Previous Nurse Leaves A To-Do List For Me

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Leaves List,

Without more context, such as knowing how long you've been there, if these are essential tasks, and so on, it's hard to get a read on the situation. This could be anything from well-intentioned on the nurse's part to shirking his or her duties. 

This person is not your superior, but are they senior in any way? Did he/she orient you? Just to give him/her the benefit of the doubt, could they be trying to help you by leaving instructions? Or is this a bully taking advantage of you?

Nursing is a 24 hr job, and there are always tasks that must be passed onto the next shift, but in this case, you say these are things that should have been done. Since it is bothering you, I'm going to assume the previous nurse is trying to shift their responsibilities to you, which makes this a boundary issue.

Have you been accepting the to-do list without question? If so, you need to change the dynamic. Consider handing the list back. Accepting the list implies agreement.

You need to prepare to give a different response and stick up for yourself. Have some phrases ready for the next time this happens. Make eye contact and deliver a calm, short message.

Here's an example:

"I'm sorry you weren't able to get your work done. I won't be able to do x,y,z because I have my own responsibilities to take care of."

If you react differently, then the nurse will accordingly change their behaviour, because the dynamic has changed. If this person is a bully, it typically just takes standing up to them once.

You could also take them aside and say you'd like to talk about them passing on their work to you, and you're concerned it will affect your work relationship if it continues.

You can ask for clarification (is there some reason you're unable to complete your work?) and state your boundary (he/she is expected to not leave their work for you to do). You can then ask for agreement (is this something you can agree to?) and thank them.

It's not an easy conversation to have because most of us do not like conflict, but it is an opportunity to practice new communication skills.

Finally, if you are unable to resolve this, talk to your manager about the situation. 

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

[JKL33]

Is this list like a running list of things that can be crossed off by anyone, in other words is it more of a communication tool? Or is it actually more like "[Your name], please attend to the following items..."?

If it's the latter you could run it by whomever supervises you to get an understanding of what you are supposed to make of it. 

If the list is being written by more of a bossy/busy-body type person who has no authority and no good reason to be writing it then it seems like it could just go in the trash. ??‍♀️

[Rarncpa]

That prior shift nurse is a typical bully who has no business to be an RN or in any health care business. Instruct him or her that anything that could be done during report prior leaving home should be done by the nurse. Otherwise, that bully will continue to pass "everything" to you. 

[nurseluckett, MSN]

There is not enough context to determine the intent. Some people are just list maker. Way to many variables. Also, are they things that could not be completed for a reason. Patient fell, coded, order written near shift change, is this a unit understaffed, is there too many tasks for that shift, etc.  I don't ***-u-me the worst of a colleague. Depending upon if it's dayshift verses night shift. Or 8 hour shifts. There is only so much time in a shift so things will be passed on.

[JKL33]

On 10/1/2021 at 12:01 PM, Rarncpa said:

That prior shift nurse is a typical bully who has no business to be an RN or in any health care business.

Oh for goodness' sake. There isn't even enough information to determine the intent or purpose of the list.

[0.9%NormalSarah, BSN, RN]

I’d like to confess that I am one of these people. Sometimes the shift is just absolutely too crazy to get everything done, and by the time I look up it’s time for report. I might ask the next shift to please change the IV tubing, start a new IV, give a med, or even give a bath. It’s a 24 hour job. I would maybe write it down so I remember what to ask them to do. If the list is long every time, maybe make a comment on how that person always passes a lot of items to you. 

[K. Everly, BSN, RN]

Any time they spent writing a list could be better spent on the grind actually DOING the things on it. 

Girl bye ✌