Expert Insights

Facing the Lion: Receiving Bad News

Facing the Lion

     Ever have a bad day at work? Or just one of those days that you wish you could teleport straight from the nurse’s station to your couch at home? We all have days like this from time to time. One of my more recent “bad days” was right before a much needed long weekend off from work. After just finishing my 12 hour night shift, my director arrived to work early and asked to speak with me in the office before I left. This is one thing that no night shift nurse wants to hear. We are tired and want to jet out as soon as we leave the time clock! I won’t share any patient specifics, but an adverse event happened to a patient that I had cared for due to a failed systemic safety measure in the electronic health record. The event itself was bad enough, but the way the news was delivered was even worse. I was devastated, in shock, and heartbroken to learn that I was part of the adverse event. I was so upset that I couldn’t even drive home. This is something that all nurses have endured but we hardly ever talk about. It’s totally ok to be upset. We are caring for other humans, not machines, and adverse events are bound to happen. Nurses cry. Nurses are not perfect. Nurses are humans too. Some tips that are helpful when receiving bad news are as follows: 1. Keep eye contact with the speaker. 2. Take deep breaths. 3. Ask important questions at that moment. 4. Take mental note of what is being said to you and ask for it to be repeated/clarified. 5. Ask for a follow-up meeting. 6. Go home, put on your comfortable pajamas, and try to relax!

      I have been back to the bedside caring for patients for the last few years and was a director for quite some time before that. Being in management for several years has taught me a few things that I felt should be reflected upon. 1. Don’t ask your employees to do anything you aren’t willing to do yourself. 2. Be supportive. It doesn’t matter what the situation is, always say the literal words of “Despite this situation, we are going to find a way to support you”. 3. Don’t leave the room on a bad note. If there are unresolved feelings or things that should have been voiced out loud, never leave angry. 4. Follow-up! It’s always best to cool down, then have a follow-up session with your employee to make sure that they are doing well and if there are any items that still need addressed. 5. Find solutions to promote safety together. Employees need to feel that they are being heard and that they matter. When the seed of doubt has already been planted from a bad situation, it takes time to do the clean-up session. Needless to say, the way that this bad news was delivered to me was not the most ideal. I survived it, but it is one of those days that has been burned into my brain and heart forever.  As nurses, there will always be battles to fight and beasts to tame in terms of conquering diseases and healing our patients. How you choose to face the lions that cross your path can determine the rest of your career outlook.

I hope this will help someone in the future when facing their lions. 

With care,

Jamie L. Silvey, RN, BSN, MHA, CIC