Providing Negative Feedback Patricia Black, unit manager, was not looking forward to the performance interview she had to conduct with Richard Wilson, a new graduate who has just completed his first 3...

Providing Negative Feedback

Patricia Black, unit manager, was not looking forward to the performance interview she had to conduct with Richard Wilson, a new graduate who has just completed his first 3 months of employment. Although obviously trying hard while on the job, Richard was consistently late to work, and his tardiness upset the operation of the entire unit. When Richard arrived at her office, she offered him a beverage and invited him to sit down at the table across from her. Using the standard evaluation form developed by a nursing committee in the hospital, Patricia reviewed Richard’s strengths as a new employee. He seemed pleased that his efforts have been recognized. Then she discussed his habitual lateness. She said, “I do have a concern, Richard. You arrive on the unit 20 to 30 minutes late on an average of 2 days a week. For example, this week you were 25 minutes late on Monday and 20 minutes late on Thursday. This disrupts the start of the day for the unit because we count on everyone being here at the start of the shift. Can you explain to me why you believe it occurs?” Richard took a sip of his beverage. “Well,” he said, “I know it is a problem. You see, I never was an early riser. Most of my