What To Do When Someone Complains About You The last thing you'd ever expect after a hard day's work is to learn that a patient complained about you. At first this might be shocking and perhaps hurtful, but it may be more common than you think. If this has ever happened to you, don't be alarmed. This is something that happens on a regular basis within all hospitals and professional settings. Save yourself the trouble of worrying and remain calm. Try and think of any potential mistakes that you have made, if any, and try to relax before reacting. Keep an Open Mind Do not get defensive or lose your confidence. You should keep an open mind to understand your patient or coworker who has voiced their concerns with you. Do not let your emotions consume you. Try to keep a steady and stable mind, and listen actively to what everyone has to say before reacting. Respond at the Right Time This does not mean that you should voice your opinions or any explanations after you've been spoken to. If you feel the need to interject to protect yourself or correct someone's assumption of what you have done wrong, feel free to do so. In certain situations, timing is everything, and acting on impulse or responding right away may not be the right time do so. Try to analyze the situation and think when it would be appropriate to speak your mind. Try to Reach the Root of the Problem Try to understand and find out what triggered the patient or someone else to react in such a manner. By doing this, you will be able to understand if you were at fault, and you will also be able to figure out how to move forward. It is important to think before you react to the situation and reaching to the root of the problem will help you understand the situation fully. Lean Towards a Resolution Rather than Saying You are Not Guilty You, as a nurse, represent your whole workplace. Although different circumstances transpire every day, they may not always be your fault. However, sometimes you may have to take the blame and think of ways to improve. In such a situation, it's your duty to take responsibility for your coworker's actions if you yourself are supposed to be supervising him or her. Try to Control the Situation Don't dwell on the past, try and focus on your future. Your actions, your thoughts, and your words should be inclined in such a way that it aims towards a better future for everyone involved. As you know, everybody works and flourishes differently. You must consider that the way you think and the way you handle situations may not typically be what another coworker would do,
or what a patient would do. Therefore, it is expected to encounter conflicts. If you find yourself in this circumstance, try and focus on getting where you need to be. Moreover, you should always be open for any feedback, as it may help you understand and realize how to handle similar situations in the future. Try to understand your patients with different perspectives accordingly. What's Next? Always remain positive; just because you've had one bad experience does not mean your future will be filled with bad experiences, too. You chose this field for a reason, and you love what you do, don't let one work conflict get the best of you.
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