Less than tactful know-it-all coworker with extreme need to be right

[GardenDove]

So, one of my partners in the ICU is a nurse whom I'll call 'Jack' (not his real name) I started a thread about a vanco peak and trough question, where Jack had confronted me in report, when I was handing off some med surg pts and he had been floated to Med Surg too. Anyways, he challanged me aggressively, in front of 5 or 6 other people, basically blasting me for not holding the Vanco on this gal

I did check it out with both my manager and the head of pharmacy, and I was right and he was incorrect, regarding our policy. So, I've been meaning to have a talk with Jack, because his cocky attitude had rubbed several people the wrong way, and I decided to let him know that I'd appreciate more diplomacy in the future.

At first he didn't want to talk about it, he said "that's just the way I am" and I replied that the way he approached the subject really made me upset, and that "the way he is" needed to be toned down because it didn't sit well with people, that not everyone appreciates his aggressive style of "asking questions" I told him if he didn't want to talk about it, maybe we could sit down with our manager and delve into it further. He decided that he would talk about it, reluctently and told me to let him know in the future, in the moment, if he was coming on too strong.

He pouted all night, it appeared to me.

[GardenDove]

Let me just say that I normally get along with Jack, I enjoy working with him, he's intelligent and compassionate, but he's a cocky know-it-all at times, and it does get old. He's always citing how things were done at his last place of employment, (another thread I started), and he is very argumentative about his point of view. I'm not a person who enjoys argueing, I don't like confrontation, but don't mind a good discussion. But when someone's need to be right is so profound, it inhibits discussion and collaberation, in my opinion.

[caliotter3]

I'm surprised he was as receptive as you describe. Now make sure you hold him to it. In reality, you will be doing him a favor by helping him change this unacceptable behavior.

[rgcirn]

Good for you :yelclap: We also have someone at work like that. The problem is she does tend to know an awful lot. Has the most remarkable memory for where things are and what happened to whom. So for the most part we let her say what she needs to and then go about what we were doing the way we were doing it. I have at times told her to hold on and let me finish what I am trying to say before you interupt and put your 2 cents in and she will. We all just try to get along, there are only 6 of us for 1000+ inmates so we really need to work together as a team.

Anyway, way to go Gardendove.

rgcirn

[TazziRN, RN]

Good for you! I have a coworker who comes across strong also, out of school for less than three years. The last time he tried it with me, in front of staff and pts, I told him very calmly that I didn't appreciate the way he's been talking to me. With him that's all it took, he's been very pleasant since then. I honestly believe that he didn't know how he came across, unfortunately your Jack does. The ones who know are the hardest to deal with.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

He's "just the way he is" because it's apparent that he's that way because rarely do people challenge him. He knows that all he has to do is get aggressive like that, and most people back off.

[burn out]

good luck and patience. I had a co worker like this and we tried everything to get along, we even agreed to disagree finally though the only way we could work together is if she worked one end of the unit and I worked the other.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I've had some luck with "the look" and the response "oh, really?" Just vacuum all expression from your face while standing your ground. Perhaps when "Jack" hears nothing but his own echo for a few seconds, he may catch on, (probably not though).