I got my coworker fired

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I reported a coworker for her inappropriate behavior as a nurse. I expected her to maybe get suspended for a few days. When I went to work I found out the she was no longer an employee. I hate confrontation in general so it is making me very uncomfortable to have been in this situation.

you didnt get your coworker fired, she got herself fired for her actions!

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Specializes in lots of different areas.

I don't condone "reporting". To me, it's like tattling. I would hope a fellow nurse would be able to talk to me (out of respect) in person before running to the nurse manager. Maybe this nurse had trouble "connecting" with everyone, or was frustrated by the stress of the day or the patient load. Someone's perception of someone else's actions can be far different from the reality of the situation. Especially a CNA who does not understand the responsibility of the nurse on any given day. I quit my med/surg position after 9 months bc of the stress and people tattling. I was tired of working 9 hours without a break, while watching all the people who loved to criticise every little thing I did take numerous smoke breaks, 15 minute breaks, training, etc. while I'm trying to learn and be the best possible RN I could be. Yes, this is somewhat of a vent for me-I feel better. Flame away if need be. You should ALWAYS TRY to put yourself in someone else's shoes before "reporting" them. That's a lesson to be learned in life. No one is perfect. There is a reason for everyone's actions!

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Its about professionalism. The behavior you described is not professional so...

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I don't condone "reporting". To me, it's like tattling. I would hope a fellow nurse would be able to talk to me (out of respect) in person before running to the nurse manager. Maybe this nurse had trouble "connecting" with everyone, or was frustrated by the stress of the day or the patient load. Someone's perception of someone else's actions can be far different from the reality of the situation. Especially a CNA who does not understand the responsibility of the nurse on any given day. I quit my med/surg position after 9 months bc of the stress and people tattling. I was tired of working 9 hours without a break, while watching all the people who loved to criticise every little thing I did take numerous smoke breaks, 15 minute breaks, training, etc. while I'm trying to learn and be the best possible RN I could be. Yes, this is somewhat of a vent for me-I feel better. Flame away if need be. You should ALWAYS TRY to put yourself in someone else's shoes before "reporting" them. That's a lesson to be learned in life. No one is perfect. There is a reason for everyone's actions!

I would say to the person "this is not appropriate", if they continue their behavior you can bet your sweet pattooty I'd be letting someone know. I don't consider that tattling, I consider it my job as a patient (and my own) advocate. The OP staff behavior she witnessed would be considered a hostile work environment.

Go somewhere else after work and spew inappropriateness-NOT appropriate at ANY workplace much less a hospital.

otessa

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I did not work 5 years in school and train myself to be a nurse to have "weak links" jeopardize my ultimate goal which is excellent patient care. If your mind is on joking, and having fun at work then your not thinking about patient care enough. Your going to miss something vital and your putting the patient at risk. GOD obviously had a lessen in this for the person who got fired and he has a lesson for you too. Perhaps it is to think and respond to a situation and not react to one. Nurses are seen by many people as hand maids and not as educated individuals that self-sacrifice and continually commit to further their education to stay abreast of new treatments, medications, disease process findings and technological advances. I, for one did not go into this to have a great time at work, I went into this to do God's work and serve his people to the best of my ability. In doing so, any joke I make is made at an appropriate time to enlist trust from my patient, not elicit a party. I do so to help them see me as a regular person but I stay aware and prepared to switch into nurse mode with any finding. If this person was having too much fun at work then she was not working and putting the patient at risk. God has the ultimate say in all things so if he truly wanted her/him there then they would still be there. You just have to trust that he knows what he is doing and let it go, its gone and nothing can be done now....move on!!

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"someone's perception of someone else's actions can be far different from the reality of the situation. especially a cna who does not understand the responsibility of the nurse on any given day".

i was a cna for 12 years before getting my nursing license and being a cna has nothing to do with recognizing when a person is cursing and being sexually explicit in front of patients. a human being has the sense to know that this is inappropriate, inexcusable and i don't care what kind of stressful day you are having. these patients are paying thousands of dollars and trusting you with their lives. if you can't connect with people...then you have no business whatsoever being a nurse in the first place. it is our job to connect with people, enlist their trust in us as professionals and give them care to the best of our ability. if the patients want a friend to tell them jokes, i guarantee you, they did not come to a healthcare facility to pay thousands in order to find it.

i understand your frustration from your last job, but if you are saying that you would not "tattle" on someone who acts this way in front of patients then perhaps you need to read your states nursing act again because you are mandated by law to do so! there are some things that you can go to a person to out of respect when you see a problem, but if they are willing to act this way in front of a patient how perceptive do you think they would be to respect and listen to what a cna tells them. she did the right thing and how you don't see that is beyond my comprehension.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Actually what is beyond my comprehension is ANYONE telling this person they did the right thing. None of us were there, we are only going by the OP's description. Even assuming it is true, do you not think that they deserve to be counseled and corrected before LOSING THEIR JOB? People make mistakes. Please do not preach what my duties are. There is nothing in the nurse practice act about firing people for being immature. Otherwise a lot of nurses wouldn't have jobs.

