Bullied in Report

Timinky · Jan 3, 2002

I havn't read through all the replies, but this is just a suggestion. Check your hospitals policy on harrassment. This may fall under that heading. If it happens to you and to several of the nurses you work with you may wish to approach your unit manager as a group. Its much eaiser to deal with one person but as a group you may make more of a point. You may want to consider using a tape recorder and tape your report so that your unit manager may have some idea as to what it is like giving report to this person. If you do tape your report with your colleague make sure to get there permission. When she gives report to the oncomming nurse how is her report given, does she act the same as when receiving report. Other things to consider would be her personal life and the amount of stress in it. If all else fails as her if she forgot to take her prozac... And last of all You deserve a pat on the back for having to take what she has dished out over the months.. Nursing is hard enough without the stress of another co-worker making it worse. If your unit manager doesn't want to get involved in this then go up the chain of command in your instutition which may be the DON. Good Luck.

Tim

Originally posted by Sleepyeyes
I need some advice. I work nights (about 8 months now) and the day shift nurse on one unit doesn't take Report well. Suddenly I feel like I'm not in Report; it's The Inquisition. I feel bullied by this nurse. Other nurses have said the same to me. So I tried 1) ignoring it *she acted like that was permission to continue*, 2) making lighthearted jokes such as offering to switch shifts with her *she was nice to me that time for 3 days*, 3) standing my ground calmly *but breathing smoke for the next 6 hours* 4) yelling back *she escalated* and 5) going to the Unit Manager *who told me that I should confront the offending nurse, i.e., she's not responsibility/sides.*
I don't have this problem with any of the other nurses. I dread giving information to this nurse because she uses it to attack me. Should I change units, talk to her about this directly, or simply insist on leaving a written report for her and getting out of the building before she gets there?
I looked in the Personnel manual and there is absolutely nothing that outlines proper behavior for 2 RN's toward each other except to "treat coworkers with respect."
I would love it if she would change, but I seriously doubt that "a talk"--especially from me--would do it.
I would appreciate some advice on the matter; I'm sure I haven't thought of every option.
Thanks, S.

sajaha · Jan 3, 2002

sleepyeyes,

this type of attitude on her behalf makes me sick!! Please document, document, document. Take it to your immediate supervisor. If she pooh-poohs you again, go higher! Don't let her push you around. If you have something in writing with dates times, and others who were present then you have some ammo.

You just cannot be nice to some people. Not only is she being unprofessional she is being out and out rude. Don't let her get away with it!

sara

RNed · Jan 3, 2002

I don't quite understand. This seems to be a problem of reporting between the sender and receiver. Not much more than that.

Some get very detailed reports and others give scant reports. I take the report given to me and then followup with a patient's chart review and assessment. A good report makes things easier to some extent, never-the-less, I confirm what is said in report by chart review, etc. A poor report is just that a poor report. I still need to followup, so there is little change.

I give report based on what occurred during my shift and any additional stuff, I THINK IS HELPFUL !. Questions, I answer if known and say, I don't know if not known. If it is important to them they can look it up. I say, "Vital signs Stable, Normal, or OK " if you want to know their MAP, go look it up !! However, I remember most abnormal values.

This event sounds more like a personality conflict, rather than harrassement or poor nursing skills. Remember, it is only the "special" nurses that can properly assess the nursing care given while they are at home and asleep. I haven't actually met any of them, but I have ran into a few wannabe's.

MiniRNC · Jan 3, 2002

It's unfortunate that this happens in our profession, but it does and no it's not fair. It has been my experience as a charge nurse and a staff nurse that often people don't realize they come across to others the way they do. We often don't dirrectly confront people about thier behavior. I had to learn to do this and still find it hard at times. As adults we need to do this and not just find other ways to cope.

I believe your manager should have encouraged you to approach the nurse to discuss the problem, given you tips on communicating with people like that, and instructed you to let her/him know how it went.

