Making a fresh start

Abstract

18 nursing management Vol 15 No 2 May 2008 Most nurses, for most of the time, do their jobs well and respect their colleagues. Occasionally, however, some perform and behave poorly. Such poor behaviour and performance can occur for various reasons. Some nurses are overwhelmed by the volume and scope of their work, are frustrated by a lack of opportunities for education or career progression, or feel underappreciated or insecure in their work. Others have home and family crises or financial difficulties to attend to. All of these are experiences that can hinder performance and affect behaviour at work, and their effects can be far reaching. For example, if one team member becomes ineffective, divisions can arise in the rest of the team. This in turn can reduce mutual trust and respect, and lead to a shared disappointment and anxiety among team members. To contain this collective anxiety, team members often attempt to blame individuals or exclude them (Menzies Lyth 1988). As a result, interpersonal relationships among team members Making a fresh start