| A nurse's first priority is Accountability. This is | | | | of the possible. You must make agreements with |
| what keeps trust in relationships. Therefore, if you | | | | your boss and coworkers with regard to roles |
| work in cheap nursing scrubs on a medical team, | | | | and responsibilities. Although agreements are |
| this is precisely what you want - accountable, | | | | forged in informal conversations about who is |
| trustworthy relationships. If you want to be a | | | | responsible for what, accountability is best served |
| model of accountability for your team, then here | | | | when agreements are written down, so that |
| are the things which you can do to earn your | | | | everyone can be on the same page with regard |
| teammates' trust. | | | | to expectations. |
| In the first place, you must think before promising | | | | Accountability also means avoiding making |
| to take a specific task on yourself. It is a good | | | | assumptions when you are part of a team effort. |
| idea not to operate on automatic pilot when | | | | You may at times feel as though you are the |
| asked to take a project-related responsibility upon | | | | only one who is following through to fulfill a |
| yourself, especially if it will involve much time and | | | | responsibility; or you may feel that another team |
| effort. It's okay to say that you're not sure that | | | | member should be aware of your feelings. These |
| you'll get back to the person tomorrow on it. | | | | kinds of assumptions are not necessarily the |
| Spend the day thinking of questions which will help | | | | reality so, if you find yourself making such |
| you to respond in an honest, thoughtful way. You | | | | assumptions, it's best to stop and ask people |
| should only make those promises which you are | | | | questions to understand what is really going on. |
| able and willing to keep. You should only agree to | | | | Agreements can be subject to change depending |
| assume responsibilities which you have committed | | | | upon the needs of individuals and the team. If you |
| yourself to do. | | | | are not able to follow through with a stated |
| If your boss insists that you take on a new | | | | agreement, you should communicate this to your |
| responsibility, be sure to ask questions to obtain | | | | boss and other team members in print scrub |
| more information. Respond only when you are | | | | tops. Although at times you may feel concern |
| able to make a reasoned, informed decision, | | | | about others criticizing you about your inability to |
| taking into account the time commitment, the | | | | follow through, nonetheless accountability means |
| specific tasks required, the kind of support | | | | keeping open communications on the front burner. |
| available, etc. This kind of interaction with boss | | | | You can better repair relationships when you are |
| and coworkers can actually help everyone | | | | forthcoming and honest in your communications. |
| involved to think the needs of a project through | | | | Also, the other members of your team can |
| in a more realistic and complete manner. | | | | sometimes help you with problem-solving, which |
| Accountability works best when there is regular | | | | allows you to keep involved in the project with |
| communication, which includes updates about a | | | | lessened responsibilities. Finally, accountability |
| project and your individual responsibilities. Whether | | | | demands flexibility. The demands of any project |
| the communication system is based on meetings | | | | can change, so your responsibilities may be |
| or email, feedback is essential to the accountability | | | | subject to change as well. By having a flexible |
| process. | | | | approach you will be able to respond to the |
| Accountability also requires negotiating. Don't | | | | change in such a way as to diminish frustration |
| assume that you must commit yourself to a | | | | and anger which sustains accountability. If the |
| request as it is presented. Negotiate with your | | | | change requires more time or effort than you |
| boss and colleagues in print scrub jackets with | | | | had originally bargained for, being flexible can help |
| regard to what you are able to accomplish and | | | | you to negotiate a more suitable set of |
| what support you will need from them. | | | | responsibilities. |
| Remember that negotiation, like politics, is the art | | | | |