Why am I so terrible at delegating??!!

[FutureNurse2B]

Ok so I may be a bit of a pushover and am known for being extra extra nice, but I must admit I am horrible horrible horrible about asking people to do things and not feeling bad about it or hesitating. I have been a nurse for 2yrs in pediatrics and everytime I ask a nursing assistant or a resp. Therapist to do something, they make me feel like I'm totally out of line. Not to mention its just the ones who arent' very friendly as it is. There are some CNAs and RTs that are super awesome and super nice but then there are those who just won't do diddly squat for you without complaining, giving you attitude, or just down right being mean about it. I ask nicely all the time and most of the time I just do things myself that aren't in my job description just b/c I dont' feel like asking or I much rather do it myself. But there are times when I really do need CNAs and RTs to do their job b/c I am swamped and do not have the time to do their job and mine.

Tonight For example, I had 4kids. I had gotten an admission at change of shift, I had to finish up another admission that was left over from day shift, and I still had my 2other kids that I had from the previous night who needed their meds. There is always a RT on this respiratory floor so they usually hang out by the nurses station waiting around for their Q3 neb treatments due or whatever. We had no CNA tonight to do vital signs so I was busy trying to run around doing that, finishing up my admission, my other kid needed an IV so I had to call the supervisor and help her hold that kid. Meanwhile, my new admission 02 sats were not that great and he obviuosly needed to be suctioned. So I kindly went up to the RT and asked him, "excuse me but do you think you can Suction the baby in Room 20? I have to finish this up and I just really can't get to it right now." His response was "Do I not look busy to you?" and with his meanful stares he says "Why can't you do it". I again explained to him that I had a million and one things to do all at the same time, I was being pulled in every direction, and I really would appreciate his help. After all he is RT and that was his job and job description. I never ask people for anything and I just feel like when I do ask I get crap for it. It really sucks.

I try being a hard *** sometimes but with my personality it just doesn't work. lol I feel like I get walked all over, picked on, and people are just so easy to be mean to me. How do you others handle situations like this? And how do you become a hard*** b/c maybe I need to learn and try it. I am tired of being treated like crap when I am so nice to people.

:angryfire:icon_roll:bugeyes:

[firstyearstudent]

Well, there's not much you can do here, except to harden you heart and become an *******. Heh heh. You probably don't want to give them something else to do because you know they don't want to do it. And can you blame them? They're overworked and underpaid. They already have too much to do with out the additional crap you're going to give them. You can't expect them to be nice. It's like saying "thank you" to someone who is paddling your bottom.

Healthcare sucks! Tell, don't ask. But be as nice as you can, remember to say please and thank you, acknowledge when you know they're busy but you have to ask them to do something anyway. Do it yourself or help if you're not busy. I made a pt.'s bed two weeks ago when my aid was busy and then I helped her do a bed bath -- and I'm still reaping the rewards of that one (just make sure they know you did it, heh heh). And, if they've got a good sense of humor, remind them that "healthcare sucks!"

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

I am tired of being treated like crap when I am so nice to people.

Maybe you are too nice. When you phrase something as a request, you give subordinates the option of refusing. Instead of asking, say "I need for you to (whatever)." If the employee tries to argue, just repeat what you told him/her. Being assertive and being aggressive are two different things. You can be assertive without being a total jerk. Using your authority properly is very liberating. Remember that you are the one with the power. Don't give it away by being too indirect or polite.

Scott makes an excellent point also about delivery. I have found that interspersing humor can help at times - but you have to choose the right time and the right way. Otherwise an employee might believe that you aren't serious.