Remembering the responsibility you have to patients and staff can often remove any reluctance you have to dealing with a disciplinary issue. Equally important is the need to respect the staff member involved in a disciplinary issue by:

• Focusing on the discussion on the behavior, not the person
• Listening to the staff member's perspective
• Abiding by the HR-established guidelines for fair and equitable treatment
• Discussing the issues in a clear, honest, and direct manner
• Being consistent and following through on agreements made

In the future, as disciplinary issues arise, make a point of working in close contact with the employee relations manager. Use this person as a coach and discuss any past history, related events, and reservations or concerns you might have about how to talk to the staff member involved. Also familiarize yourself with the policies, guidelines, and forms that the employee relations manager offers. This is important in assuring that your actions are thought out, fair, and legally defensible.

-Shelley Cohen, RN, BSN, CEN