7 tips to survive negative nursing co-workers

Everyone can be negative at times, especially during a long, stressful shift. But some coworkers make a habit of being difficult, no matter what profession you're in. For nurses, this can mean you dread seeing your name on the work schedule with Negative Nancy or Ned.

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Whether they complain more than other nurses, act domineering or tease in a way that's more nasty than nice, these co-workers can make your shift drag by.

Although you may not be able to avoid these nurses completely, there are some strategies you can use you make your life easier when faced with a negative coworker:

Seek out positive people.

Healthecareers.com suggests surrounding yourself with positive people as much as possible. Sure, you may have to work with some negative co-workers, but that doesn't mean you should seek them out. Instead, try to spend as much time as possible with nurses who are more positive. Don't hang out with gossipers and people who are making rude comments any more than necessary, and if you find them acting that way, leave the room if you can.

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Don't argue.

You may be tempted to argue with a negative nurse to try to change what he or she thinks, but it isn't likely to be effective. Instead, hosthealthcare.com says that makes your co-worker more likely to stick with his or her bad attitude. Instead, don't engage in an argument, as tempting as it may be.

Recognize what you can't change.

Encouraging others is an admirable quality, but it's also important to realize that you're not responsible for improving someone else's attitude, nurserx.com points out. Sometimes this is an impossibility, and it shouldn't be your top goal.

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Have a strong mindset.

You may not be able to control your co-worker, but you can change how you react to negativity, according to hosthealthcare.com. Build a strong mindset by journaling, meditating or finding another activity that helps you withstand others' negativity.

Speak up when necessary.

Each nurse has a different personality, but the team needs to be able to overcome these differences to work on the main goal – caring for patients, nurserx.com says. If a co-worker's negativity affects the quality of patient care, it's time to talk about the situation. Talking about the problem directly with your co-worker may feel too uncomfortable or may not be effective, so be prepared to speak with a supervisor.

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Create a team approach.

Your unit or other work group should have a simple "team agreement," says Sharon Cox, a former staff nurse, unit manager and medical center administrator. This should be in writing and should include what the group needs in order to work well together. It should include a zero tolerance for bullying and disrespectful behavior as well as chronic negativity.

Don't take it personally.

"It's not you, it's them," applies when you have a negative co-worker. Hosthealthcare.com says you shouldn't take his or her negativity personally. It reflects their own outlook rather than having anything to do with you.