Really hate this nurse

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

Unfortunately, I'm stuck working with her every shift and I can't get away from her. Let me start out by saying that I really love all of the nurses on my floor except for this one and another one. The two that I don't care for are always up my rear end to give THEIR patients priority in everything (baths, rounds, water passing, linens, etc.), and if I don't jump to what they want, they never let me forget it and stay on my rear all shift long until I do what they want. They seem to forget while they have 3-4 patients max, I have 18. They don't want to account for real life things (beds needing changed, patients needing changed, vitals need done, post op vitals being done, etc.), they want THEIR patients taken care of and RIGHT NOW. I'm changing a bed, too bad, they can wait, their patients need a bath, their patients need this, need that, (which they really don't, and they can wait till I pull a patient up, get a blood sugar, etc.)

Last night, nurse was on my rear end because patient missed the bedpan, and I was changing her gown and pad, and I didn't snap the gown sleeves first (Patient had an IV) on one shoulder. Later on, patient had to have a Foley inserted, and she said to me "You can strap it to her leg". Um.... excuse me... never done this before.. I said please show me how, I've never done this before. She got all snotty with me and said "Just WHAT did they teach you in your class?" What would have been a perfect chance to teach turned out to be yet another incident that made me start thinking maybe I need to change jobs, and rethink nursing as a career. Can anyone offer some advice as to how to deal with this (fill in the blank) nurse? :angryfire

I don't want to bring this to my boss' attention because it will make me look like a whiner, and difficult to get along with, which I really am not. Usually I'm always happy to help the nurses and do whatever they ask. Of course, the other ones are nicer at asking than this one and the other one.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I am sorry that you are being subjected to this nurse's unacceptable behavior.

(Donning my armchair psychologist hat here :) I suspect that she is very insecure in her own practice, either due to inexperience or poor understanding of the care her patients require. That does NOT excuse her behavior, but may help to explain it. In my experience, bully nurses are usually borderline incompetent and are looking to pass off the responsibility for their own shortcomings on anyone and everyone else. Since you "report" to her, you are an easy target.

First of all, I suggest that you tactfully and professionally set limits with her. If she EVER addresses you in an unprofessional manner in front of a patient or staff member, calmly state that you will speak with her in private, and then walk away. When you have her alone, state that you will not tolerate her unprofesional conduct, and will discuss her concerns when she is able to do so in a considerate manner.

Secondly, enlist the assistance of your charge nurse. Let her know that you have difficulty working with this nurse and be prepared to cite examples. Ask for the charge nurses's help in prioritizing the care that you provide, so that you have rationale and the charge nurse's directions to back you up when you have to tell this nurse that her patient(s) must wait for your attention.

If these steps do not help, then you may need to request a meeting with this nurse and the charge nurse or nurse manager. This would be my last resort, however, since bully nurses tend to "pounce" on co-workers who they perceive as weak, so I believe that it is in your best interests to address this problem by asserting yourself.

Good luck!

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Oh dear, you sound like a really good nursing assistant, I fear these nasty nurses will chase you out of them business. Take the person who posted before me's advice it is good advice.

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Later on, patient had to have a Foley inserted, and she said to me "You can strap it to her leg". Um.... excuse me... never done this before.. I said please show me how, I've never done this before. She got all snotty with me and said "Just WHAT did they teach you in your class?" What would have been a perfect chance to teach turned out to be yet another incident that made me start thinking maybe I need to change jobs, and rethink nursing as a career. Can anyone offer some advice as to how to deal with this (fill in the blank) nurse? :angryfire

I don't want to bring this to my boss' attention because it will make me look like a whiner, and difficult to get along with, which I really am not. Usually I'm always happy to help the nurses and do whatever they ask. Of course, the other ones are nicer at asking than this one and the other one.

This is why I'm hoping and praying I will eventually be able to do a job where I don't have to work at the bedside.

You have my empathy, but I'm not sure what you can do about it right now. You're in a difficult situation, but I'll bet you would not regret it down the road if you were just to put up with it keeping in mind that this is only temporary.

I don't handle snotty people very well.

I am attentive and butt-kissing until I can see someone doesn't appreciate it.

I tend to react to snottiness by turning up the volume and giving them 100x more snottiness than they showed me. And I'm not above turning redneck if they want to take it out in the parking lot after work!

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg and hospice.

There definately needs to be some communication here. Keep a journal of examples and go talk to the charge nurse. Ask for a meeting to discuss these issues. Try to explain that you are trying to do the best for all 18 of your patients and are open to suggestions on how this can best be done. Obviously prioritizing and organizing are crucial. I find it best to try to approach the person that you are having the issue with first and if that is not successful then ask for a meeting with the charge nurse. Even then if you feel it continues to be unresolved speak to your manager. Good luck.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Education.

My two cents...

1. You won't work with this person forever. Either step up & set limits or bite your tongue & bide your time. Eventually you'll realize that people like that aren't worth your energy/emotion.

2. Every profession has its bad apples, and she doesn't represent the majority of our profession. Take this experience as a "lesson" and remember it when you're a nurse someday.

