How do you stay out of all the drama?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2007

1. I keep my mouth shut unless I'm discussing something related to patient care.

2. I avoid talking crap about my coworkers while at work.

3. If coworkers talk badly about me, I let it roll off my back like a duck.

4. I carefully pick and choose my associates at work (I can trust 2 of my coworkers).

5. If someone's in a pissy mood, I refuse to allow that person to drag my mood down.

6. Cardiovascular exercise helps me deal with workplace stressors.

7. I always attempt to tell myself that "Today will be a good day." It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

deeDawntee, RN · Aug 30, 2007

1. I keep my mouth shut unless I'm discussing something related to patient care.
2. I avoid talking crap about my coworkers while at work.
3. If coworkers talk badly about me, I let it roll off my back like a duck.
4. I carefully pick and choose my associates at work (I can trust 2 of my coworkers).
5. If someone's in a pissy mood, I refuse to allow that person to drag my mood down.
6. Cardiovascular exercise helps me deal with workplace stressors.
7. I always attempt to tell myself that "Today will be a good day." It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

WOW very well said...I can think of nothing more to add!! :up:

RNDreamer · Aug 30, 2007

1. I keep my mouth shut unless I'm discussing something related to patient care.
2. I avoid talking crap about my coworkers while at work.
3. If coworkers talk badly about me, I let it roll off my back like a duck.
4. I carefully pick and choose my associates at work (I can trust 2 of my coworkers).
5. If someone's in a pissy mood, I refuse to allow that person to drag my mood down.
6. Cardiovascular exercise helps me deal with workplace stressors.
7. I always attempt to tell myself that "Today will be a good day." It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

:yeahthat: (except #6, I'm working on it)...

YellowFinchFan · Aug 30, 2007

At work, I'm trying so hard to stay out of all the drama and pettiness. It's not easy though. How do you do it? I get so tired of hearing everyone whine about everything, management treating some nurses like royalty and ignoring others, those in charge spreading around confidential employee information, and nurses complaining about each other all the time. Things aren't always bad at work, but lately it seems that everyone's kind of been in nasty moods. I don't want to be a part of all that craziness.

Even in my other jobs in business there were always these "drama" themes going on - with gossips and pettiness. It does seem worse in nursing some how - but I try not to be part of the 'gossip' and when someone starts telling me things unrelated to our patients I smile or say "oh?" and say " I don't know what to say about all that" and then 'get busy with something for my patients".....This way they get nothing out of you, you don't participate and it sort of makes you "no fun" (haha) but that's ok because it's neverending with that stuff.....

Trust few at work is also good advice -esp since whoever they are picking on/gossiping about could be you someday so just smile and be BUSY (we are all too busy anyway!)

I've seen some real unprofessional behaivor on the part of 'charge to mgrs' too .....makes me even more determined to stay under the radar!

BabyRN2Be · Aug 30, 2007

1. I keep my mouth shut unless I'm discussing something related to patient care.
2. I avoid talking crap about my coworkers while at work.
3. If coworkers talk badly about me, I let it roll off my back like a duck.
4. I carefully pick and choose my associates at work (I can trust 2 of my coworkers).
5. If someone's in a pissy mood, I refuse to allow that person to drag my mood down.
6. Cardiovascular exercise helps me deal with workplace stressors.
7. I always attempt to tell myself that "Today will be a good day." It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

EXCELLENT, excellent advice. Very well said! :up:

mamalle · Aug 30, 2007

very well said I agree!!!

Other than the above I always say: "not everyone is going to like me and that is okay, I only have to work with them"

Debra ACRN · Aug 30, 2007

I always think to myself, your opinon of me is none of my business. Puts it in perspective for me.

NursingAgainstdaOdds · Aug 30, 2007

Really - the people that are most successful at avoiding that nonsense are the ones who meet criticism of other parties with a diplomatic "Yeah, but I did dumb s*** when I was a GN, too" or another reaction which does the same - relate your experience to theirs. Not as though you are constantly sticking-up for people, but just a remark which lets the person know you're not going to participate in their negativity. Alternately, if someone is complaining about another person, their work ethic, etc you can put the onus on them - "Oh. Did you bring that up with them?", which diplomatically conveys "this is not a constructive way to address this problem". Most people will back-off at that point, and if it's the type of person who doesn't I'd be suddenly busy in another area.

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 30, 2007

Personally, I find that trying to ignore it completely doesn't help resolve anything -- and that makes me "part of the poblem and NOT part of the solution." Therefore, i try to stay on friendly terms with everyone and repond in ways similar to those suggested above by NursingAgainstDaOdds.

I not only try to not make things worse, I also try to make things a little better. But I also find that it helps to stay focused on my goals and my desires to help people and not become too distracted by someone else's problems.

I also recommend not getting caught up in believing that everything always has to be "fair" and everybody always needs to be treated "the same." That's not realistic and the jealousy and resentment that results by focusing on that usually causes a lot of hard feelings that just aren't worth it.

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2007

I stay busy with my patients. I have always worked in women predominated fields. I learned quickly to stay out of the drama when I was a waitress. I was involved in drama at one of my waitressing jobs and it was horrible, I was never able to leave work at work. If nurses start gossiping, I walk away. If they want to talk about me, that is their problem. I can't control what they think and say, I am only responsible for me. Once you get into the gossip cycle it is almost impossible to get out of it.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2007

At work, I'm trying so hard to stay out of all the drama and pettiness. It's not easy though. How do you do it? I get so tired of hearing everyone whine about everything, management treating some nurses like royalty and ignoring others, those in charge spreading around confidential employee information, and nurses complaining about each other all the time. Things aren't always bad at work, but lately it seems that everyone's kind of been in nasty moods. I don't want to be a part of all that craziness.

Then dont be, its really as simple as that. Close your mouth open your eyes and ears. Dont talk just observe. Always have that little smile on your face. If you have a big smile they will think you are on drugs or something so just a little smile will do just right. Outside of work, do not associate with co workers in any way or shape or form. Go to work , do your job, and smile silently. leave work you leave it all at the door. You dont get paid to take that baggage home with you.