I usually encourage staff to attempt to discuss the problem with the person first. If no success, talk to the nurse's charge nurse. Still no help, come back to me and then I get more involved. If needed we involve the nurse manager. Unfortunately most people tend to just put up with it. (we have a charge nurse on each shift)

I'd keep a diary of these reports, let her know how you feel and that you aren't going to allow her to continue treating you this way. Ask her why she treats you like she does. Some people when "put on the spot", back down! If this doesn't help, you have the right to submit a written complaint to the nurse manager and I would think they would be obligated to get involved or you could request a meeting with the nurse & your manager to discuss the problem.

Hope this helps some...Good Luck!:)

If you leave the unit you may find another bigger problem. We use tape report and most nurses like it better!:)

scarbors · Jan 4, 2002

i think this is a very interesting topic, since i have been on both sides. being in the biz for over 20 years, i have been there, and done that. with that experience, i have developed some idea of what is relevant for report. the nurse that wants a thousand details is no better than the one who doesn't know what kind of iv accesss their patient has. new nurses will not have a complete grasp of that "big picture" for a long time. old nurses shouldn't expect them to. i think the "bully" nurses are in two categories-the first group are the true b*tches, they have no life, etc, and like to hurt people. sadly, there are a lot of unhappy people in this world that would like to take you with them. the best thing to do is to let that person know she has no effect on you. her mission is now failed, and she will move on to an easier target. the other bullies are nurses that have so lost touch with what it is to be new in this profession that they think everyone that doesn't know what they know are idiots. they may have genuine concerns for patient safety, but, more likely, they are so set in their ways they don't remember how to do it any other way. with this person, i think it would be productive to talk to them away from report. tell them exactly how you feel. ask them what they think you should do to improve. i know that is hard to ask from a person you don't like. but, if that bully really isn't a true witch, it should open her eyes as to where you are coming from and how she is coming across. best of luck to you.

Sleepyeyes · Jan 4, 2002

I want to thank each and every one of you for your insightful,

helpful, and sometimes hilarious answers. You brightened my

day and made me feel that I was not alone. I decided to

"gently remind" this person--who did have a chat with the

UM about this at my request--that she needs to tone it

down a bit when she gets outta line. My DON is very

supportive and helpful in that she tells me, "Don't let

her push you around."

She is having a hard time at home, and though that is no

excuse, I think she's not seeing her behavior as we are.

In addition, I'm going to do something unusual for this

person--I'm going to pray for her and her family.

In the meantime, I joined a Jazzercise class to help me blow off

steam in a constructive way, instead of obsessing so much.

So thanks all very very much! Your support means so much

to me. God Bless you all.

PS I'm going to order that book, "How to Deal with Difficult

People" as soon as I finish this and pass it around at work.....hehe....and my weekend relief wants a copy of the

"10 Reasons..."

prmenrs, RN · Jan 4, 2002

of praying for her...

That is a VERY constructive thing to do, and you are very creative to think of it!!

Another thing to try is to make her laugh. Start report w/ a joke you read recently. That may take the wind out of her sails a bit as regards to tension.

Meanwhile, I'll pray for YOU, too!

GBOTTOMLEY · Jan 6, 2002

Originally posted by LadyNASDAQ
You listen to me, right now!!!

Don't you dare allow this to continue. Her actions can get her fired for harrassment and also are against all codes of conduct. I have been an Assistant Head Nurse in the past and had counseled a Nurse for bullying 2 new grads. I gave one written warning and was covering for the Nurse Manager this paricular week. I decided to listen in on report where I could not be seen and saw and heard for myself what was going on and making remarks using words like moron and demeaning language that I would rather not repeat in this thread. Iwent to the Nursing Supervisor and called this bully into her office. I then fired this Nurse right after report and made a statement to everyone that no one is to belittle any Nurse.

Regardless of experience, it does not mean that a new grad does not know what he/she is doing and many times the ones that have been in nursing make mistakes or are not caring or ju plain lazy. You are very valuable in Nursing and need to know that we can not afford to lose you or have you burn out due to stupid, uncaring personalities.

