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 do. It is deliberate. Even if subconsciously, it's deliberate.
No, it isn't. I know a lot of people with a lot of issues. Time sense is something you either have or you don't. You can ask one of my brothers what time something happened, and he'll tell you to the minute. My other brother will say, "The other day," whether it was an hour or a month ago.
This kind of attitude is narrow minded and assumes that everyone else has the same abilities, culture, and values that you do.
One of the main reasons I aim to arrive early for all formal appointments is because you never know when you'll have traffic or train delays. I'm curious what the effect of self-driving cars will be when traffic/trains/accidents will no longer be a factor.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
No, it isn't. I know a lot of people with a lot of issues. Time sense is something you either have or you don't. You can ask one of my brothers what time something happened, and he'll tell you to the minute. My other brother will say, "The other day," whether it was an hour or a month ago.
That's how my daughter is. She's almost 15, and has Asperger's. Her executive functioning skills are really poor, and she has a horrible sense of time. She literally cannot tell the difference between 2 days ago, 2 weeks ago, or 2 months ago. She uses a series of alarms to make sure she gets out the door on time to catch the bus.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
No, it isn't. I know a lot of people with a lot of issues. Time sense is something you either have or you don't. You can ask one of my brothers what time something happened, and he'll tell you to the minute. My other brother will say, "The other day," whether it was an hour or a month ago.
This kind of attitude is narrow minded and assumes that everyone else has the same abilities, culture, and values that you do.
No, I am sorry, but I believe you are wrong; what is narrow-minded is the person who is chronically late---the adult "professional" who CAN do better but fails to. That same "professional" who can't and won't see that being late constantly affects other people's schedules. Some of us have things to do after work, kids to pick up, appointments to make----- and thoughtless others being chronically late infringes on the ability to accomplish those things. When my shift is over, it is OVER and the ones taking over need to be there ON TIME. It's not narrow-mindedness. IT IS respect. For OTHERS.
I am not talking the occasional tardy issue. I am talking of the ones who do it everyday. It is very disrespectful. Someone touched on narcissism being a possible cause. I think they have something there.
And culture? There is a professional culture and expectation of nursing professionals to behave a certain way. Don't like it? Go be an artist or some other more suitable career choice...where being late does not bother or mess up others' schedules. This habit of being punctual should be taught and begin in nursing school. Can't handle it? Not jive with your culture? Then try your hand at another profession.
Re Klone's situation, why aren't your chronically late providers held accountable? There must be pressure on them to reduce OT for the staff? Are you their manager as well or do they answer to a medical or other dept director?
re the nurses who constantly show up late, why is this tolerated? Why so many special ones out there who can get away with this?
That's how my daughter is. She's almost 15, and has Asperger's. Her executive functioning skills are really poor, and she has a horrible sense of time. She literally cannot tell the difference between 2 days ago, 2 weeks ago, or 2 months ago. She uses a series of alarms to make sure she gets out the door on time to catch the bus.
Ah, Klone . . . I emphasize with you! My son can take a 45-minute shower and think he was in there for only 5 minutes. Smart phones are great in that the alarms are easy to set and carry around; however, that does not mean that he still won't get side-tracked. He has absolutely NO sense of time and never will.
I can appreciate your OP and immediately thought of my son's issues. People who are at work exactly on time (so they can enjoy the cat or whatever) or even a few minutes late are NOT the issue . . . it's those who constantly show up 10-15 minutes late. My son, fortunately, does not have to depend on the clock . . . except for the occasional dental/doctor appointment, but I explained how that's handled in another post.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Fortunately, it is not tolerated where I work. We had one nurse who was chronically 10 or more minutes late. Talked to her politely about how it was infringing on my ability to pick up my daughter and take her to the orthodontist or doctor. Her appointments are made in town, meaning I have to drive 40 minutes to get her and bring her back. I can't afford to be late. My providers consider you late when you are a no-show for 10 minutes and reserve the right to require you to reschedule AND charge you for a missed appointment.
Seems harsh, til you are the one sitting in the waiting room 50 minutes or more past your original appointment time; then you are seeing how others' late arrivals affect your day. Those 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there, affect EVERYONE scheduled behind you----and it costs providers productive time. I respect their policies and am never late. If for some reason I would be late, due to unexpected circumstances, I would most certainly call and explain what was going on, then be given the choice to make it when I can or reschedule. It's fair to me.
This nurse is usually on time now, often about 2 minutes late, which I find interesting, but not enough to split hairs over.
Being late affects others' schedules. Like said before EVERYONE'S time is valuable. Start valuing your coworkers' time and they will appreciate it. I know I will.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Re Klone's situation, why aren't your chronically late providers held accountable? There must be pressure on them to reduce OT for the staff? Are you their manager as well or do they answer to a medical or other dept director?
No, I'm not their manager. My direct manager said just "document document document" and give it to their direct manager.
I successfully lobbied to drop the 1630 appointment slot because it was causing my ancillary staff to stay late and go into OT. So now our last appt time is 1610, and I make sure my staff is out the door at 1700. If someone has to stay late to assist the provider, I do.
Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.
No, it isn't. I know a lot of people with a lot of issues. Time sense is something you either have or you don't. You can ask one of my brothers what time something happened, and he'll tell you to the minute. My other brother will say, "The other day," whether it was an hour or a month ago.
This kind of attitude is narrow minded and assumes that everyone else has the same abilities, culture, and values that you do.
Oh, ho time sense. Oh yes that is a big one for some people myself included. I can so relate to your brother.
I work from home, but do have set meetings etc that must be attended. So I pray at the alter of Outlook, to keep it all straight. Those pop ups are a GOD send. [i even have a pop up daily suggesting lunch. If I did not I would work right through non stop.]
I am totally guilty of not being sure of the day of the week sometimes. And don't even ask me the date!!! I will need to look to my nearest calendar [aside from outlook, I also keep a clock with a calendar and a large yearly calendar in front of me].
People who are chronically late have no respect for the value of anyone else's time but their own. It's rude, it's disrespectful, and everyone's time should be considered valuable. No excuses.
See my earlier post. Must be nice to have perfect time sense and make no mistakes.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
No one is asking for perfection; we ARE asking for responsibility and respect for others' time. Anyone going into nursing needs to realize they are entering a subculture of people who are expected to behave professionally and yes, be punctual when going to work. I am very surprised at the resistance and excuses being used not to do just that. It surely is not asking much.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
I do. It is deliberate. Even if subconsciously, it's deliberate.