Saying no in the workplace can be complicated and difficult. Declining a nursing assignment can lead to workplace tension, and in some instances, it could mean the loss of a promotion or confidence by management. It is important to have a healthy balance in our personal and professional lives, and this often includes saying 'no' at times.
Here are some suggestions for ways to turn down nursing assignments in the work place and still be successful:
- Provide an alternative solution. If you are not able to accept an assignment, offer an alternative solution to facilitate the accomplishment of the task. This demonstrates a devotion to the wellness of the unit and/or practice at hand. It also demonstrates the ability to trouble-shoot and/or to think critically. These traits are imperative in the nursing world.
- Before you can accept, indicate what you will need to accomplish the task. Often, what stands in the way of task completion is a “supply.” This supply is often time. Consider the following situation: Your manager asks you to pick up a nursing shift on the weekend. One solution is to say that you will accept if you can leave a bit early Friday afternoon. This is analogous to negotiating, but that is common practice in the workforce. Nursing is no exception and this will allow you, as the employee and as an individual, to feel more valued.
- Be clear and to the point. If you accept a task, be clear and straightforward with what you will need to do or your suggested alternative solution. But, if you simply are unable to accept a task proposal, do not be indecisive. It is ok to say no if you have other plans or simply cannot do it.
- Remain assertive yet empathetic. One way to say no is to say, “…I know that you would benefit from my help tomorrow and I really wish that I was in a position to help you, but I have already made other plans for which I cannot cancel. I hope that you will understand, and I appreciate your asking me.” This response is clear and to the point but demonstrates empathy and sensitivity.
- Accept only assignments that you can do and do well. If you are simply too exhausted to accept an assignment, it is perfectly alright to say no. Otherwise the quality of the job and
the quality of your wellbeing will suffer. Similarly, if you are not comfortable doing a specified job indicate that you would be willing to accommodate if you had the necessary training.
Turning down a nursing assignment takes practice, but saying no at times can result in a healthier balance between work and leisure. It does not make you a less valuable employee, in fact it imbibes the opposite. Hopefully these techniques will prove helpful and will coach you in saying no.
