The thread in the nursing student forum about people who are always late got me thinking.
I am chronically early for everything. If I'm not 10 minutes early for an appointment, work, whatever, then I start to get anxiety. So I have a hard time relating to those who are temporally challenged. And I know that there are people who are ALWAYS late. I work with half a dozen providers, and one or two are like me (always there 15 minutes before start time), a couple get there right at start time, and there are 2 or 3 who are ALWAYS 10-20 minutes late for their first appointment of the session (and it drives me farking nuts, because the chronic late ones are my favorite providers and they ask me to go to lunch with them, and if I accept, then *I* will be late for my first appointment of the afternoon session, which is exactly what happened yesterday).
I know that sometimes it's just poor (or lack of) planning. But I've come to suspect that for some people, it's just part of their innate character, and that's what I want to try to understand better, so that I can better work with these people (and not show my intense annoyance). I really do think that sometimes, it's just beyond their control.
So for those of you who are temporally challenged, or love someone who is, help me understand what happens in their brains that make them this way, so I can be a more understanding coworker/supervisor.
I've often pondered this phenomenon, since I was a child. My family considered tardiness to be rude, selfish, and inconsiderate. I don't feel that way now, having observed repetitive tardiness in individuals who do not display those traits. As a manager of people in my career, it's difficult to discipline people who are always late. There is always some reason, and it begins to be obvious that this is an inherent trait that is not easily changed.
I recently learned of a certain theory that people are future-oriented or present-oriented. Those who are future-oriented tend to be early or on-time and those who are present-oriented are late. This might be a narrow-minded way of thinking, but it's helped me feel more tolerant and patient with tardiness. My current coworker is present-oriented and has no concept of how long it takes to do anything. For example, she thinks it takes 10 minutes to drive from point A to B, but in reality it takes 25 minutes, and longer if there's traffic. I think this is why she is constantly late everywhere, all the time. She also doesn't plan anything, or allow for any contingencies like road construction or stopping to pick up cupcakes for her son's class. On the flipside, she is way more spontaneous than most people I know and a lot happier.
If some people have no sense of time or how long it takes to do something, how are they able to overcome this well enough to do nursing, which in my experience requires one to have excellent time management skills?
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I've often pondered this phenomenon, since I was a child. My family considered tardiness to be rude, selfish, and inconsiderate. I don't feel that way now, having observed repetitive tardiness in individuals who do not display those traits. As a manager of people in my career, it's difficult to discipline people who are always late. There is always some reason, and it begins to be obvious that this is an inherent trait that is not easily changed.
I recently learned of a certain theory that people are future-oriented or present-oriented. Those who are future-oriented tend to be early or on-time and those who are present-oriented are late. This might be a narrow-minded way of thinking, but it's helped me feel more tolerant and patient with tardiness. My current coworker is present-oriented and has no concept of how long it takes to do anything. For example, she thinks it takes 10 minutes to drive from point A to B, but in reality it takes 25 minutes, and longer if there's traffic. I think this is why she is constantly late everywhere, all the time. She also doesn't plan anything, or allow for any contingencies like road construction or stopping to pick up cupcakes for her son's class. On the flipside, she is way more spontaneous than most people I know and a lot happier.
Not surprisingly, I tested as a future-oriented person. My current husband is very much the same as I (which is why we will be able to retire in our early-mid-50s). My XH was very much present-oriented, which drove me crazy, both in his total inability to get anywhere on time, but also in his complete disregard for future planning (he will work until the day he dies because at 58, he has ZERO money in savings or retirement).
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
If some people have no sense of time or how long it takes to do something, how are they able to overcome this well enough to do nursing, which in my experience requires one to have excellent time management skills?
No idea, but I see it daily at my place of employment. I'm sure part of it is being exemplary providers, which allows for some leeway with shortcomings in other areas.
Cool website, klone! I had no idea the theories were so complex. I learned the concept in WGU's Intro to Nursing. The idea was presented that certain ethnic or racial groups fit into the different categories, and we as (future) nurses need to have an understanding of this in dealing with patients. Similar to your examples of not saving money and always being late, present-oriented patients might not take preventive medicine, attend therapy sessions, etc. Anyway, thanks for the link.
