Tips on Asking For Help
The most dangerous nurse is the one who doesn’t ask for help.
Whether you’re a new nurse or have been at it for decades, there’s an art to asking for help. Some experts claim that most people wildly underestimate the willingness of others to accept their requests for help.
Where does the hesitation come from? We forget that most people buy into the social construct that “good people are helpful” and think of themselves as good people who help others.
I know what you’re thinking. Yes, that’s me. I’m a good person and I help whenever I’m asked.
But the key to the whole process is that you have to ask. People don’t automatically recognize when you need help.
Since there is no glory in going it alone, here are some tips on asking for help.
1. Be sure you’ve already tried to find the answer yourself first. Don’t be that nurse who asks what the new drug does when you can easily look it up yourself.
Your preceptors and supervisors are more inclined to help those who have already proven they are willing to help themselves first.
Say something like “I’ve already looked up XYZ drug, but . . .” to show that you’re requesting help because you’ve already tried.
2. When you do ask a question, be sure to get to the point quickly. Give them the bullet point version of the question. Leave out your opinion, your struggle to find the answer previously, and your rambling. Ask the questions one at a time and be grateful for the help you are given.
3. Be the nurse who follows through. You will most likely be seeking assistance from your preceptors, unit supervisors, or colleagues more than once and that’s okay as long as you make sure they know that you’ve acted on their advice before.
Say something along these lines: “Thanks for recommending that book on antibiotic use, it helped answer a lot of questions. Can you recommend an app for vaccines?”
4. Timing is everything. There’s a right time and a not-so-right time to ask for help. If you want someone to help you, don’t just launch right into your request. There may be times when you have to ask, “Hey, I’d like to discuss your help with something. When would be a good time to talk?”
5. Don’t make them guess. Be sure your support system—your helping team—knows exactly what you want and what you need. Don’t expect people to come up to you and offer their services. If you need help turning a patient, go find someone and ask.
If you need help exploring research topics for your next paper, find a fellow student and ask. If you have to, practice asking for help . . . it will get easier.
6. Be the person who is always willing to help. If you become the person everyone can count on for help—whether it be lifting a patient, documenting in a code, or staying over one hour on your shift—it makes people more receptive to your requests.
Don’t be shy about offering and giving help to others at clinicals and on the job. Even if they don’t spontaneously offer help back, they are usually very happy to jump in when you need them.
Have questions about being a new nurse?
Don’t be shy . . . ask for help now!!
Cheers!
