Lazy co-workers

[HealthANDLove1122]

I have yet to understand why a person would come to work and not finish their assigned tasks or roles within a work place environment. I have tried to justify their actions in my mind like "maybe they have it bad at home" or "maybe they don't have the capacity to think beyond what is told to them." Well, those justifications made no sense as they would laugh and make jokes, go on facebook, gossip about other's life. I learned once and for all that it is sheer ATTITUDE. That these people don't want to change. They want to stay at the minimal level and if you give them 10 tasks-they will be sure to finish 4 or 5 and even that will take the full 8 hour shifts. It kills me to know that management won't do anything about it either and they are well aware of this It's a private practice and if this was my business, I'd be damn sure that there would be a meeting at least once a week where we would discuss our tasks for the week, what was done last week, and would keep these finished tasks in a file in my office. I would set aside a to do list and would tell each staff member what their roles are so they are accountable for what they do and discipline professionally if things are not done in a timely fashion. I have never worked in a place where nobody knew what they were doing or played dumb. It's been three months but I can't just leave like that as it's my first nurse practitioner job. Sorry, but I had to vent. I still do my part but being the best I can be by finishing my work, helping others with their work, and trying to find things to do so my 8 hours could feel worthwhile. Has anyone else gone through this or is going through something similar to this?

[HealthANDLove1122]

At TriciaJ, I have already spoken to the practice administrator about this matter and she stated she would talk to them as this is "unacceptable." She agreed with me about how unprofessional these behaviors are and how it shouldn't happen. She did speak to them but no changes have been made. I also informed the physician who owns the practice and he just remained quiet without any feedback. I understand from his standpoint that he's a busy person managing numerous clinics and these issues are trivial for his time. I guess I will just continue doing my best and look at this as experience gained in my career.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

So the only way to make someone do the job you expect of them is to discipline them until they do, but you complete your job because you take pride in it?

So the floggings should continue until morale improves?

Yes, motivating people to be the best they can be is tough. We all have different things that motivate us, but I believe that most of us want to be appreciated. Have you ever read In Search of Excellence? The authors stress that people will rise or sink to your level of expectation. If you anticipate that people will not complete their assigned tasks, then there is a good chance they won't. If they know that you believe they will and can do a good job, there is a good chance that they will.

And yes, there are just some people who will do just enough to get by. But that doesn't need to be everyone, and when they drag down those that are hard workers, then in my experience anyway, peer pressure will drive them off.

Or try reading The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. It's a good read, with helpful hints. Until you find what motivates someone and use it, you may as well use that whip (for floggings) on yourself

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Well ,I was in your corner until this part : "I would set aside a to do list and would tell each staff member what their roles are so they are accountable for what they do and discipline professionally if things are not done in a timely fashion. "

Not good not good,........

Many an NP makes that critical mistake ,that they are above the bedside RNs,......not good...they expect the rn to serve them,set up for their procedures while the NP plays eternal resident. and critic supreme.

No one like a slacker or one that does not pull their weight, but that is for their own conscience,right?

As for you,it would do you well to remember where you started and in an big disaster you still would have to report to the Nursing office for instructions ,not medicine.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Yep. The culture of laziness is real and you cannot do a darn thing about it. That's the simple truth. What you can do something about is being an excellent provider to your patients. If the sloth gets in the way then refer the issue to somebody who has the power to change things. It seems that somebody isn't you so get on with life.

[HealthANDLove1122]

At Leader25, I only expect people to do the tasks they are required to do, basically what they are paid to do. I don't think I'm above anyone just because I have a higher level education. I was a RN for 6 years so I know exactly what it feels like to be one and appreciate all health care professionals as each plays a part in patient care. I'm not sure what kind of providers you work with but I have never had a problem with any CNA's, LPN's, or RN's anywhere else. It's only here at this current practice where I see the problem, therefore I wrote this post for some sort of support and perspective. I have issues with people who are on Facebook for 20 minutes, constant snapchatting, taking one hour lunch breaks, gossiping in a different language, and rolling eyes when they are asked to do something as they are practically doing NOTHING. For these types of people, professional discipline is necessary.

I can guarantee that if this was a hospital setting, they would have a warning, then a write-up, and then a dismissal. I have no issues collecting urine or doing blood draws if I have time or if they are busy. The issue that I see is that patient flow gets backed up if one person does not complete their part. This causes a problem as patients have to wait to be seen, thus causing them to be frustrated. If each person did their role, patient flow would be smooth.