Unhappy coworkers

[gladtobeOB]

Boy, I am getting tired of hearing about how unhappy my coworkers are about working, how they can't stand this department anymore,etc. One coworker is upset about always getting pulled off her orientation in the emergency room to work on the floor, working the other nurses shift that calls off,(I understand her point but then she works the extra hours and expects everyone to feel sorry for her....She can say no just like everyone else) Other nurses are just getting sick and tired or being sick and tired, moaning around everyday they come into work. We had two nurses out the last couple of days with funeral leave which has really put the hurting to our dept. I volunteered to work, if someone would switch days off. I only do the weekend program,but no we can't give you off on those days because we would definetly not have the coverage. I work the weekend program so as I have a life with my family and go to school for my bsn. Called me twice today to work the night shift, told them sorry about your luck but I can't come in.

[SoulShine75]

Last year there were layoffs at my hospital, now we have more patients and they did away with all the CNA's/Techs, so we are on our own. Sad to say, before this happened I felt like I was one of the most positive people at work..but I have been sucked in by everyone's negitivity after all this time..now I find myself sitting at the nurses station *****ing about how much it sucks and how I am going to look for another job...everytime I go into work I say I am going to be a more positive person today, but by 9 or 10am it's gone to hell. Anyone got any ideas on how I can get my positive outlook back?? :uhoh21:

I am just a student but I was wondering if your unit could have a pep talk before each shift begins. Kind of like a "let's go out there and make the best of things and do it!" type thing. ???? I'd think that if your unit gets together as a group and treat your shift as something positive then that positivity will spread and make your shift go lots better. It seems better than people coming in dreading the day and the people they have to deal with. This is just a suggestion. I worked a DR's office for a while and we'd have morning meeting/pep talks about what our goals were for the day ( but they had insentives as well) and it put everyone in a good mood.

[llg, PhD, RN]

i'll tell you how i deal with all the whiners. i listen for a bit, then say something like "gee, sounds like you've been having an awful time. i'm sorry you are so upset and unhappy. what are you going to do about it"? amazing how they shut up when you put the ball back in their court. .

i do much the same thing. after listening a bit and offering a little sympathy, i ask them what they plan to do about it. i think it serves as a reminder to people to take responsibility for their own decisions and their consequences. that's the type of stance my parents always took with me growing up. if i had a problem, i should be prepared to address it in some way -- not just blame everybody else.

when i hear people complain, i encourage them to do something constructive about their problems. i may not be the most popular person in the world, but i don't have to put up with a lot of whiners! :-)

llg

[missmercy]

I am just a student but I was wondering if your unit could have a pep talk before each shift begins. Kind of like a "let's go out there and make the best of things and do it!" type thing. ???? I'd think that if your unit gets together as a group and treat your shift as something positive then that positivity will spread and make your shift go lots better. It seems better than people coming in dreading the day and the people they have to deal with. This is just a suggestion. I worked a DR's office for a while and we'd have morning meeting/pep talks about what our goals were for the day ( but they had insentives as well) and it put everyone in a good mood.

Good Morning SoulShine75! I only wish the pep talk idea would work - - It would most likely get hostile and ugly here. When you are the person receiving the pep talk and you KNOW that you have to face another day with less than adequate staffing, inferior supplies, heavy patient loads and egotistical physiciansand a pay check that is not comparable with that of the national average: pep talks seem a bit .. ...lame. Most of my staff nurses WANT to go out there and make it better -- and they do -- to the extent that the afore mentioned issues will allow them to. Until we get these issues addressed and dealt with -- pep talks would probably discourage and irritate my staff. Management and administration is constantly asking nurses to fdo more, do better, do it all -- but with less resources. Want to encourage the gang? -- hire another nurse or two -- change out some outdated equiptment, hold the physicians accountable for rude and unprofessional behavior -- and a raise wouldn't hurt anyones feelings either.:)