How to feel part of the team?

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jul 3, 2012

To me, I would think that being part of the team means that when you have a patient who is tanking, they will be there, when you need to have help, they will be there. And you would do the same for them. The mean, talk behind one's back nurses--that is a different thing-- that gets into cliques, and non-related work b.s. And I am sure you would not like to be part of that. If you need help, ask for it. If you can help, do. Otherwise, keep your head above water, and don't get caught up in the bad mouthing. There is so much to learn and do. You would want your co-workers to think you a good nurse, what they think of you as a person is their issue, not yours, and has no place in the workplace.

wooh, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2012

Hang in there. Be helpful. It will come with time.

Aurora77 · Jul 3, 2012

It takes time to become integrated into the team. I've been at my job for a year and it took a few months to feel like I really fit in. That's just natural. You don't know your coworkers and they don't know you. Be friendly, but not overly so to your coworkers. It's just natural that in 12 hours, you'll all be sitting chit chatting at some point. Everybody has to decompress, even if just for a few minutes, so take that chance to get to know the people you work with.

Help out. Offer help before people have to ask you. Be a good team player. Most important, try to project a positive attitude, even if you're having a bad day. I'm not saying you should be fake, but people will judge you based on the way you come across, so don't be the Debbie Downer of the unit (and we all know there is one :))

amoLucia · Jul 4, 2012

As others have said...it takes time! You're not the only new grad to be feeling the same. You (and others) are not in school anymore where you had all the comfort of your peer-environment. You're feeling the separation and fear of the unknown.

Remember when you were a new nsg school student - all the angst of feeling alone and thinking you'd never make any new friends and how difficult school was??? RE-read your post. Substitute "STUDENT" and "SCHOOL" for "GRAD NURSE" and "WORK" and they read all but word for word identical.

It will take time. The only thing you can really control is to focus on your skills and job performance in your endeavor to be an excellent practitioner. You CAN'T MAKE the others accept you in the team or as to be your friends. Just be friendly and pitch in where you can. It will all come together in time. It will.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jul 10, 2012

PPs are offering excellent advice.

I would also encourage the OP to make a real effort to adopt the group norms, rituals and customs that surround the work itself. For instance, if they are all at work at least 10 minutes prior to report, then she should do so also. If they all sit in the same place each time for report - for heaven's sake, don't take someone else's chair. It may seem silly, but the ability to blend in without disrupting the others will be perceived as "a good fit".