It is always a good idea for nurses to build strong work relationships. Not only do they help with the day-to-day operations of a hospital, but they also ensure that patients are taken care of and receive the best possible treatment. Working as a team can be difficult at times, but it will make your job easier in the long run. Here are 30 tips you should consider when building those relationships as a CNA:
- Be patient when trying to build strong work relationships – it takes time before everyone gets used to each other and knows how to work together with ease. Be patient and understanding that it will take time before you start seeing results!
- Be supportive – if you don’t have anything helpful to say, then there is no point in saying it! Instead, be the kind of person that will point out the positive aspects.
- Be proactive instead of reactive – ask questions rather than waiting for them to come up. This way you’ll have an accurate understanding of what’s going on and how you can help out too!
- Be someone who is approachable – don’t be too quick to judge. Instead, put yourself in your colleague’s shoes and try to understand where they are coming from instead of getting angry right away.
- Be honest – even if it’s something your colleague doesn’t want to hear, they still appreciate honesty and not false flattery.
- Take pride in what you do – this helps set a good example for other nurses and prove that you’re dedicated to your work.
- Be a good listener – being able to listen will help you understand what’s going on when it comes to patient care. It also helps build trust, which is an important part of any relationship!
- Be confident in your abilities – don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself or express how you feel. This shows that you are willing to take charge and get things done.
- Build trust – be honest and your colleagues will view you as a strong leader.
- Be able to give constructive criticism – this helps improve the quality of patient care, which is always important to those on staff!
- Use “please” and “thank you” as often as possible – this shows that you’re considerate of others and appreciate them.
- Don’t hold grudges – if something goes wrong or someone makes a mistake, don’t keep it in and let it eat away at your emotions. Instead, find a way to resolve the situation and move forward!
- Be willing to volunteer – there is always more work than people on staff and you will need help from time-to-time. So try stepping up when things come up instead of avoiding them or leaving it for others too deal with.
- Build relationships outside of work – you never know when one of your colleagues might call in sick or need to take time off. So it’s always a good idea for them to get to know who they can reach out too!
- Take the blame sometimes – if something goes wrong, don’t try placing all the blame on others. Instead, be willing to take responsibility and help come up with a resolution.
- Be willing to ask for help – no one knows everything about their job, so don’t be afraid to speak up when you need assistance or guidance from someone more experienced!
- Maintain an open-door policy – it’s always good to keep the lines of communication open between everyone on staff. So let them know you’re there for them if they need help or advice!
- Don’t gossip about others – this can cause unnecessary drama on the floor, which no one wants to deal with. Instead, be the bigger person and try resolving the situation.
- Be willing to work with others outside of your team – getting along with everyone is vital when it comes to patient care. So it’s important to be willing to work with others even if you don’t get along!
- Give credit where credit is due – people like feeling appreciated and acknowledged for their hard work, so do your best to acknowledge them when they deserve it!
- Be reliable and show up on time – this helps set a good example for others and shows that you’re committed to your work.
- Be willing to compromise – just because it’s your way, doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways or options out there too! So be willing to listen and find common ground when necessary.
- Take the time out for coffee or lunch – this will allow you to get to know each other better than just by working together all day! The more you know about your colleagues, the easier it will be to communicate and work together.
- Create an open dialogue – don’t wait for difficult situations to come up before you talk about it like how uncomfortable topics such as salaries, performance reviews, and work conflicts should be discussed. Otherwise, you run the risk of allowing a poor working environment to develop which in turn will affect your patient care!
- Be there when it really matters – since nurses are already busy with everything they do at their job, don’t make them feel like no one cares about what they’re doing or how difficult their job is. Try to find ways you can pitch in and help them out so they know that someone has their back!
- Plan vacations together – building strong work relationships means also knowing when your colleague needs a break or some time off for whatever reason. Be aware of what other people are doing at all times, not just during working hours but even outside the hospital as well!
- Don’t take things personally – you’re not going to be able to please everyone all the time. Instead of getting offended, try your best to understand where they are coming from and why they might have said what they did which will help improve those relationships in return!
- Remember that mistakes happen – don’t get angry if someone makes a mistake or forgets something because everyone can make them! Instead of getting mad at each other, use these moments as teaching opportunities so everyone learns from their errors.
- Know when it’s time to let go – if a colleague is causing trouble for everyone else at the workplace, you’re going to have a hard time trying to work with them. Try to correct their behavior first but if it doesn’t get better, then it might be best to let management know about what’s going on so they can deal with it instead of affecting everyone!
- Be an example for others – if there are some people you don’t get along with, be the example of what someone who works well together is like. You’ll find that their behavior will eventually change and they might even start to copy your good habits without them realizing it!
Overall, building strong relationships with your colleagues can be difficult at times but it’s always worth the effort in the end. It not only helps improve working conditions for everyone involved, but also makes sure patients receive top quality care and treatment at all times. The next time you find yourself working with others, try your best to follow these tips. It will not only help improve the quality of care that patients receive but it can also lead to happier work environments!