Rules of Nursing "Office Politics"

MzMouse · Feb 15, 2008

If you are quietly doing your job you are aloof and not being friendly enough to your coworkers.

If you are caught laughing and joking, even if it's the first minute even resembling a break all day; you are unprofessional and don't have enough to do.

Nothing ever gets truly discussed or resolved in a staff meeting. The people who do the most grumbling wouldn't speak up. Until, of course, after the meeting when everything goes back to normal.

IF- You do make the mistake of bringing something up your manager doesn't agree with, you will hear about it..somehow..someway..at your next review.

JaneyW · Feb 15, 2008

OK, I know, don't assume anything. Especially don't assume that when the charge nurse (who has no patient assignment) takes all the new orders from the rounding MD and enters the orders into the computer and then carries out the orders (lab draws) for you because you are swamped under a full load and it is your first day at that facility (registry) might actually have offically noted such orders. Even though the staff nurse who also has a full load also entered new orders into the computer for you managed to note them herself.

Also, don't be surprised when all of your unit's great ideas during meetings spouting "shared governance" (think magnet!) are shot down by the director and upper management as not feasible after they get the credit for allowing "shared governance" on paper.

sharann, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2008

Stay out of it, you will get bitten everytime.

Great advice and good reminder.

Not saying to take abuse, but when it comes to gossip and

liitle office crap, stay away, far away.

oramar · Feb 15, 2008

I will add one. If you ask for supervisor's advice about a problem you encounter with ANYTHING or ANYONE, do not assume it stops right there. It will most likely get back to higher levels of managment. Now that is not necessarily bad but know ahead of time that the info will be passed up the line. Sometimes even to those who have no business knowing.

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2008

Never let issues fester. Confront things head on before they get out of hand.

Always help your coworkers out. Karma can be a good thing.

Don't be a martyr. No one will respect you.

Don't ever criticize a coworker in front of a patient, or even passively agree with a patient's negative comment. If a patient complains, deal with it professionally and direct it to the appropriate channels.

Respect the ancillary staff. If you see spilled coffee in the hallway, get a towel and wipe up the spill. Help the CNA roll that 300 pound patient if you are passing by and can take a minute.

Try to be understanding of nurses on other units. Help the ER team put that patient into the bed. Even if it's 1835 and it's a new admit. Realize that the bed was assigned at 1815 by the house supe and there is a 6 hour wait to be seen in the ED. Report was faxed the instant we got the bed assignment, then it took 20 minutes to get a hold of you to tell you the fax was there, then to have you call us back to say the room and you are ready. We understand that you have 4 of 5 other patients that have an 1800 med pass. If it was possible to keep the patient until after report is over on the floor, we do and we would. There is nothing personal about it - and we all feel badly about the shift change admits.

(That's all I've got)

Blee

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 15, 2008

I will add one. If you ask for supervisor's advice about a problem you encounter with ANYTHING or ANYONE, do not assume it stops right there. It will most likely get back to higher levels of managment. Now that is not necessarily bad but know ahead of time that the info will be passed up the line. Sometimes even to those who have no business knowing.

The problem also has a chance of making it to the person you confidently complained about. You will see evidence of it when they start tag teaming and setting you up.

Jaguar Boy · Feb 15, 2008

I'm not a nurse yet, but have spent far too much time in a corporate office...here are mine:

1) Nothing is personal.

2) Gossip is horrible, don't do it.

3) Keep your personal life out of the "office" as much as possible. (sigh, this I learned the hard way! But, I learned)

maryloufu · Feb 16, 2008

Try to be understanding of nurses on other units. Help the ER team put that patient into the bed. Even if it's 1835 and it's a new admit. Realize that the bed was assigned at 1815 by the house supe and there is a 6 hour wait to be seen in the ED. Report was faxed the instant we got the bed assignment, then it took 20 minutes to get a hold of you to tell you the fax was there, then to have you call us back to say the room and you are ready. We understand that you have 4 of 5 other patients that have an 1800 med pass. If it was possible to keep the patient until after report is over on the floor, we do and we would. There is nothing personal about it - and we all feel badly about the shift change admits.
(That's all I've got)
Blee

That is nice to hear.

I do get peeved at bed control when we get slammed with 4 new admits in a row when the beds aren't even cold from the ones that just left. But that isn't the ER's fault- there are always more waiting for them.

Ms Kylee · Feb 16, 2008

No matter what, keep your mouth shut. I learned this the very hard way.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2008

-Don't dip your pen in the company ink.

-don't leave the crap work for the next shift, you make the mess, you clean it up....also, applies to full trashcans and empty water pitchers.

-Never say "that's not my patient" or "let me find the aide" if you can do what the patient is asking.

-If you see your 2 CNAs running around answering 5 lights at once...if one of them is your patient and you have a spare moment to answer that light...PLEASE DO IT!!!!

-Whenever you ask a patient if they need something, they will....5 mins after you leave.

-Don't assume that the aides know what the dr. ordered for your patient even if all usual cases get scds, teds, ice, etc....gotta tell us, cause some don't order em....

-If you don't like the way I do my job, tell me, cause I can't use your feedback, or really care about it unless you tell me to my face...then, I'll probably still ignore you because of all the crap you leave for me to do as well.....

- If you are in a leadership position...then LEAD! I can count on 2 hands the number of times I've talked to my manager....after 14 months, this breaks down to less than 1x a month about unit issues....just slap it on a wall and away you go....

Ms Kylee · Feb 16, 2008

And DON'T find something for the aide to do 5 minutes before their shift is supposed to end. Some of us have committments outside of work and we need to leave on time. It was probably something you could have done yourself, but you wasted more time trying to hunt someone down to do it because you couldn't be bothered.