Responding to annoying co-worker who asks you to work for them every week?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  1. How would you respond to a co-worker who asked every week if you can work for them

    • 27
      Stop responding and ignore them
    • 54
      Simply say no and ask them to give you more notice time
    • 14
      Tactfully confront them and let them know that what they are doing is bothersome
    • 21
      Other option not listed

116 members have participated

I have a co-worker who struggles with little aches and pains and she's always asking me to work for her every week. It's always something new as for the reason she wants someone coming in for her. I don't want to ruin a good relationship with her. I do remember one time I needed help from her but she was extremely rude about it and I had to wait and wait AND WAIT for another nurse to help me. I remember telling myself I will never help her outside of work ever again. How do politely send the message when she texts me asking if I can work for her? This is a weekly occurrence and I'm tired of it! But what if I need her to work for me? How to play this smart?

If you want to play it smart, you set your own limits. If she asks and you can't, just say, "I'm sorry, I can't." Broken record syndrome. Don't give her a reason and don't go into it. If there's any chance you need her to work for you at some point, the less you say, the better.

You need to start saying No! This person is taking advantage of you and will continue to so so for as long as you allow it.

Do not ignore the text messages and do not offer an excuse. You do not need an excuse to decline covering someone else's work. Just reply immediately with No.

Specializes in labor & delivery.

Had this problem. The same RN always asked me to take her holidays because she had to go to church. She had already run through the other staff when I came to the unit. I did it a few times, but then told her I make my schedule based on my needs and cannot switch anymore. She still texted me, but I stopped replying. I figured I had already told her I was done covering her holidays, if she didn't get the message, oh well. Eventually she stopped asking, and we are still great co-workers. Set your limits.

It never ceases to amaze me that the people I have helped in this manner or some other way, can never, never, never reciprocate.

I'm speaking the entire shift. All the nurses had to take a turn being a CNA for a full shift. I really needed a witness for insulin. She was sitting at the nurses station talking to the other CNAs chit chatting when I asked her for help and she said no, I'm a CNA today. She never got up to help me look for someone who was a nurse. She was very snooty about it as if she was resenting being a CNA that shift. All the nurses were super busy and the house supervisor was on another floor. When it was my turn to be a CNA I helped witnessed narcs and insulin.

She sounds like a real piece of work. She is NEVER going to work for YOU, so feel free to let her know you want the weekly requests to stop NOW.

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Just say "I'm sorry, I can't". No explanation needed.

Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

I had a nurse where at least twice a month she was "sick". I would only go in if the DON called me. Also, whenever I needed to trade, she always had to check her calendar and wouldn't let me know until a couple of days before. When she would want me to trade, I always told her right away that I was not available to trade. I have had nurses work as CNA's yet they would do some meds if I were busy and a resident was wanting a PRN med.

Specializes in retired LTC.

"NEVER say you're sorry! It's a sign of weakness". - NCIS GIBBS rule.

Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.

I used to struggle with this too, both with co-workers and The Powers That Be asking me to pick up extra shifts. I knew I had every right to just say no but I had problems feeling like I needed SOME kind of valid excuse (even though one absolutely does not). Until a fellow nurse taught me one simple trick: "I already have plans." Don't say more. Don't elaborate. You can add a "sorry" to be tactful if you feel like it.

They do not need to know that your plans involve a long, hot bath and going to bed early, enjoying time with your family, or not getting out of your pajamas all day. Those are plans.

Specializes in ICU, trauma.

"Hey, can you work for me?"

"no"

simple as that

Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.
I have had nurses work as CNA's yet they would do some meds if I were busy and a resident was wanting a PRN med.

Yes, this exactly. Right now my facility is short of nurses and not techs, but when I first started here we had the opposite problem and nurses were often asked to work as the tech for all or part of a shift. Didn't stop most of us from pitching in to help the nurse with PRNs or whatever nursing task was needed.

Funny story - I was floated to another floor once while doing the RN-as-tech thing and a patient who recognized me from my usual floor (a frequent flier, and we're freestanding psych so all of our floors are psych, just different acuity/focus) wanted ME to give their PRN. The RN on the floor said, "No, she can't." "But she gave me my meds before all the time!" the patient insisted. The poor nurse's eyes were bugging out until I realized she didn't know I was a RN and clarified... (I did end up giving the patient's meds to help de-escalate the situation once the nurse knew I was qualified. ;))

Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Someone once told my "once it's a favor, twice it's your job". It was in reference to hospital/nursing bureaucracy, but, I think it applies here as well. ESP in light of her not reciprocating!

Block her on your phone, then you won't have to listen to her sob story.

Best wishes

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