Comments on: Complaining Is Not Healthy for Certified Legal Nurse Consultants

By: Vivianne Griffiths

Vivianne Griffiths — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:42:57 +0000

I worked with a doctor who told the staff that when her children began to whine, she taped a square on the floor and they had time out by standing a few minutes in the square. She called it the “whining box”. Since I’m an adult and still have occasion to whine (but don’t want to be put in the whining box) I have my friends remind me of what I am doing, and I ask them to say to me when I whine (“wine”) – ” Do you want cheese with that?” It makes us all laugh and it helps put things in perspective. I have to acknowledge that my behavior affects those around me, not just me.

By: Colleen Gavigan

Colleen Gavigan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:27:18 +0000

Fire in the Med Room!!!
The recent blog regarding ‘Complaining’ spoke directly to me. As I am just launching my CLNC^® career, I remain a FT bedside nurse on a bustling ortho-neuro floor. AM medications and assessments challenge my time management and the fact that the phone we each have to carry seems to never stop ringing. In a vain attempt to vent off rising agitation and stress, I and my fellow nurses, sometimes stoop to negative accolades each time we are together in the(hopefully soundproof) medication room. After reading your recent article, I realized how counter productive this bad habit is. While attempting to console each other on our miserable plight, we are actually just reveling in negativity. This does nothing to decrease our stress or improve our plight in the least. The saying ‘Misery loves company’ is so true. However powerful this comradery feels, it is a pitiful veneer at best. Your article challenged me to search for positive solutions that would actually address the core problems which in turn would reduce stress and empower myself in my job. At the very least, refusing to complain will stop adding ‘fuel to the fire.’

By: Anne Beston

Anne Beston — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:26:35 +0000

In my work as a hospice nurse, I have learned that my very worst day is… still pretty good!!
However, believe it or not, I have heard nurses complain to hospice families about traffic, getting the wrong order at a fast food place, and other silly things. I believe that despite attempts, positive people do not bring negative people “up”, it’s the other way around. For me, It’s all about perspective.
I wise person once said “Fake it till you make it” (!!). That works for creating a positive outlook too!

Thanks Vickie!

By: Joy Vincent

Joy Vincent — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:10:42 +0000

What’s that old adage? Oh yeah, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Complainers and naysayers drag everyone down into the pit with them and then everyone has to struggle to get out of the pit. We all need to watch our attitudes in everything we do and say. Thanks, Vickie, for being an encourager! I’d like to challenge all of us to only make positive statements today, this week, this month. It’s time to take back the negative connotation of “Pollyanna” and do as she did: change the whole town for the better!

By: Lisa McFarland

Lisa McFarland — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:13:46 +0000

I attended my first exhibit about a year and a half ago at a State Bar annual meeting. The feedback was energizing and I exhibit at least every other month if not every month.

The virus of complainers is omnipresent at these events. Exhibitors are complaining, “there aren’t as many lawyers here as I thought there would be,” or “the food here stinks, they used to give us a full plate,” or “I doubt I will make my money back on this one.”

Last week at a Trial Lawyer seminar, someone I had not met before asked me “do you really get clients out of these things?”

My answer was this: “Exhibiting is like everything else in life. You get out of it what you put into it. Have fun, meet people and talk about your profession to folks. They will sense your passion and want to know more. You may not hear from them for a year, but if they have your card when they need your service, you want them to call YOU.”

On the other hand, I explained that if you feel dependent on a “quota” of new clients at an event, or let negativity from another part of your life come through you at your exhibit table, it will be the worst money you ever spend.

As an aside, I did get (at least) one new client at that event. He stepped out of the seminar so he could call his office and have records shipped overnight to me so I would have them Saturday morning. When I finished my 1 minute CLNC® service run-down, he asked me: “So what are you doing this weekend?”

I would agree, complaints are a waste of time, particularly when you are making them to strangers as small talk. Make sure you are exuding positivity and not complaints, in business and in life! Spread your enthusiasm and you will be remembered. Complain, and you may also be remembered but not in the way you may have hoped.

Thanks Vickie!