Since you're all about God, perhaps keep in mind that one should "do unto others"...

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

As a manger, all counseling is kept confidential an most health systems have progressive counseling policies. Look at your code of conduct policy often re-signed as part of annual P+P review. Many facilities taking hard stand on sexual harassment --- what you reported falls under that classification. Highly likely was not the first time reported. If already counselled once, then termination may be appropriate.

Too many people are going to work thinking of it as a social occasion and chit chat personal info while working. In a professional setting, such talk needs to be left at the door upon arriving at WORK.

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Hmmm.....I'm reasonably sure that your complaint wasn't the only one, and it wasn't the one reason the person was fired. That being said, I think that the appropriate thing to do is to tell the person first that you don't really appreciate that kind of talk, then if it continues, report it to higher ups. A person deserves to have a colleague talk to him/her first before going higher up. It is the professional thing to do. I haven't reported any of my coworkers to a higher up because I haven't seen anything so grossly out of line that it deserved immediate reporting. I did have a charge nurse curse at me once in front of my peers, but after taking her aside privately and telling her she'd better not do it again, that stopped it before I had to go higher up. My current coworkers do some things that could be borderline, but they are not hurting the patients or me, so I'm not too concerned with reporting it. I probably do some things that are not perfect, as well, but I always, always put my patients first. Some nurses are too into watching what others do and reporting every little infraction. I don't have much use for those people. I think we need to pick our battles and watch our own practice before finding fault with other nurses' practice. It's tattling if the intent is to get someone in trouble. It's not tattling if it's a real issue that hurts someone, be it patient or coworker.

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Specializes in lots of different areas.

"IF you can't connect with people...then you have no business whatsoever being a nurse in the first place."

How can you be so harsh when you don't know my previous situation, or me for that matter? That's what's wrong with so many people. I am not bringing my Lord into this conversation, I don't need to. I live my life by Jesus, but I also live my life with PEOPLE. And people are HUMAN, even YOU with all the expert nursing advice. Don't judge. This is the exact reason I quit med/surg after only 9 months. BULLYING. I am a kind, caring person, that's why I became a nurse. I would never tell someone they shouldn't have become a nurse for not being able to "connect" with people? Do you know my unique situation, coworkers, patients on every given day? Wow. I don't need a lesson on professionalism, I know what it is, spent 6.5 years active duty military. I'm sure I can teach a class or two on professionalism in the workplace.

I have thick skin, but feelings also! What I read from message boards doesn't hurt my feelings, I read and post to share my experiences, and offer insight on some of the lessons I've learned in the past. Thanks

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I did not work 5 years in school and train myself to be a nurse to have "weak links" jeopardize my ultimate goal which is excellent patient care. If your mind is on joking, and having fun at work then your not thinking about patient care enough. Your going to miss something vital and your putting the patient at risk. GOD obviously had a lessen in this for the person who got fired and he has a lesson for you too. Perhaps it is to think and respond to a situation and not react to one. Nurses are seen by many people as hand maids and not as educated individuals that self-sacrifice and continually commit to further their education to stay abreast of new treatments, medications, disease process findings and technological advances. I, for one did not go into this to have a great time at work, I went into this to do God's work and serve his people to the best of my ability. In doing so, any joke I make is made at an appropriate time to enlist trust from my patient, not elicit a party. I do so to help them see me as a regular person but I stay aware and prepared to switch into nurse mode with any finding. If this person was having too much fun at work then she was not working and putting the patient at risk. God has the ultimate say in all things so if he truly wanted her/him there then they would still be there. You just have to trust that he knows what he is doing and let it go, its gone and nothing can be done now....move on!!

You know, not everyone here believes in God and not all of your patients believe in God. Just something to consider.....

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Okay this is my two cents on the topic of reporting coworkers to supervisors/managers:

I think that nurses and nursing aides are too quick too quick to report coworkers to higher ups. This "policing" policy of nursing creates a negative culture and isn't what the mandated laws were meant for. For example, a previous poster stated that she reported a coworker to a supervisor based on what a patient said....that baffles me. As a team, aren't you supposed to have each other's backs and give each other the benefit of the doubt?

There ARE reasons to report someone to the supervisor. If somebody is BLATANTLY doing something to intentionally HARM a patient....report report report. But if it is something that can be fixed/ genuine mistake then try to work with your coworkers first. Try talking to them, helping them out, etc and then if the situation doesn't resolve itself after having given them a fair shot, then go to higher ups.

Remember, no one is perfect. It could have been you.

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