Almost everyone who works encounters certain life events and problems that keep them from their jobs, including nurses. A few instances include the passing of close friends and family members, divorce, and illness. Even when you are experiencing emotional difficulties, you still need to accomplish your performance goals, conduct yourself properly, and communicate effectively with coworkers, clients, and supervisors. Learn what personal problems at work are, how you as a nurse can help you deal with them, and how to act professionally while dealing with them.
Personal Issues at the Workplace
For both managers and nursing staff, different responses are needed for snapping at a coworker after a bad date the night before versus multiple missed deadlines due to struggling to manage both work and divorce. Personal issues that can affect performance in the workplace vary widely, and generally the ones that need to be addressed with managers or the human resources (HR) department transcend one-off incidents or an occasional "bad day." Serious problems like these should be handled compassionately in a way that upholds both the employee's dignity and the company's reputation.
Employers’ Role On Handling Employees With Personal Issues
Employers are expected to assist their staff members. When a loved one passes away, the greatest HR departments give grief counseling. They also stand up for staff members in difficult medical and crisis situations. Employees who don't have that support might turn to their unions, managers, and dependable coworkers for guidance.
Leadership should monitor one another to make sure no one is using an employee as an excuse not to assist them. They should also think about their objectives and if they uphold the current privileges and power structures. Nurse managers can meet down with the staff and work out a plan for changing capacity, even though not everyone is able to grant days of paid absence in the event that a family member becomes ill. Nurse managers have a duty to take into account the welfare of their workers, workplace morale, and their company's reputation.
Be Professional While Also Being Kind
Be imaginative and sympathetic when coming up with answers, and keep in mind that enduring conventions might not be required after all. Nursing staff may be able to sustain their everyday duties without any disruption, for instance, by having a flexible schedule. After the initial discussion, follow up periodically to reassure the employee and see whether any additional adjustments or accommodations are required. Finally, keep in mind that even while each employee's circumstance is different, you are also setting a standard for what other employees can count on from you if they run into problems.
Set new, attainable objectives.
When a member of your nursing staff is experiencing emotional distress or is under stress as a result of personal issues, they could not perform as well as they usually do. Stress levels can rise and the issue can worsen if the goals are not met. To prevent this, take the time to review the team goals and make any necessary adjustments. Setting more achievable goals and achieving them could enhance outlook and mood.
Be prepared.
Show that you can assign tasks, set priorities, and effectively manage the team's time. You should assign tasks or find someone to assist you while the nursing staff is absent before they take a leave of absence to tackle personal issues. Work shouldn't be neglected, especially in the healthcare sector. Being organized is essential to keeping track of deadlines and achieving objectives.
As stress has a significant impact on employee productivity, nurse managers should be concerned about the levels of stress among all staff members. Managers should have a few important tools in their toolboxes, including careful preparation and sensitivity when dealing with workers whose personal issues impair their performance at work.
Download the app for easier use
