When is it delegation and when is it "Being bossy"???

JoseQuinones · Feb 12, 2015

There is no getting around the fact that your level of responsibility as an RN makes you their boss for the purpose of that care. Whether they like it or not is none of your concern. You see the other side of the picture now and maybe they are more understanding than you were at that stage.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 12, 2015

I agree with the previous poster. As the RN it is your job -- and your obligation -- to delegate. Yes, be polite. Consider the workload of the people you are delegating to and take that in mind as you assign tasks to them. Be fair. Divide the workload fairly. "Please" "Thank-you" and a pleasing demeanor can go a long way to ease the pain of being delegated to. Remember to acknowledge your appreciation of your team members regularly. etc.

But beyond that ... There are some people who will never emotionally accept that someone younger and with less practical experience than they have "out-ranks" them. They don't like being delegated to, no matter how you do it. They have a problem with their job that has nothing to do with you. Don't let their dissatisfaction with their station in life prevent you from doing your job and delegating to them appropriately.

ScrappytheCoco · Feb 12, 2015

I really try not to ask techs to complete tasks if I have time to do them. I get stabby when I see nurses texting at the desk while directing an aide to get a pt a warm blanket or do a quick blood draw. I really feel like this has helped me foster a working relationship with the techs, as they are usually happy to help me because I am not constantly dumping things on them that I just don't want to do. I also always phrase in the form of a question... "Could you please straight cath pt x when you have a minute?" This also helps to differentiate from an emergency when I need help NOW. In that case it comes out as more of a statement. But since I'm not normally demanding, they know it needs to get done with a quickness.

skyler20 · Feb 12, 2015

As I complete my final semester of nursing school I hear a lot of talk about leadership and management using terms like accountability and delegation and it makes me think... At what point is a nurse delegating to support staff (i.e. CNA, RT, PT, etc.) and when do we cross that line into bossing people around? I know when I was a CNA and even as an EMT I had a bad attitude when it came to nurses Telling me what to do rather than asking me.
So what do you think? When do we cross the line between delegation and being bossy?

I would just like to point out that RT/PT are not professions that RNs can delegate to.

SubSippi · Feb 13, 2015

In my experience, I'm being "bossy" if they don't like me. The actual task I'm asking them to do or how many times I've asked them to do it doesn't matter.

The best CNAs don't have to be asked to do every little thing.

You really can't worry too much if someone thinks you're bossy...because no matter what you do, some will get an attitude. Help as much as you can, delegate when necessary, and let the eye rolls and huffs roll off your shoulders.

caliotter3 · Feb 13, 2015

It is how you talk to people, not that your job requires you to get tasks done by people that are under your supervision. If you have to repeat yourself or use emphasis, then by that time, you should be considering asking with a write-up for their personnel file. You have more important things to do than to be going around begging another person to do their job.

Libby1987 · Feb 13, 2015

It's too bad there isn't more initative where the charge more or less just affirms the delegation of assignments and tasks, you wouldn't think there would have to be any telling..

brownbook · Feb 13, 2015

Some people are blunt in asking someone to do something and don't even realize others see them as being bossy. However if you felt like every nurse you worked with was being bossy, sorry but I think some of that has to be your perception.

As others have said, if a anyone, a parent, boss., etc., shows they will help out, do any job that needs doing, others will see them as team player, someone they want to help in return.

"Could you please get patient X some water while I get his pain med." Versus..."Get patient X some water" while the nurse is sitting on her butt at the nurses station gossiping is being rude and bossy.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2015

You don't delegate to RRTs, PTs/DPTs, OTRs etc. Nor are they "support staff," any more than the RN is "support staff."

With delegating to CNAs, a lot of it is in *how* you do it. Don't ask them to do something unreasonable like toilet the weak 300 lb pt alone; ask them to help you do it. Something like getting a glass of water for someone--it's probably quicker to get it for the pt yourself vs. tracking down a CNA. Asking nicely with a "thanks, I appreciate it!" will go a lot farther than "do this." Remember there is no such thing as "aide work." They are nursing assistants, not nurse's lackeys. Create an atmosphere of teamwork, because you are a team.

Of course there are a few who will grumble about anything. You'll learn pretty quickly who these people are, and you learn that you can't take it personally. It's about them, not about you.

Red Kryptonite · Feb 13, 2015

ScrappytheCocoRN and Here.I.Stand, these valentines are for you:

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2015

Manners matter. It is very simple it isn't the message but how it is delivered.

I always make it a point to say...Can you please to xyz for me? I need to do GHI. Then WE can do the bed in QRS. Thank you.