I often remind my fledgling nurses that there are two kinds of nurses: those that everyone wants to work with and those that nobody wants to work with. While I focus here on nurses, the same ideas could  be applied in virtually any work

environment. Having worked in careers outside of nursing, I know that the concepts are portable.

So, what’s the difference between the one you want to work with and the one you don’t?

Knowledge

The nurse you want to work with “knows her stuff.” They are the ones that others turn to for information and guidance because they’ve proven their knowledge base. These are the ones the doctors and administrators respect and go to when they need to ensure something gets done and done well. The “other nurse” favorite expression is “I don’t know.”

Proactivity

The one you want to work with believes in being proactive. Their shift runs more smoothly because they evaluate the situation and anticipate their needs, the unit’s needs and the patient’s needs. The alternative is the nurse that reacts to everything. Reactive behavior almost by definition means unmanaged and unmanageable. They are always complaining of being behind and leaving things undone because they “didn’t have time.”

Organization

Similar to proactivity, the “desirable nurse” knows and plans for what needs to be done and then moves forward to get it done. They don’t waste time spinning their wheels. These nurses virtually always appear relaxed and unhurried (a characteristic their patients like) because they have organized their work for maximum efficiency. Their alternate seems to be always doing busy work.

I once worked with a nurse manager who spent some time doing patient care on my shift. She was busy the whole night long while I sat back, drank coffee, chewed the fat with coworkers and so forth. But, at the end of the shift I had accomplished everything that she had, my unit was just as neat, my patient just as well cared for as hers and I’d done it while working about fifteen minutes out of the hour. Just watching her exhausted me, however.

Responsibility

The nurse you want to work with gets assumes responsibility for his or her actions. These folks aren’t perfect and they realize it. But, when they make a mistake they are quick to admit it and take the actions necessary to correct the results of their error. You always know where you stand with this nurse and never have to “watch your back.” The “other nurse”, is never at fault. The problem is someone else’s; the error was on another person. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to work with a person who may point the finger at me for the error they made.

Reliability

The nurse you want to work with gets things done. he is the nurse that the doctor looks to and says “oh good, you’re here!” This the the nurse that other want to have relieve them at the end of the shift because they know this nurse will be on time and prepared to work. There’s just nothing like having your relief arrive 45 minutes late then socialize for another thirty before they’re ready to relieve you at the end of your now 13 hour shift!

Humility

Some where years ago I heard the phrase: “There’s an inverse relationship between confidence and competence.” Now, certainly there are exceptions to that observation, but the nurse you want to work with knows what they know and also knows what they don’t know. They are by no means know-it-alls, even though their knowledge base may be extensive. They are kept in check because they realize what they don’t know and take care not to exceed their abilities. The braggart, on the other hand, not only becomes wearisome after a time, but can be worrisome as well as they attempt to do things for which they are not trained or qualified.

The question I always posed to my students is: Which do you want to be?

If you’re smart, you’ll take the high road and adopt these six characteristics as your guides to becoming the coworker you want to work with.

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