I was on a long flight to Honolulu recently. To add a bit of fun, the pilot and flight attendants invited the passengers to play a game. We had to figure out the midway point from Los Angeles to Honolulu. The pilot gave us the time we left, the miles we had to travel, our speed and the head winds. The person who was closest won a great travel guide to Honolulu with a ton of coupons and specials.
I love playing games and was bound and determined to win this one. I’ve always been good in math and so I was fairly confident that I had the right answer or was at least close.
Well, I was wrong. My answer was off by about 10 minutes (I blame it on the Mai Tais served on the plane). As it turned out, the winner was the woman sitting next to me! I was happy and congratulated her. After all, although I’m competitive, I’m a gracious loser.
Until she opened her mouth!
This woman actually had the nerve to tell me that she was on this same flight a month ago – almost exact departure time, speed and headwinds and therefore, she knew the answer. What made matters worse was that the prize was the exact same one she won the last time!! So instead of allowing someone else to win, she was greedy and now has two coupon books!
I’ve been to wedding and baby showers that show a similar display of greedy behavior. Women winning and taking prize after prize while some other woman don’t win anything. When my daughters were young, I happened to randomly win 3 prizes during a wedding shower. I used it as a lesson and only kept one while giving the others away.
Why? Because it’s the right thing to do!!
Just like being a nurse. There are some nurses who are greedy. They want to do the least amount of work for the most pay, take the easiest patients and not help anyone. In essence – they cheat other nurses. These nurses don’t every truly succeed and often find themselves either burning out or making life miserable for the rest of us!
Nobody likes working with a greedy nurse.
Action steps to make sure you’re not a greedy nurse
1. Go out of your way to support others – by setting your co-workers up for success. Hang courtesy IV bags; stock the med cart with supplies; and share information that they need to do their job well.
2. Do your due diligence – by taking the extra patient when your assignment is lighter; answering a call bell even though the patient is not assigned to you; or by getting a patient ready for transport when your colleague is busy.
3. Give credit to others – don’t take credit for things you didn’t do. It’s always about the team – not any individual. Praise and compliment others – say good things about them.
Cheaters never win like they say. And, cheaters never become great, successful nurses. Don’t be like my flight mate who cheated her way for a couple of coupon books. It’s not worth it!
Have you ever worked with a greedy nurse? Would love to read your comments about this topic.
Thanks so much fore reading. Take care and stay connected!
Renee
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