Nurse Marge in Charge

Dear Nurse Marge,

How do you handle working with a nurse who is ‘reality-challenged’? This particular nurse is FINE when it comes to aspects of the job, but the minute the discussion gets into anything else – politics, television, cars, sports, you name it – they’ll make up facts and figures in order to prove their point, whatever that may be.  They don’t care what they say as long as they can dominate the conversation. It’s driving me crazy! What should I do?

Signed,

Just the Facts, Ma’am

Dear Just the Facts,

Your co-worker must be a Twain fan.  He said, “I am not one of those who in expressing opinions confine themselves to facts.”  With an example like that, how can one be blamed for straying from commonly accepted facts to more interesting interpretations of reality?

You have choices available to you.  You can ignore the behavior. Or, you can choose to engage with this person, introducing the facts as you see them to counter the facts as they see them.  Battling out which one of you is right will surely liven up quiet shifts – and we all know how plentiful those are!

Just remember, you’re not alone in your misery.  People who think they know everything are always aggravating to those of us who do!

Good Luck!

Nurse Marge