11 Types of People Nurses Most Likely Encounter on the Job
In any field of work, whether it be in manufacturing or medicine, people are often met with an eclectic mix of characters. When one spends enough time in one occupation, it is not odd to discover the mannerisms and habits of their co-workers. Getting to know the people they are working with could be a recipe for success in how to survive in their workspace, but it could a recipe for disaster as well.
Take the nursing staff for example. With hundreds of tasks under their belt, nurses need to be in their tiptop form every day to better help their patients. Looking after the sick is only one of the many hurdles they must successfully undertake. On the other hand, being able to interact well with their co-workers is another issue they must overcome.
The Eleven Types of Nurses at Work
This may seem like a lighthearted topic, but many in the nursing staff will agree on the different types of nurses listed below. These may seem stereotypical, but we can't help to realize how true they are:
1. The Neat Freak
Starting off with something easy, there is the classic coworker who feels the need to put everything in an aesthetically pleasing order that gets them late to everything. From arranging their charts in proper alignment to making sure their handwriting is spot on, the neat freak coworker is not for everyone.
2. The Chill Pill
Nothing gets the chill pill agitated. Not even a patient who pulled their IV, an irate doctor complaining about a case, or a fellow nurse getting into trouble. Stress is not something the chill pill can relate to and sometimes, this might not be a good thing.
3. The Smarty Pants
For some reason, the smarty pants is the type who freely gives anecdotal information that doesn’t even relate to their nursing occupation. They tend to get chatty and share smart, unnecessary information with any person who mistakenly stops to listen.
4. The Gossip Queen/King
These nurses ask about anything. They slink around inquiring about the patient’s family situation, the lives of the doctors they work with, and even the pets some co-workers take care of. Just because they ask doesn’t mean they care.
5. The Shade Bringer
These nurses go around bringing a black cloud of depression over every person they encounter. What’s worse, they overshare about the problems they deal with at home. Not that there’s anything wrong with talking about problems, but some matters are best kept private.
6. The Item Hogger
This type of nurse has the tendency to keep everything with them wherever they go. Spare IV pumps, thermometers, or pens will most likely be in their possession. They might be doing this for the sake of convenience but always at the expense of others.
7. The Overzealous Charter
When updating about the patient’s health, these nurses chart down everything. True, there are rules about charting down every procedure that was done. However, some nurses don’t know how to be short and concise about their reports.
8. The Strict Sergeant
This nurse is the type who expects everything done to a T. They complain about every little thing that they believe should have been done already. Like labels on charts, patient reports, and dates on the task board.
9. The Heavy Feet
They either drag their feet or make a racket by clogging along the hallway to their patient’s room. These nurses announce their arrival by way of heavy footfalls that could be heard five doors down the hallway.
10. The Suggestion Queen/King
This type of nurse feels like their suggestions are gold. They will continuously give the ideas they think will make people’s lives easier and say them with full conviction. It doesn’t matter if people get annoyed.
11. The Single-Minded Foodie
Being on a staff of numerous people, these nurses think that having a potluck is the best way to go about their meals. They would often suggest what type of food people can share and then some.
Having a Productive Work Environment
On to a more serious topic. The shortlist of nurse types given previously is just the tip of the iceberg of what is essentially the working cogs in a nursing staff. Like it or not, any workforce will deal with many types of characters and one must learn how to interact well with them to remain productive.
Each person reacts to their environment differently, and it would be wise to learn how to navigate a workspace with a good deal of decorum. Here are a few suggestions on how to respond well in a work-environment as part of the nursing staff:
Always be respectful towards co-workers
Respect in a workplace leads to greater engagement among employees, as well as more devotion to their commitments. When employees are given respect, they feel that their voice is valued and that their work is highly appreciated. Also, when someone receives respect, they feel a sense of belonging that would make them work harder at their jobs.
Avoid conflict among co-workers
Learn to back away when a fight is brewing. Being part of the nursing staff is stressful enough. There is no need to add conflict when one of the most important responsibilities in the work of a nurse is the well-being of their patient. How can a nurse give their patients the necessary aid when they are late in their rounds due to a spat with other staff on the floor? Instead of fighting it out with a co-worker, one should resolve the matter before it escalates. Better yet, avoid it entirely by walking away. Learn how to swallow your pride in circumstances like this.
Learn how to walk your way around the floor
This doesn’t only relate to learning the floor plan of the work area, but it also relates to learning about employee mannerisms and habits. Everybody in the nursing staff is busy with their work and interrupting a coworker during their process can make them irate. If one already knows what makes others tick, then it would be a way of making sure no complication arises in the team.
Elevate co-workers and make them feel appreciated
After a long day’s work, a compliment goes a long way. In fact, giving recognition to someone encourages them to engage more with other colleagues. The positive feedback allows for an individual to feel like their work is important. Also, those who are praised or complimented will remember the person who elevated them and would likely find the time to return the favor.
The Workplace Environment
With the many hours spent at work, dealing with coworkers is a matter all nursing staff must go through. Like it or not, one must learn how to interact well in any form of working environment. Nursing is no different. If one is not careful in how they address people at work, they might be in danger of isolating themselves from everyone.
True, interacting with others might not come easy, but it’s possible to learn from failed experiences. This may have started a bit lighthearted with the different types of nurses, but there is a truth to those stereotypes. One could get a laugh out of them, but those types may be found in any kind of workplace and not just in the nursing staff.
Being able to interact well with others makes working a more bearable occupation. With the added responsibility of keeping patients comfortable and healthy, nurses have a lot on their plates without having to worry about their co-workers. One should always be mindful of others in their surroundings and by doing that, work becomes easier to face.
