New Grad...need help dealing with super negative staff!

NewLPN11 · Dec 6, 2011

Aw, I know exactly how you feel! My facility is full of negativity. It seems almost everyone I tall to hates theory job, hates the place, etc. I find it hard to stay clear of that mindset myself, it has really gotten me down. I just try to ignore it. It's hard, but I am thankful to have a job on this economy, and all those who constantly complain will regret it someday.

allnurses Guide · Dec 7, 2011

The negativity and the poor training are two different issues really.

With the negativity, my policy is to listen, smile, nod, change subject. Don't ask questions, don't engage, don't comment for good or ill, don't validate and don't absorb/think about it. I view it as having an oil skin - things just run off. Changing the subject to something professional in a way that is noncritical works very well. Complainers love an audience. If you can refuse to be that audience without being confrontational or critical you simply shut off the oxygen supply to that particular fire.

If your orientation and training are inadequate you need to be in talking to your manager about your concerns and seeing what options there are for you.

It sounds like you are in an exciting place. Good luck!

momology · Dec 7, 2011

Congratulations on getting that critical first job.

There definitely are strained circumstances if a person with only 6 months is acting as preceptor. However, that sort of flexibility could be utilized for change. Perhaps one of the complainers could use their insight to effect useful new policies. In a different scenario there are just other problems like established staff resenting and undermining newbies. This is an overloaded competitive field.

Your best strategy is to stick to your guns of prioritizing the patients. That can be a challenge anywhere.

i have observed that some people use their internet access on cell phones to access information while they are on clinicals. Probably not entirely practical. I know that may be only better than nothing ....just stay safe for the patients. I think you have the picture that its the real reason for being a nurse.

Kevin RN08 · Dec 7, 2011

Not. done.yet has good advice.

Personally, I let the vent go on if it's not in a patient area, if it is I speak up telling them to take it somewhere else.

Make your own judgements, your own decisions as to what ills may be in the place ... as well as what strengths are present.

As to your preceptor, IMO precepting is NOT teaching it is coaching. Presumeably you have demonstrated skills and knowledge to an expected point determined by your School, your state Nursing Board, and your Manager. Now you need some one to help you to take the next step and much of that requires getting comfortable with this hospital's policies and procedures, getting checked off in some tasks and establishing your own method of prioritizing and time management. And if turnover is that high, or attitudes are that caustic maybe it's best that you have some "new blood" as a preceptor.

ZenStudent · Dec 7, 2011

Good advice from everyone. I appreciate it very much! I am feeling better about things and looking to my preceptor more as someone who is going to show me the ropes of working in this facility and not someone who is going to pass off a lot of knowledge. I am just going to focus on my patients and being positive for them. I will certainly come out of this a better nurse :) Thanks again

SydneyJo1 · Dec 8, 2011

I am a new grad, too, and I find that the majority of the nurses on my unit are very negative and love to complain about every little thing. The way I look at is that they have just forgotten how lucky we are to be employed and making a decent living! Maybe that is a perspective that comes much easier to new grads since we have to work so hard to find a job in the first place! :) Anyway, take the negative talk with a grain of salt, form your own opinions of the hospital and unit, and remember how happy you were when you got this job. Negativity in the workplace is contagious, but fortunately so is a positive attitude.

honeykrown, MSN, NP · Dec 8, 2011

One thing is that people who cpmplain have something they are complaining about. For me i have always looked for ways to turn it around. Sometimes i ask them what they would like to see change and tell the manager. A while back, our manager kept a suggestion box in the break room and every week/two they send a mass email to the staff concerning the suggestions (which could be achieved, which couldnt and which they wont change) and so far it has improved the moral of the staff working there. For the most part nowadays the problem is other coworkers and we are looking into education training that could improve that.

So if its something you believe can be changed; be the change the unit needs and bring it up to the manager. One thing is dont ever loose who you are because you can easily get sucked into their grumbling

joetye · Dec 9, 2011

Toxic emotional negativity exacts a huge toll in the healthcare workplace. First, it is not possible for someone to be a toxic emotional vampire in the nurses lounge and then flip an inner switch and become a genuinely caring and compassionate caregiver at the bedside. Second, the vampires (true to the name) suck the life out of those around them. Third, they're probably going home and dumping that emotional negativity on the family (raising a brood of Junior Dilberts who have their own negative attitudes about work). And perhaps most tragic, the one and only life they will have on this earth is getting sucked into the black hole of emotional negativity.

Joe Tye

dsr1mms · Dec 9, 2011

I am a new grad and unfortunately my class became this way. They were always complaining about the instructors, the nurses we worked with in clinicals, and the hospitals. They were even posting these negative comments on our class page on Facebook!!! I have found that getting caught up in that type of negativity will soon make YOU that way, so I have distanced myself from my class so that I can maintain a positive attitude about my career, which hasn't even started yet! This has helped me to continue to love nursing (as I always will) but I do feel isolated from the rest of my class.

NsugaBuga · Dec 10, 2011

i dont pay attention to what others think. every day that i'm at work, i know what i need to do to get the job done. i'll be fine so long as everybody is working as a team and making sure the pts/residents/clients have what they need.

you know what you traveled all the way there for, and they shouldnt stop you.

kty1 · Dec 11, 2011

the negativity and the poor training are two different issues really.
with the negativity, my policy is to listen, smile, nod, change subject. don't ask questions, don't engage, don't comment for good or ill, don't validate and don't absorb/think about it. i view it as having an oil skin - things just run off. changing the subject to something professional in a way that is noncritical works very well. complainers love an audience. if you can refuse to be that audience without being confrontational or critical you simply shut off the oxygen supply to that particular fire.
if your orientation and training are inadequate you need to be in talking to your manager about your concerns and seeing what options there are for you.
it sounds like you are in an exciting place. good luck!

loved what you said: "complainers love an audience". this is so very true. we all know that everyone complaines once in a while which is normal, but if you have someone who complains on a day to day basis, this person is like a parasite who is feeding off of other's responses. we all need to steer clear of these people.

good post! :yeah: