Read this email my NM sent to all the nurses.

[GummibearsRN]

"Nurses,

It has come to my attention that BREAKS are being taken at the BEGINNING of the shift DURING BUSY times on the unit. This is unacceptable and it is the responsibility of each staff member to come to work prepared to work and NOT shop online, take multiple breaks, and gossip. It is very unprofessional to be socializing LOUDLY at the nurse's station and I will not tolerate it. I need staff that are committed to making this the best unit and providing the BEST care. The charge nurse and myself do not have time to babysit and instruct you on how and when to do your job. The charge nurse is responsible for leading the team and if she feels at any time that a particular staff member is not performing standard care, she will not hesitate to take action and dismiss the staff member from work for the rest of shift without pay with instruction to follow up with me before returning. Please forgive me in advance to the staff dedicated and prepared to work full throttle each shift, this email is not directed to you."

...........

Really? This is the kind of work environment I have to deal with. Does this sound like something any manager should say? I had to laugh to myself reading this. Your thoughst?

[Aurora77]

No manager should have to say that. Apparently professional behavior is hard?

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

Right, I wouldn't expect that kind of email from my nurse manager. But if I had a work environment like the one described in the email, I would hope my NM would say something about it!

[JerseyBSN]

It sounds to me like the NM should be spending more time on the floor observing rather than taking the word of others. This includes both the day and night shift. Been there, done that. Some people don't exactly tell the NM the truth. Besides it was very unprofessionally written IMHO.

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

For a NM to send a mass email, sounds like the unit has some issues. E mail is a great way to get the message to everyone. Morning meetings only reach a selected number of staff. I have no issues with this type of message.

[Ntheboat2]

I think the real problem is that the people who are so unprofessional and have no work ethic will not even realize the letter is directed at them! I HATE, HATE, HATE passive aggressive-ness! She needs to call the people into the office who are guilty of shopping online, taking multiple breaks, etc, etc. and tell them PLAINLY, "YOU have been shopping online, taking too many breaks, not helping others, etc." Instead, everyone will assume that what they do isn't THAT bad and she can't possibly be talking about THEM....and the exact same crap continues happening.

It's just like when someone puts up a sign. I saw this happen the other day where someone put up a sign to stop ONE staff member from using a door they shouldn't have been using. Why not just approach that one staff member and explain why they can't use it?! Ugh.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

If even a fraction of what the NM describes is occurring on the unit, then drastic measures should be taken. Whether that is appropriately conveyed via email......probably not so much.

[Seas]

I think the NM also felt embarrassed to have to compose such an e-mail to her unit staff. The question is, how bad of an environment is there that requires such an e-mail to warn people? Not online shopping while at work, not being around on busiest times, not talking loud in the nurses station are common sense. Why does she have to specifically tell that? Wow.

I also agree with the poster who talked about the person(s) who are doing this poor care should be directly dealt with instead of a general message like that. Why doesn't the NM have the guts to meet face to face and take stronger measures for those specific people?

[klone, MSN, RN]

I think that email was pretty unprofessional.

[Poochiewoochie]

I love the comment about socializing LOUDLY at the nurses station. Especially when the patients who are trying to sleep are being kept awake by it.

Someone said it was common sense not to do it. That's interesting because on the facebook page of the hospital where I was a patient there were several comments from other former patients about this issue. The person who runs the page said it was something that is inexcusable and was going to bring it to the attention of the DON.

I guess common sense at the hospital went out the window. Granted, the hospital is not the Hilton but by the same token patients are not there to have a vacation. Most have just had surgery or very ill and need their sleep.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I think she sent the email as step one to provide written documentation and fair warning to all staff members before it gets taken further.

The next step will be to speak during the staff meeting, after this she will speak to the individual employees who continue to behave in an unprofessional manner.

What she has chosen to do is let everybody know in advance, and email is a good way to make sure all staff are informed.

You will probably see people written up now and things will change

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I have no objection to the tone, but I do object to the delivery. This should have been said to everyone during a staff meeting. Also, I wonder if HR agrees that the charge nurse has the authority to suspend someone from work. Evidently some people are being lax about duties and THOSE PEOPLE should be disciplined, not the entire staff.