Met with supervisor today....

[2shihtzus]

A little background:

I have been at the same hospital for almost 3 years. Im a full time night charge nurse, and have been in that position for almost a year. Im also considered a preceptor for new nurses.

I just had my annual review about 2 weeks ago and got high scores across the board. I was complimented on being a take charge kind of person, a team player, and someone who is an asset to the floor. There have been a few incidents when I had to call a few employees on the carpet about some issues, but they were dealt with, or so I thought. (One issue was a huge narcotic discrepancy that a nurse tried to cover up, the other involved a CNA leaving the unit and the building without clocking out or telling me that she was leaving, and another nurse covering up for her and lying about the whole issue...stupid stuff, I know.) In fact, my manager told me that she WANTED me to continue to deal with issues like that as they came up.

So I am told on Saturday that I need to meet with my manager. Great, I have 4 days to obsess and worry about it.

In a nut shell, she told me that a few people stated that I was an excellent nurse, etc....but when I am upset, "watch out." I was described as Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Also, these people apparently find me intimidating.

So I am taking an honest look at myself and my personality. Can I be intimidating? Ive been described as having a strong personality, but I would never bully or intimidate someone. When I am upset, do I show it? Of course I do. I wouldnt describe myself as a Mr Hyde though. Are these areas that I can work on? Absolutely, and I have every intention of doing so.

I am being put back on the floor so I can work on "team building.".....also, my manager feels by not acting in a supervisory position I will have more opportunity to "reconnect" with people. Great...I can handle that. As a charge nurse, we take upto 6 pts during the shift. It can be extremely stressful.

What bothers me is that no specifics were given. They were described as being "very generic" statements. She would not tell me who the people were, just that they came from people who "never complain"...which is why she had to say something.

I thanked her for bringing it to my attention, promised that she would see improvement etc....but inside I am in turmoil. For the next 6 weeks or so, Im going to be under a freaking spotlight.....my manager reassured me several times that I was not being "demoted".....but that I should look at it as a great learning opportunity blah blah blah.

In a perfect world, it WOULD be a great learning opportunity....I would love to smile and think that everything is going to work out. But right now, all I am is hurt and suspicious and bewildered about the whole thing. I mean wouldnt it have been more productive to get all of us (me and whoever it is that finds me to be such a monster) together so we could sort out any misunderstanding?

Its no wonder people are so reluctant to say anything ...... it always seems to come back and bite you in the butt.

I hate this

[morte, LPN, LVN]

dust off your resume.......

[2shihtzus]

yeah....my thoughts exactly.

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

I would have to agree with you that it would have been better if the manager call both you and the person who had the complaints into the office so that all of this could be discussed in an open manner. The way that this situation is being handled is going to cause mistrust and to tear apart team work. Your boss just opened the door for a lot of backstabing in the future because instead of backing the person who is suppose to be in charge she undermined your attority by putting you back on the floor.

Personally, I would tell my boss that I enjoyed working on the floor so much that I do not want the charge position anymore. The people that got you in trouble before will just continue to complain and look for reasons to get you put back on the floor again. I would also start looking for another job. One where you will hopefully have the support to do your job as it needs to be done.

[koi310]

Yep, that sort of "coaching conversation" usually means they're prepping for your termination. Be proactive: get your references and other paperwork in order ASAP.

You don't want to work in a place like that.

[Up2nogood RN, RN]

I was in a similar situation a few years back where complaints out of the blue were made behind my back to my nurse manager. I asked to have a meeting to talk about this with the complainees and was denied. I honestly wanted to know if this was just BS or legitimate. I quietly looked for open positions within the hospital and transferred within a month. I couldn't work on a unit not knowing if people were watching and talking about me behind my back. Sorry you're going through this I know it feels crummy.

[Born2BWild]

You sound like me. I'm a very quiet and even meek person, but there some things that enrage me and I can't keep a lid on my temper when this happens. Then I turn into a ranting lunatic. I'm not proud of it, but it just happens that way.

[kajunnurse]

Ouch that is hard having to put back on the floor. I agree with the other post. Find something else. I would also let your supervisor know when you put your notice in (in a very calm professional way) your feelings and ask for her honest opion again. I would also ask her why you recieved a great eval but now all of a sudden you are being punished with out any type of counseling first. Do you have a corporate nurse or admin above your supervisor you can speak with about this?

[2shihtzus]

You have no idea how much it helps to hear that Im not the only person that has gone through this. Thanks everyone.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

For how long are you being put back on the floor?

You know, I had a similar experience, but just a bit different. I got on somebody's radar because I asked for help one too many times. It didn't feel very good, and I was under the microscope for a time. I felt betrayed by my coworkers, and didn't know who it was that had said anything. I felt it was unfair, because I had been given some heavy teams that I felt at times to be beyond my experience and training and would have been challenging for ANY nurse let alone someone green, and had asked for help, as I thought I should. I had made no errors, no patients had been harmed, because I asked for help when I thought I needed it.

After stewing over it for a day or two and being really angry, I decided that rather than being the victim, I would take control of the experience. I approached my two charge nurses individually and talked with them in a nonconfrontational way, acknowledging my weakness and laying out my plan for improvement (I told them I felt my weakness was being too detail oriented and thorough and that this slowed me down, and also that I had a tendency of asking for help in anticipation of needing it rather than waiting it out to see if I really did need help, and that my plan was to be more "big picture" oriented and to trust myself more and only ask for help when it was clear that I truly needed it). It seemed that once I did that (and stopped asking for help as well as declining offers of help by others), the spotlight moved on and I was able to breathe and do my job without feeling like I had to continually look over my shoulder to see who was watching. Message received, loud and clear!!!!

I was left with a really sour feeling afterward, though.

I did move on from that job after that, and though that episode did play a part in my decision to transfer, it wasn't the sole reason. There were a lot of factors involved. But to say it had no influence wouldn't be truthful.

[Batman25]

So 2 weeks ago you got a great review and now you need to go back to the floor for 6 weeks? Something is fishy here. I would get a higher up and HR involved. I think you are getting backlash for holding your employees accountable and your boss isn't smart enough to know it or equipped to deal with it appropriately. The inmates are running the asylum. Get out.

[koi310]

So 2 weeks ago you got a great review and now you need to go back to the floor for 6 weeks? Something is fishy here. I would get a higher up and HR involved. I think you are getting backlash for holding your employees accountable and your boss isn't smart enough to know it or equipped to deal with it appropriately. The inmates are running the asylum. Get out.

Yes. It's hard to understand how you can have a great review, preceptorship, etc. and suddenly be called on the carpet like that and get demoted . Yes, they demoted you. It's obviously pushback from a person (or persons) and it also involves your boss. "Generic complaints" usually imply politics. Btw, a narcotics descrepency is a serious matter even if no one is actually stealing the meds. Same thing about that nurse trying to 'cover up' the incident'. Any personnel leaving without notifying staff is also serious enough to warrant a verbal warning, at least. What are the interpersonal dynamics there? Were any of these people friends of your boss? You probably could stare them down when you get HR involved, but that will also mean that people on your floor will be gunning for you afterward. Transfer to another unit or get another job.

Also, document all conversation, incidents with your boss and staff. The person with a better paper trail usually wins the (potential) lawsuit if it goes that far.

Edit: IMO, you did the right thing reporting these individuals. The most important thing you can do for yourself is preserve your license and reputation. If you have those you can get another job.