Greetings everyone! First, I just want to thank this site for all the good that it does. I've finally joined but for quite a while now, I've been enjoying the posts and discussions on this site. I wish I knew about this site earlier because it could have helped me out tremendously in nursing school.
Well, I'm a brand new nurse as the name says. I recently got a job in a very busy med-surg unit. It's been scary and exciting and fun---just a mixed ball of emotions! I'm learning tons and I've begun taking on more and more patients. I've been set up with some wonderful preceptors and supervisors. I also like most of my new hire cohorts (for the most part).
While having this opportunity has been quite a blessing, not everything is great. I've run into a handful of nurses and aides that have really bad attitudes or just walk around all day like they hate their jobs. I greet everyone and try to be conversational but some of them just seem to be very cliquey or hate their lives. Some have been the opposite and introduce themselves and say something like, "If there's any way I can help you, don't hesitate to ask." I really appreciate those nurses. I'm sure this situation doesn't just exist in nursing, but this is my first real job and I've never encountered so many people in a place of work that seem like they hate being where they are. Some of them have been in the unit for years and what I don't understand is if they are unhappy, why stay and be stressed out or be jaded?
I guess my question is not necessarily how to deal with Negative Nancys. The easy answer is to befriend the ones that aren't. How do I avoid becoming the nurse that no one wants? How did you deal with negativity and bad morale in your place of work? Thanks for your help!
I worked with a woman like this. She complained ENDLESSLY about every single thing, how nothing was to her liking, nothing was up to scratch, and went on & on & on. She was a very overweight lady who was on weight watchers, but never lost any weight & who wouldn't change her eating habits or lifestyle. I think this is why she was so grumpy, she wasn't happy with herself or her weight. I think she had just been unhappy for years, being in the same job, as many people don't move on with their lives.
Many people complained about her but management couldn't be bothered doing anything about it. I wasn't there permanently so I didn't care in the end.
I've never, ever understood why people stay in a job they dislike, or hate some parts of it, but won't look for another job. Nobody chains them to the desk, or locks the door so they can't get out. They just can't be bothered looking for another job, they're lazy. They're unhappy wherever they go. Just smile & ignore them, u can't change everyone else just yourself. They probably won't change anyway after a long time in a job they hate. U could try talking to them in a the break room, asking what is wrong, but I find this quite often doesn't work as they become hostile & silent.
Don't worry about it! Just be your normal old self.
Now if they were bullying you, that is completely different.
You must of worked with me I knew a nurse just like that. After I got accustomed to the place I finally got the backbone to tell her if she was so unhappy then quit. I bet you for 10 years I said that to her every day.
a few times, i have good-naturedly asked, 'how many suck pills did you take today?', followed by a quick noogie to their head.
some have growled at me, some have cracked a smile.
i guess my point, is that you can playfully call them out on it, but bottom line is, you are in control of how you respond to your immediate environment.
remain professional, civil, and detached from those who are miserable.
leslie
While we are in control of how we respond, our immediate, day to day, day after day, every single shift, over and over again environment sometimes is just overwhelming. Even the strong need a spotter. (How about that analogy? It just came to me out of the blue.
I worked with a woman like this. She complained ENDLESSLY about every single thing, how nothing was to her liking, nothing was up to scratch, and went on & on & on. She was a very overweight lady who was on weight watchers, but never lost any weight & who wouldn't change her eating habits or lifestyle. I think this is why she was so grumpy, she wasn't happy with herself or her weight. I think she had just been unhappy for years, being in the same job, as many people don't move on with their lives.
Many people complained about her but management couldn't be bothered doing anything about it. I wasn't there permanently so I didn't care in the end.
I've never, ever understood why people stay in a job they dislike, or hate some parts of it, but won't look for another job. Nobody chains them to the desk, or locks the door so they can't get out. They just can't be bothered looking for another job, they're lazy. They're unhappy wherever they go. Just smile & ignore them, u can't change everyone else just yourself. They probably won't change anyway after a long time in a job they hate. U could try talking to them in a the break room, asking what is wrong, but I find this quite often doesn't work as they become hostile & silent.
Don't worry about it! Just be your normal old self.
Now if they were bullying you, that is completely different.
Why stay in a job you hate? It's often really scary to change, especially for older workers who might no longer be spry and flexible and able to stand the often brutal pace of some nursing jobs. Also, the present work availability scene is not too good. They stay for the sure paycheck and benefits, for the fact that they know their jobs and are maybe afraid to try something new.
