title: Gossip column.
abstract: Mike, a charge nurse on a surgical day unit, told me about Janice, his ward clerk who was always gossiping and causing trouble between people in his team. I asked what he had tried to do about it. He said that when he noticed her gossiping he had asked her for something to try to distract her. Although this put an end to the immediate problem, Mike wanted a long-term solution, especially as a new team member had asked for advice because she felt uncomfortable hearing 'stories' about her colleagues from Janice.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Percival