If as a manager you do not address the chronic lateness issue don't you see that this feels like a slap in the face to those who make the effort to be at work on time?
(tried to quote Sooner bred expat but phone didn't let me)
Yes, baglady, I've had to address chronic tardiness in employees and even had to terminate their employment for this reason. This is why it's difficult because, as others have mentioned, the employee may otherwise be an excellent worker and losing them is detrimental to the team. If the person can't step up after being warned I've usually had no choice, because as you said it's insulting to others when they make the effort to be on time. It is a tough situation and usually the offending employee is at a loss because he or she has no idea why being late is causing such problems. Therein lies the exact issue: being punctual is not a priority and has no great meaning to the person, which is what causes the situation in the first place. There is always a reason for being late, thinks the individual, thus, why is everyone so upset about it? This issue, along with excessive absenteeism, is one of the most tricky staff-related situations to deal with, especially if the employee is highly valued.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
If as a manager you do not address the chronic lateness issue don't you see that this feels like a slap in the face to those who make the effort to be at work on time?
(tried to quote Sooner bred expat but phone didn't let me)
I am the clinic supervisor, but I am not THEIR supervisor/manager. I have addressed it with them individually, I have addressed it with them in group emails. I have no disciplinary authority over them, and I know the providers who are not chronically tardy do not look to me to solve the issue. All I can do is document and report to their direct manager, which I am doing.
ETA: Sorry, didn't see that this was directed at SBEP.
If some people have no sense of time or how long it takes to do something, how are they able to overcome this well enough to do nursing, which in my experience requires one to have excellent time management skills?
Well, it's hard. But it is doable. What I've done is set my clocks ahead to give myself a 5-10 minute cushion so I arrive on time. Work night shift as that fits my circadian rhythm perfectly.
On shift, I quickly realized that too many patients is not good for me. I can't keep it all straight and I'm an anxious wreck all day. In reality, it's mainly the fear of forgetting something -- I've never actually forgotten something. So it's a lot of anticipatory anxiety for me. In nursing school clinicals I knew I'd never be able to handle the floor.
To compensate, I went to work in the ED and ICU where the care is more focused and short (ED), not boring, or limited to 2 patients (ICU). I'm excellent under pressure and I really know my stuff, so that makes these environments a good fit. I find boredom makes me more prone to missing stuff, so a hectic environment helps me! This might be an ADD thing. The more stimulus, the better my brain works. And by stimulus I mean variety, so ED is perfect for me.
Hope this helps you understand us better. Nursing is not all about time management unless you work the floors. I'm amazed at the ability to manage more than 5 patients at a time! I greatly admire floor nurses, but I know I could never hack it there. I would burn out in about 2 weeks.
There's a wonderful article written a few months back called "I'm not lazy, crazy, or stupid" that talks about ADD and how nurses deal with it. I highly recommend the thread for those who cannot imagine why people might be late often. I tried to link to the article but I'm using the app and couldn't. Just search for the title and you'll find it. It's a very interesting read. You'll gain a lot of insight into your colleagues with this issue.
Disclaimer: I'm not saying every chronically late nurse has ADD/ADHD. Some people are just irresponsible.
It is a tough situation and usually the offending employee is at a loss because he or she has no idea why being late is causing such problems. Therein lies the exact issue: being punctual is not a priority and has no great meaning to the person, which is what causes the situation in the first place.
That is a very interesting comment, and, in my experience, a very true comment. One day when I was in charge, a nurse who is never late was about 10 minutes late 2/2 something she could not control. She apologized up and down to me and to the other nurses. Even offered to buy me coffee at Starbucks.
The employee I mentioned earlier who was ultimately fired for tardiness--she would come in late, act like nothing was wrong, and then complain that the previous shift had up not done a full assessment on a patient that got there right at shift change. One time she even said to me "you should just be lucky I'm even here at all." I know there were things going on in her life, but her attitude toward work and being on time was just horrible!
WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN
1,050 Posts
I would much prefer that than having to guess if/when my relief may show up. Dependability =/= robot clone.