Page 41 - American Nurse Today January 2008

good that knowledgeable coworkers will pepper their re- sponses with personal and useful information. Your coworker might reply, “Keep report short. Since her di- vorce, Jane seems to want the “cut-to-the-chase version.” With this approach, you get the information you need without looking as though you are angling for it.
Let your light shine
Initially, you will want to impress your coworkers by telling them how much you know and by sharing all your great ideas for improvement. Face it: No one really wants to hear, “At the last place I worked, we did (fill in the blank), and it worked great!” Resist the impulse. Such statements can sound threatening to established employ- ees. The staff members may think they’re doing pretty well already—or at least well enough that they don’t need advice from someone who just walked in the door.
A better tactic is to identify the influential people in your area and find a reason to work with them. (Hint: A nurse who is quoted by other nurses is an influential per- son.) Gain the trust of influential people by being profes- sional, competent, and pleasant. Keep in mind that it will take time for these people to get to know and trust you.
Nurses tend to follow the opinions of only a few people in the work setting, regardless of experience or clinical evidence. And gaining the trust of those
few influential people can provide opportunities to create a buzz around your thoughts and ideas.
Valuable experience
You were hired because someone in authority thinks you have what it takes to do the job. But to do your new job well, you also need to develop positive rela- tionships, so you fit in quickly and gain valuable expe- rience for wherever your career takes you. ✯
Selected references
Mortell N. Adjusting to your new job. Lab Anim (NY). 2007;36(8):46.
Nearly half of nurses plan to change jobs in the next two years. http://sev.prnewswire.com/health-care-hospitals/20050718/ CGM04018072005-1.html. Accessed November 6, 2007.
Nolan S, Murphy J. The tried, true, and new: a traditional approach to critical care education with a new twist. Crit Care Nurs Q. 2006; 29(3):199-206.
Steen M. Office gossip can be productive. http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/ jobseeker/tools/ept/careerArticlesPost.html?post=72. Accessed Novem- ber 6, 2007.
Thompson C, McCaughan D, Cullum N, Sheldon T, Mulhall A, Thomp- son DR. Research information in nurses’ clinical decision-making: what is useful? J Adv Nurs. 2001;36(3):376-388.
Gregory S. Kopp, RN, MN, MHA, is a staff nurse in the intensive care unit at the JointVentureVA/DODHospitalonElmendorfAirForceBaseinAnchorage,Alaska.
Join a Magnet hospital in the heart of Charlottesville — a great place to live and work.
A great hospital
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UVA’s Magnet status—a distinction shared by just 4 percent of U.S. hospitals—means that nurses are frontline decision makers working in a world-class academic health system setting. As a Level I Trauma Center and the recipient of three Beacon Awards, we excel in balancing the health of our patients with the happiness of our employees.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Central Virginia, our wonderful academic environment is rich in arts and culture, and offers year-round opportunities to enjoy sports and outdoor recreational activities.
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January 2008 American Nurse Today 41