Ok, so I am a new nurse and am encountering this for the 1st time: nurses that are horrible during report.
For the most part I have had no problems w/ the staff and have been told over and over that I am doing well. But I have run into a couple nurses on my floor who are just plain mean during report. They nitpick at me, argue, and treat me like crap. VERY unpleasant.
I always leave feeling like I've been through the inquisistion and then I worry they spend the day looking for things I screwed up so they can write me up. (I guess I am paranoid.)
Anyway, best ways to handle this? I try to stay calm, not get flustered, etc--but I am always so surprised when it happens that it kind of throws me off and I end up sounding less confident about my shifts work. Guess I am intimidated and it shows!
Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.
We have one in particular like this. Nothing against younger nurses (many are great, eager to learn, etc.), but this one has been there too long and think she rules the world. Just one day I'm hoping to get up the nerve to say, "How nice it would be if you could, for just one day, not find anything to gripe about after you get report!"
Specializes in vascular, med surg, home health , rehab,.
I experience this with new grads more than anyone else, I put it down to insecurity and unless I am interrupted more than a few times, let it slide. I did have a nurse who just drove everyone crazy firing off question after question, "are they diabetic?" hmm I think I would mention that, that eventually I told her to let me give report and she could ask questions later. No problem after that. Report takes so long on my floor because you have several nurses to hand off too and I hate the chatty reports, when your waiting, you don't need a blow by blow of every conversation you've had all day. Just the facts please!
We have a particular nurse like this that makes me crazy. I tell myself (prior to giving her report) that today I am not going to let her "get" to me. Ohm:bow: (meditating sound) Well, it never works. She inevitably rattles my cage and ticks me off every time. I don't know who I am more upset with: her for acting that way or me for letting her get to me! lol She is so very afraid that you are going to leave her something to do. My outlook? Heck lady, I have worked my butt off for 12 hrs on this floor and nursing is 24 hrs- it's your turn.
Once during report I remembered that I had collected a stool specimen right before shift change. "When you go in the room, take the sign down from the bathroom wall because I forgot" I mentioned this too her quickly, expecting to move on to the other 4 patients. She gets up from the desk and walked to the patients room and took the sign down! I don't know how I gave the rest of the report because I'm not sure how I spoke being my mouth was hanging open from pure shock!
Oh God I DO NOT miss floor work. It has been my experience that the nurse who nitpicks EVERYTHING usually gives the WORST report. And has very creative excuses for why THEY didn't get something done....
oh god i do not miss floor work. it has been my experience that the nurse who nitpicks everything usually gives the worst report. and has very creative excuses for why they didn't get something done....
One thing that I have seen so many times that I believe it is universal is that the nitpicky, critical nurses always fall on their faces as some point and make themselves look like total jackasses.
Everyone makes mistakes. Put any nurse's practice under the microscope and you will find flaws.
I think one of the hallmarks of maturity in nursing is knowing what you're good at, and more especially, what you're not good at, then realize that your colleagues' strengths and weaknesses usually compliment yours, so it all works out in the end.
Specializes in Acute care, Community Med, SANE, ASC.
As others have said, we all deal with these nitpicking nurses. I used to dread giving report to these folks but I have learned for me what works is that I simply won't play their game. I give them the same report I would give to a non-nitpicker. If they ask a silly question I don't know the answer to I say, "I don't know" and I keep right on going with my report. I do not let them sideline me with silliness. If they ask a question that is ahead of my report I say, "I'm getting there" and keep right on with my report. I am not rude but I make it obvious that I will not be bullied or made to feel bad about the care I provided. You must be confident in your work and project that to them. They will find someone else to pick on when they realize you won't fall for it.
Another technique I have found useful with co-workers is this: On occasion I hear someone commenting about my work or how I handled something when they didn't think I heard them. After I cool down a bit I have found it extremely effective to approach this person with a learning state-of-mind. I once had a respiratory therapist huffing and puffing about how I handled my patient before he got there. At first I was rather annoyed by his comments (which he didn't think I had heard) but then I realized he most likely does have something to teach me here so I simply went up to him and nicely said, "I gather you would have preferred I handle this situation differently--what should I have done?" He answered my question and continued to help me with this unstable patient the rest of the night. I think people find this disarming and nonthreatening and you can inadvertently make an ally. I'm float staff so it behooves me to make allies wherever I go. I have used this technique with other nurses, doctors, etc.--assuming the person is not a moron, asking for their advice is usually educational, gets them in your corner and usually earns you some respect for recognizing you might have something to learn.
I once worked with this nurse who seemed to want to hear an encylopedic knowledge of every patient you gave report to. She would nitpick at every little detail and if you didn't know then she would sort of roll her eyes. In the end I confronted her about it by asking her to explain why she needs to know this minor detail and how it would help patient care. She could not answer me and I said 'thought so' and kept going. She never asked me anything again.
Just tell her to quit her bi--ing and get on with the report. You do not have to take that. Also, remind her that nursing is a 24 hr job and you will do your part if she will do hers.
We do a telephone report, so all we really provide is updates IF the person asks. If we've given a solid phone report, there should be no questions.
I get nitpicked by one or two nurses, but they are usually always respectful. I try to make it a learning experience, and one did catch a pretty bad error on my part, so I'm thankful that the oncoming shift is there at times with fresh eyes and ears and can pick up on loose ends.
That being said, I try to make it a learning experience, thank the nurse for their input, but I also have to remind the night shift a lot that our shift is extremely BUSY and crowded and we just don't always get to every little detail. I hate one real jerky one yell at me in the nurses station during change of shift. I immediately pulled him aside and gave him a piece of my mind. He isn't on our unit anymore, interestingly enough.
Now, on the other side of this, it is really annoying to get a weak report, or a report that leaves out major information. I am the type of nurse that feels its MY duty any to do my own assessment, and ALL the info should be there on the chart and in the computer for me to go by. What a nurse can do is provide UPDATES, and the current picture -- cue me into any family issues or whatever. I like to hear from nurses who seem to care -- who understand what's going on with the patient -- who get the plan, the big picture. I hate just hearing bits and pieces reports that show that the nurse just didn't seem to get the whole story.
I'd honestly talk to these particular nurses and tell them your feelings. Ask them if you feel there are weakness you could work on. Do it with a sincere heart and perhaps there are things you could improve on. If not, ask them why they are being so nitpicky with you. Maybe they dont' know how theyr'e coming off.
mom4josh
284 Posts
We have one in particular like this. Nothing against younger nurses (many are great, eager to learn, etc.), but this one has been there too long and think she rules the world. Just one day I'm hoping to get up the nerve to say, "How nice it would be if you could, for just one day, not find anything to gripe about after you get report!"
But I usually lose my nerve anyway. :sofahider