When supervising an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), the nurse offers unwarranted criticism that causes the UAP to feel defensive. The initial response by the UAP should be to what?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Recognizing a putdown or unwarranted criticism is the first step toward dealing effectively with it. If a comment from a coworker or authority figure generates defensiveness or embarrassment, it is likely that the comment represents more than just factual information about performance. When faced with unwarranted criticism, the automatic response of many individuals is to become defensive and embarrassed and in some way actually begin to feel inadequate, thus allowing the speaker to project unwarranted feelings onto the nurse. The putdown or criticism may be handed out because the speaker is feeling inadequate or threatened. Often it has little to do with the actual behavior of the nurse to whom it is delivered but that is no reason to ignore the comments.

When Supervising an Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP), the Nurse Offers