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

Nurses General Nursing

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  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?

I agree with everyone else. There's no need to go into details about why you can't or aren't willing to pick up her shifts. Something tells me that she wouldn't be willing to switch a shift with you, anyway.

I would just keep it professional, courteous, and detail-free. She'll eventually get the hint and start asking others.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Its really not that complicated...ready..."no"

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Just say no. No need to ask them for more notice. Just say no.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

It really is not complicated, she's a selfish jerk. NO is the only right answer,

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As everyone else said, I would just say "sorry, I can't." There's no explanation needed. I wouldn't worry about helping her either for the sake of her helping you, she does not sound like a team player. She is probably asking everyone you work with!

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"Sorry, I have plans" always works for me. Doesn't matter what the plans are and nobody asks what they are.

The joy of standing up for your self-interest easily outweights any lingering guilt.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.

I'm going to go with the majority here and agree that all you need to say is NO. However if you are one of those people who feels they need to offer more to not come across abrupt then you can simply say "No I have plans." Which, even if all you were going to do all day is plan to lay around and watch Netflix, isn't necessarily a lie.

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Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education.

I used to have trouble saying no not because I wanted to be liked but because I wanted to be sure the work got done. I like providing that relief if it is needed and that way patients and coworkers get what is needed.

However, getting taken advantage of wore thin pretty fast and it was not difficult to say no.

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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.

Okay, now here she is just being a complete ass.

I would like to see her pull that during a rapid. "no. I can't go pull nitro. I'm just a CNA today". She's hired as a nurse. She can still do tasks at a nurse level.

I would have no sympathy for someone like this. She wants the job, she can show up for her scheduled shifts.

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"That won't be possible". Thats all you need to say, do not explain justify or rationalize. Lather rinse repeat as often as needed.

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I would only do a shift if YOU wanted to. I had a co-worker like this once and decided to finally only offer to switch shifts if it didn't mess with my life or benefitted me. If you opt to switch shifts, make sure it goes through the manager so she is responsible if she is somehow unable to show up for the shift she switched for. Otherwise, like has already been mentioned, just tell her "no" without an explanation, you do not owe her anything. You very well may not be able to use her to cover your shifts, but sometimes not being bothered all the time is just better. She doesn't sound reliable or generous anyway, so not worth it. I would also talk to your manager about her refusal to do something she is licensed to do (check insulin) even if she is acting as a CNA that day. That should be addressed.

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No is a complete sentence. Or, no, cant do it.

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