"If you're not doing anything..."

Nurses Relations

Published

Two patients in the department, neither critically ill- three nurses present. I've just discharged my patient, turned over the room, and now am sitting down to check my work related email after having been away for five weeks.

Other nurse walks up behind me and says "Hey Stargazer, could you fax this paper for me if you're not doing anything? I've been so busy I haven't had the time."

Clearly, I *am* doing something- checking my work related email after a long absence is a reasonable thing to do on the clock if I have the time, and I have the time right now. She has *one* patient who is not very sick, and she is most definitely NOT drowning.

How would you respond?

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

When a nurse is at a computer, it doesn't mean she isn't working, although patients (and apparently co-workers) feel that way. It is part of good time management to know when to say no. Charting and checking emails is part of the job. Of course, there are times it is prudent to stop and change direction, including contributing to teamwork. I'll give the OP the benefit of the doubt that when she declined to help that she wasn't leaving her coworker high and dry. We're all nurses here, so I'm not going to give examples of times you should help out. We should already know.

Although unrelated to the OP, how many times has your charting been interrupted about a question on another patient, then when you begin charting again, you chart on the patient asked about instead of the one whose chart is open in front of you? That's also why I hate small talk during charting sessions; it takes twice as long to chart. Precious time I can use on direct patient care. I love my coworkers, but dudes, SHUT UP!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Forensic Psych.

"Sure, I'm checking my email right now, but I'll do it as soon as I'm finished!"

Done.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for the responses. I think it's interesting that I never stated whether I did or didn't send the fax, let alone how I responded to my coworker. I find it interesting that some folks here assume the worst. The interaction wasn't really about the fax anyway- I guess I didn't make that clear in my original post.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
Thank you for the responses. I think it's interesting that I never stated whether I did or didn't send the fax, let alone how I responded to my coworker. I find it interesting that some folks here assume the worst. The interaction wasn't really about the fax anyway- I guess I didn't make that clear in my original post.

No one likes to be baited, in person or on a message board. I assumed the worst, i.e. you didn't send the fax, because your last paragraph in the OP led me to believe it.

So how did you respond?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

In the time it took her to ask couldn't she have faxed it herself? Sorry but I took the nurse's request as a passive-aggressive statement that she thought the OP was just sitting around and she resented it. Her approach would have irritated me too. Now, if she had said "Hey Flyingscot, big favor, would you fax this for me I'm really buried" I would have been at the fax machine before her next breath. Maybe faster if she also gave me puppy dog eyes. :shy:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"Kinda busy, sorry..." Or, I would go ahead and fax it. Depends on my mood and other variables.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Faxing takes all of 30 seconds - you can always come back for the confirmation page later. I am really surprised she didn't do it herself. Was she sniping at you for sitting down and having free time or did she seem like she really needed help? I think I would have to hear a tone of voice on that one to decide what I'd do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

I would just fax it. It's not a big enough deal to argue about it or to think of a witty response. Sounds simple, especially if all you're doing is checking your email.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd jump at the chance to do something other than check email. Especially when I've been gone for a long period of time. If the email can wait 5 weeks, it can wait until a fax is done.

It wasn't a patient/family member assuming you weren't doing anything because you were at a computer, it was a coworker who I assume could see your screen was open to work email. Which, while doing SOMETHING, it's doing anything time-sensitive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CICU.

Interesting, I think it would depend on the co-worker...

I will generally do just about anything people ask me, in order to help out. I am learning, however, that I have things that are important to take care of too. Short of emergencies, or patient-care priorities (pt needs toileting and primary RN is handling something more important than what I am doing).

Just because someone asks a favor doesn't mean one is obligated to jump up and meet his or her every need. Lets face it, some people are users.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't see how it's clearly anything. It's assumptive to believe you were working, busy, or playing. She did the correct thing by asking and even said "IF."

How would I respond? By answering her question.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In my experience, a simple "I'm sorry I'm busy right now." Is the best answer. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't, might as well keep it simple for the sake of evading argument lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment