How to be a Great Nurse Co-Worker

Having friends is a huge advantage in the field of nursing. It can mean everything between having a good day and a bad one. When the shit hits the fan, you definitely want people there who have your back. Being a great nurse co-worker is a huge part of Nursing 101. Follow these 8 simple pieces of advice and you’ll be well on your way.

1. Don’t be an jerk

This is the 1st rule for a reason. None of the other stuff matters if you don’t take this piece of advice. You can’t be a good co-worker if you’re gonna be a jerk. If your goal is to get the entire unit to hate you, then by all means, be my guest. But I would suggest that you be nice, smile often, and help whenever you can.

2. Answer call lights

If you hear a call light and you have time to answer it, then check it out, even if it’s not your patient. No one likes answering call lights, which is kind of the whole point here. If you ignore them all the time, you will be branded as lazy. Plus, it shows that you care for your co-workers when you go out of your way to check on their patient’s problem. Because they appreciate your help, the favor will be returned more often than not.

3. Don’t change another nurse’s alarm settings without asking

Each of us sets our alarms to settings we are comfortable with. I know you don’t think it’s important to know when the systolic blood pressure goes below 140, but I might. Maybe I’m comfortable with a heart rate lower than 50 since my patient’s on a beta blocker. Every patient is different and we know when we want our alarms to go off. With that said, sometimes another nurse may forget to set their alarms. In that case, simply ask if it’s ok for you to change the settings since the alarm keeps going off and they don’t seem to be doing anything about it (but say it a little nicer).

4. Don’t silence someone’s pump and then walk away

If you hear a pump beeping that isn’t yours, please do not simply hit the silence button so you don’t have to hear it anymore. That is the move a doctor would make. First, check to make sure it isn’t a critical drip that needs to be restarted or replaced immediately. If the Levophed has run out, replace it first and then inform the nurse. If it is not something critical, it would be nice if you asked the nurse if they want you to replace it beforehand. If you are too busy, then just continue to let the pump beep and let the nurse know.

5. If you see a nurse in the weeds, help them out if possible

We are all nurses, which means we are all always busy. But sometimes, we have things to do that can wait if another nurse needs help. If one of your co-workers is getting slammed with a busy patient, try to give them a hand during your downtime. I know your patient needs a bath, but they probably don’t need it right this minute. Obviously, when you truly have things that can’t wait, you won’t be able to help. Just show that you see their struggle, that you care, and that you will help as much as you can.

6. Don’t attack the oncoming nurse with report as soon as they walk in

We are all exhausted after a 12 hour shift and just want to get the hell out of there. But remember that the oncoming nurse is just starting theirs and they have 12 hours to look forward to. Let them clock in, put their things away and come to you when they are ready. When you come back the next time, you will want them to give you the same courtesy. Don’t bombard them with report as soon as you see them. They will likely get annoyed and not listen to anything you say anyway. Waiting another 5 minutes isn’t going to kill you.

7. If you’re the oncoming nurse, don’t take your sweet time to get report

With everything said in the defense of the oncoming nurse, there is something to be said for getting report in a timely fashion. Let me rephrase that: Hurry up, bro! The person you are relieving has been there for 12 hours and they want to go home! Clock in, put your things away, and get over there. Don’t spend 20 minutes talking to someone else about what a great workout you had last night, or the new dumb movie you just saw. After you take report, please feel free. But until then, just listen. Listen to the nurse who is about to fall asleep from exhaustion, who wants nothing more than to go home, shower, and go to bed.

8. If you see a nurse getting talked to death by a patient, give them an out

We all experience those patients or family members who just want to talk about every minute detail of their lives. Because we’re nice people, we nod our heads and smile, but we’re slowing dying inside. If you see this happening to one of your own, do whatever it takes to get them out of that situation. Call them on the phone, call them from another room, or just go in and ask if they can come help you. They will love you forever if you do this.

I said all of that to say this: Happy co-workers equals a happy work life. It won’t always be easy, but do your best to be a great nurse co-worker. Not only is it the right thing to do, but chances are your good deeds will be reciprocated.