There is a saing that Nurses eat their young and is it ever true. I urge those Nurses who have the experience and years in this career to please join me to help prevent new grads from being hurt and destroyed so early in their career. Remember, these are the Nurses that will be there when we leave and will be there when we are old and gray.

GBOTTOMLEY · Jan 6, 2002

Kudos to LADYNASDAQ !!!!!

I am also in Baldwin County, AL. When I graduated from nursing school in 1994 I was the oldest in my class. I had been working in our local hospital as a tech in the mental health unit. My preferred first job as an RN was to be on the psych team. I made it. Not only did I have to adjust from a MHT to RN, but older than many on the team, already at 47. I had my ups and downs; the adjusment was particularly hard for me with my charge nurse who clearly preferred "HANDS OFF" type of nursing. I was gung ho to BE THE BEST I COULD BE. Fortunately for me, I had the opportunity to work on 3-11 as a tech with a wonderful team of nurses who took me under their wing, gave me the opportunity to practice my student skills under them. When I went on board as a staff nurse, they were the wind beneath my wings. They taught me how to give report. how to manage by example and concious direction (something I continue to practice everyday as a nurse and case manager in home health). They were not defensive that their med-surg experience may not have been as recent as mine as a student, learning the new chart cart,, the needleless system, and sometimes asked me for help. They taught me prudence, patience, and desire to continue. I eventually shared the charge nurse duty for 7-3 and carried on what they taught me. I learned to teach patients and families, mental health techs, and now as a home health psychiatric nurse, am "the eyes and ears of the physician" (as per Dr. D. Mills). If I had not had those special nurses, who loved being nurses, I may not have learned to love my profession as I do.

I'm now looking to change my direction, by combining management and psych nursing ( yeah, really LOL). I'm not comfortable being in a hospital these days. My home health patients only have very sad experiences of hospitalizations. It's pretty sad when a floor nurse tells a family member that she doesn't have time to do things because of being so short handed. I'm not sure the risk manager of that hospital would like to hear that one!!!!!!!! SO........ I'm hoping to make a difference in the quality of life for the elderly who need extra help.

In any event, I would welcome your feedback or any other's to my email address: [email protected]

Enjoy the new year!!!!!!!

radnurse2001 · Jan 7, 2002

sleepy,

When I started nursing around oh.....12 years ago there was a PIA like the one you described on the floor. I remember I cried the first few months I worked there because she would harrass me so badly in report. One day I told her all pertinent information, and she wanted to know what the date of the patients last admission was and what they were admitted for. I did not admit this patient. I stood up, went to the nurses station, grabbed all our patients charts, old records etc... and told her report was over, my notes were good and if she had any questions to look them up.

May be not a good answer, but it was mine.

Anne

PhantomRN · Jan 7, 2002

i had a similar issue with a girl at the last floor i worked on. so here is what i did.

i wrote a report sheet. basicaly, i make a list of all the things that needed to be given in report and their preferred order.

it read like:

1. name, room number, age, reason for admit ( ad what we are treating for. we all know sometimes that isnot the same thing) and relevent past medical history.

2. brief history of what brought them to the hospital.

3. head to toe assessment.

4. abnormal lab values.

5. plan for: today, stay, tests, procedures etc.

6. family issues.

now of course i made it look very pretty, with examples etc. i then took it to my manager and told her that i felt there was an issue in giving report and you are offering a solution. a standarized format for giving report.

of course you will want to write the sheet using the format most common on your floor, so it will sell better. but i think you see the beauty of it,,,,,,once it is written and distributed. then that is the preferred way of doing report, at least it is the way that is sanctioned by management. then when she gives you grief, the problem is hers because you are following the floors standard report structue.

trust me it works. i never got grief from the girl again. just having the manager accept it and allow me to make copies to distribute gave me power over the report area.