IV. NEGOTIATION D. SITUATIONS TO PRACTICE APPLYING NEGOTIATION AND ASSERTIVENESS SKILLS

SITUATION ONE Dr. Tanlow interrups Ms Serf RN as she is preparing pain medication for 68 year old Mrs. Gould. It is already 15 minutes late. Dr. Tanlow says he needs Ms Serf immediately in Room 20 C to assist with a drainage and dressing change. Knowing that Mrs. Gould a diabetic will respond to prolonged pain with vomiting, Ms Serf Rn replies she will be available to help Dr. Tanlow in 10 minutes during which time she will have administered Mrs. Gould’s pain medication. Dr. Tanlow already on his way to Room 20C whirls around, stating loudly, “When I say I need assistant, I mean now. I am a busy man, in case you hadn’t noticed.” If you were Ms. Serf RN, what would be an appropriate response utilizing negotiation and assertiveness skills

IDEAS FOR SITUATION ONE

SITUATION TWO A newly hired nurse is helping a resident draw femoral blood. The nurse states that although she has never assisted with this procedure, she thoroughly familiarized herself with the procedure from the hospital manual. The nurse requests that if the resident should require anything different from the manual, he should tell her so. The resident responds, “You should have practiced this with someone else. I shouldn’t be stuck with a neophyte. Ha Ha? Get it? Neophyte, instead of needle.” How should the nurse respond?

IDEAS FOR SITUATION TWO

SITUATION THREE Mrs. Swick had been working the evening shift for eight months. When she was hired, she was promised in writing that she would be moved to a permanent day sift assignment as soon as a replacement could be found for the evening shift. Recently, two new nurses have been hired and assigned to permanent days. Writing a note to the supervisor brought no response. Mrs. Swick thus scheduled an appointment to discuss her schedule with her supervisor. How would you approach this situation if you were Mrs. Swick?

IDEAS FOR SITUATION THREE