4 Ways to Promote a Positive Doctor/Nurse Relationship During Your Next Shift
When you’re on the road and working at several health care facilities over the course of a single year, you’re bound to find all sorts of work styles, procedures, cultures and standards. This is especially true when it comes to working with different doctors. Each individual has his or her own way of doing things, and that has an effect on the doctor/nurse working relationship. As a travel nurse, you need to be flexible when it comes to working with new people. Read on for tips on how to keep that relationship positive, professional and productive:
1. Stay in the loop
It’s vitally important that nurses are kept up-to-date about everything going on with their patients. Brian J. Secemsky, M.D., writing for KevinMD, noted that doctors should always include nurses in their bedside rounds. If you’re unable to make the rounds with the doctor(s) for any reason, be sure to do a short follow-up afterward. This will prevent any confusion so you can take care of the patients to the best of your ability, and you’ll be able to assist the doctor with anything that comes up during the shift.
2. Stay positive
It will happen eventually: You’ll come into work feeling refreshed and ready for the day, only to have those good vibes derailed by a negative person. So much the worse if that person happens to be another nurse or doctor you’re working with for the day. A study found in the U.S. Library of Medicine reported on the importance of keeping a positive attitude, for the sake of your patients. If you’re presented with a negative personality on the job, try to recognize if it starts to rub off on you. As soon as you realize where that bad mood is coming from, you can brush it off and continue the rest of your shift with a smile.
3. Stay team focused
Even though your contract may be short term, take ownership of your situation by understanding that not only do you play an important role at the hospital, but you’re also integral to the team’s success. Don’t think of yourself as a freelancer or an outsider, just because you’re a travel nurse. As a study published in the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing found, you’re just as much of a team member as the long-term employees. How can you help the team? How can you use the team for support? Looking at work though this lens will help you to be more productive and effective.
4. Stay patient
In a new environment with a unique culture, if want to get your opinions or suggestions heard, wait until the other party has spoken before offering them. If you jump in with your suggestion first, the other staff member may just nod politely before rushing ahead with his or her own course of action. By waiting, you can completely hear what the other team members have to say, decide if you know of a better option and then speak to an attentive audience. Because the other individuals have already had their say, they’ll be more likely to listen to you.
Stay on top of your patients’ statuses, keep a positive outlook, work together as a team and keep an attentive ear – those are a few important steps you can take to build better relationships at work.