It is true that some people are unhappy wherever they go. In that case, I guess a new job isn't necessarily called for.
When I got my first job in health care, one of my co-workers greeted me with: "Soon you, too, will become jaded and cynical!" He said it in jest, but I think he also meant it. I don't think he was entirely correct. I don't think I ever got cynical, and while I was feeling a bit jaded the last couple of years, a lot of that was just the stress of working through nursing school.
As a new nurse, I went to work on the same unit I'd worked while in school, so I pretty well knew everybody. Some have moved on, some are still there, some could probably qualify as Negative Nancys. The thing is, when I was all happy and excited about a successful straight cath or looking at the bright side on some new policies, there were those who said, "Let's see how you feel in five years." And now it has been five years, and I think I'm mostly pretty positive. My saying is, "I love my stupid job." And it is, sometimes, and I do, mostly. I grumble more than I used to. I've survived the first year of massive anxiety about going in to work. Now there are times when I wish I could stay home, not because I dread work, but simply because I'd rather play with my cats. I've come to realize that I have to work at being happy, and even that it's okay to be bummed, once in awhile. I read somewhere--I think it was here--that men are twice as likely to leave nursing in the first five years, so I feel like I have crossed a threshold of sorts, and fully expect to finish my last shift on comfort measures. I deal with negative coworkers in typical male fashion--I nod and look sympathetic and wonder when the game comes on. I deal with my own negativity by reminding myself that if it was all fun, all the time, I'd have to pay to be there. Whether this strategy works remains to be seen, but so far, I love my stupid job.
This is a tough one to answer because I also have co-workers who spend a good amount of time whining about how they hate their jobs. I, too complain sometimes and when I catch myself doing it, I just thank God for all He has done for me and where He has brought me from in my life. (I was one of the new grads who couldn't find a job!).
Sometimes I hear the negativity so much that it becomes contagious and soon I find myself complaining about small things that don't even matter. I try to arrive to work 30 mins before my shift and instead of running into the hospital, I stay and pray in my car. I pray for all the patients, my friends, familly, co-workers etc. I pray that God will give us all a positive attitude and that we can take care of our patients to best of our abilities.
I think that you have to kill your co-workers with kindness and wake up every day realizing that the fact that you even have a job is a blessing. Sometimes you just have to walk away when you hear your co-workers negativity. Also, sometimes I'll just say, "If you hate your job so much, then why don't you just leave?" Sometimes it stops them right dead in their tracks. You can't always change other people's attitude, but you have control over yourself.
Lastly, just remember that there is no such thing as the perfect job. So there will always be something that you dislike, but you have to look at the bigger picture.
Good Luck!
Merry Christmas and GOD BLESS YOU. I LOVE your post.
I remember 2 negative nancy's from a previous job. They worked night shift and all they did was complain about everthing all night long. It was exhausting just hearing those two. I just did my best to ignore them and to avoid them as much as possible. One of the negative nancy's didn't even have to work. She had a good pension but she returned to work because she said she was "bored being home all day.":eek:. I remember one night especially when they were complaining and complaining for hours about all the work they had to do on night shift. I felt like screaming "If you two would just shut up and do your work you would have already had it all done in 30 minutes."
Exactly! This is what gets me - they COMPLAIN about doing their ACTUAL JOB, then by the time they have got thru whingeing, the job still isn't done!! I hate it, there's things about nursing I don't like but I always do my job, no matter if I've been sent to a ward (I'm agency) I don't like & I don't complain about it, (well maybe a little in the break room!)
You know what, it's negative energy from these people who drain my soul - lucky not too many nurses I work with have been like that (but it's usually the older ones who're like that, ready to retire).
"How do I deal with negative Nancy's". I don't. I validate their feelings by listening. After a few seconds I let them know that I am so sorry but I have to get back to work. Then I just put the cruise control on and stay in my own lane.
(How about that analogy? It just came to me out of the blue. 
They worked night shift and all they did was complain about everthing all night long. It was exhausting just hearing those two. I just did my best to ignore them and to avoid them as much as possible. One of the negative nancy's didn't even have to work. She had a good pension but she returned to work because she said she was "bored being home all day.":eek:. I remember one night especially when they were complaining and complaining for hours about all the work they had to do on night shift. I felt like screaming "If you two would just shut up and do your work you would have already had it all done in 30 minutes."
greenfiremajick
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