How Important is it that your patients and their families like you?

[Soliloquy]

When I started nursing two years ago, I wanted everyone to like me and think I was a good competent nurse and easy to talk to and I wanted my coworkers to like me and talk to me all the time. I wanted everyone's approval. Two years later, and I'm kind of sick of it. I don't want to spend 2 hours in my patient's room talking and laughing and joking with them and having their families say, "you're such a good nurse" *rolls eyes*. I remember when I use to relish that kind of thing

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

When I started nursing two years ago, I wanted everyone to like me and think I was a good competent nurse and easy to talk to and I wanted my coworkers to like me and talk to me all the time. I wanted everyone's approval. Two years later, and I'm kind of sick of it. I don't want to spend 2 hours in my patient's room talking and laughing and joking with them and having their families say, "you're such a good nurse" *rolls eyes*. I remember when I use to relish that kind of thing

When one becomes more confident in their practice, it becomes clear that approval for who we are as nurses takes a back seat to how we do our jobs. To be a strong advocate, to plan accordingly to keep a patient functioning, and services they may need are all focus points as opposed to "gee whiz you are just so awesomeeeee!

Confidence in one's practice outweighs the personal accolades.

[QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP]

I've also been a nurse for about two years now. In the beginning it was very important to me that I was liked. So much so that it felt that part of the way I was acting was fake and sugary sweet. Even then I still would have a stray patient complain about something I did or didn't do, and even had one fire me (I was shocked as I thought we had gotten on well). I would be gutted in those situations. I felt that early on I was still too new to be a competent nurse skill-wise, but at least I could be nice and do that right until I learned how to be a better nurse. Now, I don't give one iota if they like me or not, and focus more on the job itself and their health care. The thing is, now that I've relaxed, and I'm more myself, it's easier for me to get on well with the patients and their families, go figure.