You COBs Were Right After All

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I have gotten some great advice over the years from COBs that have really enhanced my work/family life. Among them are:

*Take your breaks and vacations or you'll burn out fast.

*Toughen up a little or you'll never make it. Doesn't mean you can't be nice, just don't let patients walk all over you.

*If you are drowning in your assignment ask for help. It's not a sign of weakness.

*Taking overtime will not endear you in the eyes of anyone and will take away family time. Only do it if you want to or if you need the money.

This is a COB appreciation thread for those old timers who rarely get the credit they deserve and are usually ranted about on allnurses.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Another morsel of COB advice:

When you are off, be OFF. Do not answer work calls. Make ZERO excuse or explanation why you say 'no' if asked to work extra and you don't want to. "No" is a complete sentence.

(How's this for crusty? I've been a nurse since patients could smoke in bed and doctors and nurses could smoke at the nurses' station!))

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Another morsel of COB advice:

When you are off, be OFF. Do not answer work calls. Make ZERO excuse or explanation why you say 'no' if asked to work extra and you don't want to. "No" is a complete sentence.

(How's this for crusty? I've been a nurse since patients could smoke in bed and doctors and nurses could smoke at the nurses' station!))

Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end. I enjoyed sharing a cig with my patients. Lucky to get a telecommute job, and continued to chief away at work.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
What does it take to be a COB (Crusty Old Bat?)

Would I have to be old? :eek:

Definition of old: 15 years older than I am!

Or would I have to be crusty?

I think I could do batty. :yes:

If "old" is always 15 years older than you are, you will never achieve Crusty Old Bat status. You may, however, be crusty.

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Specializes in Peds Critical Care, Dialysis, General.

I make appointments very quickly after schedules are posted. I don't explain who the appointment is with, not their business. If the scheduler forgot to put me on, oh, well!

I have had to learn the hard way to not let people push me around. Being nice only goes so far. I take care of me first, now. Especially since we found out my husband has some serious issues going on. Our time may be cut short, so us first, them second.

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