shift, especially if its done on purpose. I have been on my floor three years and have no impending plans of leaving. I learn new things frequently and have the privilege of being able to teach others.