Be the best co-worker possible with these unwritten etiquette tips!

There’s common sense, and then there’s ‘culture sense.’ And though the two seem interchangeable to seasoned nurses, for new grads, learning nursing culture takes time. Part of that learning process is familiarizing oneself with the lay of the land — learning the intangible vibe of the floor. 

In general, nursing is a team sport. And just like any team, the acclimation process involves a little bit of everyone sizing each other up. During this time—and especially if you’re new to the profession—knowing a few simple tricks of the trade beyond patient care can help immensely for your street cred.

Basically it boils down to showing your new co-workers that you’re willing to pull your own weight, and help out when you can. (That, and some well-placed dark humor is the stuff that co-worker legends are made of.) These 12 tips will do just that. 

Don’t delegate for delegate’s sake.

Delegation is an art. And part of that art is this simple equation: if it will take you longer to hunt down a CNA—to say, empty a foley bag—than doing the actual task yourself, DO IT YOURSELF. Nursing support staff fill one of the busiest roles on the floor. And honestly, it’s kind of a power-trip jerk move to pull the “It’s not my job,” card, anyway.

Keep your spaces clean (and your patient rooms neat).

By the end of a busy shift, both your workspace and your patient rooms can look like war zones. Try and clean as you go; even removing food trays, or consolidating two tray table’s worth of detritus can go a long way in helping tidy up a patient room. As your shift wraps up, try to narrow down your JCAHO-contraband—coffee cups, water bottles, and snacks should be cleared out/thrown away (if only to make way for their belongings).

Do your work.

This should really go without saying, but you’ll see it on every floor your work on. Certain nurses seem to possess a skill set of doing the least amount of work possible. This includes passing off dressing changes, med passes, call-backs—you name it. We all get busy and prioritizing means some things won’t get done. But if “Sorry, I couldn’t complete this task,” becomes your MO, you’ll find more than the oncoming shift’s rolling eyes aimed at you.

Covering nurses shouldn’t have to do more than answer call lights for your patients.

We all dream of 30 minute lunch breaks where we eat hot food. Some days that’s possible, and some not. Learning to give the nurse who covers your patients a group whose needs have mostly been met (at least for the next 30 minutes) requires experience. You’ll get there, but in the mean time, make sure that your patients know you’re leaving! This means getting them any last warm blankets, remote controls, snacks, available pain meds, etc before you go; this can go a long way towards cutting down on extraneous tasks for the covering nurse. Likewise, learn to consolidate your handoff report to the need-to-knows. For example, “I left an extra urinal for my patient in room 4, but in case he fills it, I need to know that amount for his strict I&Os.”

Code browns require you to take the…lead.

Yes, you’ll need help to change your bed-bound patient. However, make sure to always position yourself on the “task-related” side of the turn. That way, your helper only needs to do a few final touches on the second roll. If you’re consistent with this, you’ll always find helpers when you need them.

Leave drips with enough supply to get the oncoming shift through their rounds.

This is particularly important for critical drugs, but really any infusion should never be left with less than an hour to go during shift changes. And, if a bag runs dry during report, unless the oncoming nurse ushers you off the floor and on your way home, YOU go change that bag out. 

Make an effort to close communication loops before leaving.

This task is a small but annoying. Simply put: if you have a call out to a physician or family member, etc., make every effort to complete the communication on your shift. It’s much more efficient to do this, than to repeat the details—of which some nuance can be lost. We all know how the childhood game of telephone goes. 

When calling in a second nurse to verify meds, have the info ready to go.

Another small thing that shows you value another nurse’s time. Make sure the computer’s on, you’re signed in, and the pertinent info is available before asking another nurse to stop what they're doing to verify it. 

Volunteer to bring something more than napkins for the potluck.

Potlucks are a way of life in patient-care settings, and they’re about so much more than getting bellies filled. If you're new, bringing an interesting dish to share is a bridge to conversation and connection! 

Take breaks with empathy.

Breaks are few and far between. Rightly so, there is a fine line between taking your well-deserved minutes to eat, pee, or what have you, and leaving your co-workers circling the drain to do so. If possible, check in with them, or at the very least, let them know you’re going and when you’ll be back—there’s nothing worse than being the Person No One Can Find.

Cell phones usage—not a good look.

Oh cell phones. They communicate SO. MUCH. MORE. than to whom you’re texting. Being on your phone a lot (or even a little!) is just not a good look. Not in the eyes of your patients, their families, your co-workers, and certainly not for your supervisors! This is especially true if you’re new. Nurses are busy, and being on your phone communicates that someone’s urgent needs don’t matter to you, which is disrespectful at best, and unprofessional at worst. 

Ask for help, but don’t cry wolf.

If you’re new, you’re going to need help! Your co-workers know this. Sometimes (rarely, but it does happen), there’s a new nurse who is reluctant to shed his/her “Hi! I’m new here!” Badge of Letting Me Off the Hook. In other words, there comes a time when the help is nice, but no longer  necessary. Learn that line and you’ll be fine!