As nurses we work in fast-paced, life-and-death environments. Due to the nature of our work, we sometimes appear abrupt or harried, or even downright rude. Let’s be honest. Emergency staff would be foolish to attempt consensus-building in the middle of a disaster. Crisis leaders must often be authoritative in order to maintain safety in emergency situations. Unlike my previous professions where consensus-building was the norm, I have learned to accept a wide range of “acceptable” behavior in the field of healthcare. Unfortunately, I have also seen some unacceptable and unprofessional behavior. How do we hold ourselves and our colleagues professionally accountable? And where do we draw the line?
New nurses may be surprised by the occasional blunt interaction among certain medical professionals. But, this behavior is not necessarily unprofessional. In fact, it may be essential to communicating vital information in a hurry. Surely most nurses believe in treating patients with respect and compassion; but I have learned that interactive styles vary among healthcare providers. Some nurses are frank and no-nonsense, while others are diplomatic and laid back. In order to maintain the integrity of the nurse-patient relationship, professional nurses uphold appropriate boundaries and demonstrate consistent respect for patient privacy and dignity. Ideally, we should treat our colleagues with this same respect and compassion.
When we see other nurses struggling on the floor, or new doctors frantically searching for vital supplies, most of us try to assist them whenever we can. On the other hand, when we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, we must ask our colleagues for help. What is the point of being too proud to seek or render assistance? Teamwork is integral to our professional survival.
There are many ways to work together as a team of healthcare professionals. Let’s keep our eyes on our chief goal: to assist patients in their healing process. As an exceptional nursing assistant recently reminded me, “We can all get this job done and do it well, so long as everyone is willing to do their part.” I couldn’t agree more!
What makes a nurse “professional” in your opinion? Do you have ideas for improving teamwork and collegiality in healthcare? Please share your thoughts and stories.