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If you deal with daily staff meetings and interactions with doctors and patients, you know just how important it is to speak assertively and get heard! But what exactly does “assertively” mean and how do you speak your mind without coming across as rude? These are important questions, as communicating effectively — not to mention politely — is pivotal to your professional success as a nurse. The last thing you want to do is alienate other nurses (or patients!) with in-your-face boldness. And you definitely shouldn’t let doctors and other health care professionals walk all over you. As Mad Men’s Don Draper once said,

“…Keep it up, and even if you do get my job, you’ll never run this place. You’ll die in that corner office, a mid-level executive with a little bit of hair who women go home with out of pity. Want to know why? Cause no one will like you.”

And Draper’s advice is spot on; no one responds well to a bossy nurse and being rude is definitely not the way to win a promotion or respect. Remember, when asserting yourself or your ideas, your main goal should be to gain and give respect. How? We suggest focusing on confidence instead of assertiveness. You’ll find that a confidently presented idea or viewpoint will get you far and will garner you more respect in the long run.

Show Confidence

The best solutions come out of problems. Say you’re dealing with a particularly problematic patient, who disagrees with his treatment plan. Instead of backing down and calling for the doctor, or loosing your cool and yelling at the patient, take a step back. In order to communicate effectively, you must show confidence in yourself and what your saying – especially in front of a patient who’s obviously concerned about their health. Look your patient in the eye and make eye contact – both when you are speaking and (even more importantly) while you’re listening to the patient.

Exhibit Leadership Qualities

Part of speaking in an assertive manner is demonstrating leadership skills. When you are assertive in a conversation, you are leading that conversation. But don’t use this as a time to be condescending. Steer clear of using big words (especially when you’re dealing with patients whose native language isn’t English) in an effort to deliberately impress people and try to avoid making others feel defensive. Think about your approach, delivery, and what you want as a result of your conversation.

Next: Be Specific and Clear –>

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Tired of staring at the white walls of your hospital? Going crazy eating cafeteria food? Time for a break! Whether it’s a relaxing cruise, an exotic island getaway, or a sandy beach adventure, it’s high time you got out of those scrubs and away from the dreariness of charting and rounds.

Worried your workload will keep you from your vacay? We’ll help you get around an overbearing manager, angry coworkers, and problematic patients so you can get the rest and relaxation you deserve.  If you follow these practical dos and don’ts, you’ll find yourself out the door before you know it!

1. Do Ask in Advance

The fastest way to get shot down when asking for time off is asking at the last minute. Your boss is a busy person, with a lot on her plate. Why not make her job easier, (and show how considerate and responsible you are) by asking weeks — or months — in advance? Not only are you doing yourself a favor, but your manager will appreciate the heads up and can plan the shift schedule accordingly. She’ll have the time to consider the request fairly … and you’ll have the added bonus of having plenty of time to try again if you’re denied.

2. Don’t Mention the Fun Factor

Just because you’re planning a vacation doesn’t mean you have to advertise it. Making a big deal of your upcoming trip might not just distract you from doing your work — it might even irritate other nurses as well. Don’t act like you’ve started your vacation early! Nobody wants to hear you go on and on about your impending trip to the Bahamas when they’re going to be stuck with the late shift.

You Deserve It –>

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The medical world and Hollywood have never been far apart. This partnership has spawned some of the most memorable moments in entertainment — from long-running hits like ER to primetime shows like House to reality shows like NurseTV. And you have to admit that, while Hollywood seldom gets the medical know-how and jargon right, it does make for fascinating TV.

However, many medical dramas give the prestige to doctors, and leave nurses in the dust. Only recently have television audiences been exposed to shows that focus on nursing life, in shows like Nurse Jackie, Mercy, and HawthoRNe. With storylines centered around strong, ambitious characters, these shows give the audience a glimpse of what the nursing profession is really like.

Hollywood’s love affair with medical shows gets a lot wrong, and a little right. And that’s no exception when it comes to nurses on the small screen. Take a look at some of television’s amazing nurses.

More TV Nurses –>

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At the end of a hellish shift, it can be fun to go out and have a few drinks with your favorite nursing friends. But drinking with your colleagues isn’t like drinking with your friends on the weekend. The same rules just don’t apply.

No matter how laid-back your hospital may be, your actions always reflect on your professional nursing persona. So what kind of behavior is appropriate? Check out our happy hour etiquette guide for smooth sailing!

Rule #1 –>

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Please go to Are you a medical marvel? to view the quiz ]]> http://scrubsmag.com/are-you-a-medical-marvel/feed/ 0 http://scrubsmag.com/the-meaning-behind-stupid-nursing-interview-questions/ http://scrubsmag.com/the-meaning-behind-stupid-nursing-interview-questions/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:55:07 +0000 NursingLink http://scrubsmag.com/?p=16856

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If you’ve been in the nursing game long enough, the same lame questions will manage to show up in interview after interview. Where do you see yourself in five years? What’s your greatest weakness? You know, the small-talk questions that fill up the time between the really important questions.

But all those seemingly meaningless questions actually have a purpose — which is why most hiring managers use them. But what are interviewers really trying to find out with these asinine questions? We’ve put together a list of the seven “stupidest” interview questions to help you discover their underlying meanings.

First question –>

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Passing the NCLEX exam is one of the most important steps en route to becoming a nurse. If you took our first quiz and scored well, don’t pat yourself on the back yet! Use this follow up quiz as a study guide to see how you would fare on the real test.

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Ever get a hunch about a patient’s condition but can’t put your finger on why you feel the way you do? Perhaps it’s the way a fellow nurse reacts to your proposal, or a strange feeling that your supervisor isn’t happy with your charting. Not everything can be worked out with a pro and con list. Much of working with people is following your intuition.

And not only do our bodies have a powerful language all their own, they’ve got quite a lot to say about what we should do in certain situations. You know how this is, especially when you have to make a judgment call in a life or death situation!

Want to learn to use your nursing intuition to your advantage in your career? Check out these work-related examples of times when your stomach might sour or your body tense and learn how to uncover your natural intuitive abilities just by listening to your body’s physical cues.

Hospital Gossip
Speaking Up in a Meeting
Choosing or Changing Your Specialty
Going to HR

First, dealing with hospital gossip…

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Passing the NCLEX exam is one of the most important steps en route to becoming a nurse. Use this quiz as a study guide to see how you would fare on the real test.