Hang in there! Good luck! :balloons:

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

Hmm they sound lazy. They prob. spend more time hassling you to take their pt. off the bedpan then if they just did it themselves. I would say something to your NM. There are several other pts on the floor and everyone needs help...teamwork.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

Please follow the advice given above. It is great advice. If you don't assert yourself, they will crank up their bad behaviour. In regards to that comment about taping the catheter, and any other comment, ask her to step out in the hall and tell her that she better take any comments like that out of the patient's room. The two of them sound like they are very insecure and are quite likely being beaten down by those above them.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.
Oh dear, you sound like a really good nursing assistant, I fear these nasty nurses will chase you out of them business. Take the person who posted before me's advice it is good advice.

Thanks... it's leaning that way.... I'm a SPN part time program, working at the hospital full time... While I've learned some of these skills in the classroom and lab, I'm not permitted to do them at work.

Foleys and straight caths go to the more experienced care techs, which is another tier under nursing. I think the problem is this old battleaxe thinks I'm a care tech when I'm not. (And won't be for about a year, if I stay.) I also promised I'd give the hospital a year in exchange for training me as a nursing assistant, otherwise I have to pay back the cost of the class to them. At this point, I'm seriously considering just paying them back and getting the heck out.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

I remember working as a CNA years ago and I worked with a nurse just like that. She was flat out lazy. At the end of the shift when she was charting she would ask me did so and so still have their foley, was their INT intact, how did their wound look, can't you just hand a new IV bag it's just floor stock, did you do the dressing changes and so on? She tried to get me to do things I wasn't supposed to do and then get mad when I questioned why she never went and did her daily assessment on her patients to find out what was and wasn't going on with them. I eventually had to go to the manager and complain. The nurse never really liked me after that, but she damn well knew not the ask me to do things she should've been doing herself. She also did get wrote up for whatever the reason, but I thought it was funny. I was an excellent aid and would do anything the nurses asked me, if I had time. Being a CNA at a hospital is so hard because your answering to so many patients and the nurses. You sound like a great CNA, but unfortunately you will always have some bit__ that will try and belittle you or try and pawn their work off on you. The majority of nurses will work as a team and that makes a world of difference.

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Specializes in ICU;CCU;Telemetry;L&D;Hospice;ER/Trauma;.

First, they are schmoes!

Second, you need to put them in their place....nicely, but firmly...

when they start raggin' you to "get this" or "get that" and you are in the middle of another patient's care, say this:

"As you can see, I am busy with Mrs. So and So.....and just as soon as Mrs. So and So gets the care she is paying for and deserves, I will be glad to ASSIST you with whatever task it is that you need....may I remind you that there are several people ahead of you who have also asked me to help them, and since there is only ONE of me, I can only HUMANLY be in one place at a time. Why don't you go get your patient started on their bath, (or whatever) and I will be there to assist you as soon as possible."

This sets a clear boundary with them that you are not their personal slave. It also makes it clear to them in a nice way, that you are an ASSISTANT, not the NURSE, and therefore, whatever care needs initiating is THEIR responsibility, NOT YOURS....this also in a nice way reminds them that they need to do THEIR job, rather than sit back and chat while their patients sit on a bedpan or need turning....

Nurses who are at this level, are in my opinion, in need of a little "bootcamp".....it's possible to engage them...

I would say, and make sure this is in front of other nurses, "Hey, So and So, your patient in Room 14 is complaining of pain, what do you say that WE BOTH go in and reposition her so that she's more comfortable?"

If they refuse, it makes them look like neglectful nurses......

You just need to get your power back, dear....

You will be a fine nurse one day....because your heart is in the right place. For you, it isn't "just a job"....

blessings, crni

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Specializes in ER/ medical telemetry.
I remember working as a CNA years ago and I worked with a nurse just like that. She was flat out lazy. At the end of the shift when she was charting she would ask me did so and so still have their foley, was their INT intact, how did their wound look, can't you just hand a new IV bag it's just floor stock, did you do the dressing changes and so on? She tried to get me to do things I wasn't supposed to do and then get mad when I questioned why she never went and did her daily assessment on her patients to find out what was and wasn't going on with them. I eventually had to go to the manager and complain. The nurse never really liked me after that, but she damn well knew not the ask me to do things she should've been doing herself. She also did get wrote up for whatever the reason, but I thought it was funny. I was an excellent aid and would do anything the nurses asked me, if I had time. Being a CNA at a hospital is so hard because your answering to so many patients and the nurses. You sound like a great CNA, but unfortunately you will always have some bit__ that will try and belittle you or try and pawn their work off on you. The majority of nurses will work as a team and that makes a world of difference.

Hey, hey, I was like that at one time too.

I worked on a busy med surg unit. I had 14 patients and they wanted vitals q4, all the baths, I&O answer lights, bedpans bathroom runs and not take lunch!

I had , had enough and I had brought this to my clinical manager,he told me, " girl take control" He said, "tell them you can only do 6 baths split between nurses an even amount, of assignments."

Vitals,lights,I&O's meals etc... take up 12 hours, give them choices on what is more important to them, Baths,I&O, vitals, lights,something will get cut, no one person can do them all IT IS A TEAM EFFORT.

I remember the licenced staff could talk giggle and give orders, while the aide did all the grunt work!!!!:angryfire

NOT FAIR!!!! Things changed, and priorities were set as well as realities.

I am a RN NOW, I COULD NEVER, EVER TREAT ANY ONE LIKE THAT!:madface:

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