Reporting other nurses

[wanderlust99]

My first nursing job I had such a hard time dealing with this. A lot of the nurses I worked with would report other nurses to our manager. Usually through an email, things like "Jane didn't change this dressing on time, or Jane left her room in a mess, or all the iv tubing was expired,etc.." and you would get an email or meeting from the manager asking why this happened.

I haven't been reported for anything in a long time, and last week during my very first week at a new travel assignment I get a phone call from the manager saying she wasn't happy with my standard of care and she expects more. Apparently the nurse following me reported me to the manager.

She said I left my room messy (the room was clean with the exception of the trash...I am not a housekeeper and do not empty trash...but was told I should have paged housekeeping). I am usually very anal about keeping a clean room, as I'm sure most of you guys are.

Also, she said I didn't shave my pt and it appeared I didn't get him mouth care all night. He was intubated, and I just generally don't shave my patients daily. Although I have made it a point now to do so everyday now. I gave him mouth care, but he was just one of those pts who had horribly thick secretions.

Also I was reported for not emptying my foley bag. She said the urometer was overflowing. My pt was on a Lasix drip, and could have possibly just dumped over 300cc for that hour.

She then said the EVD wasn't level, it was about 1 inch to high. The pt probably just slid down a bit in his bed.

I was just so upset about this, and still am. It was like a huge list of all these things and she made me feel like such a horrible nurse. She said they have a higher standard of care, which really upset me. It was my first week there and now I feel I will be looked at like this horrible nurse.

I often see things that the nurse I have followed hasn't done. I have never ever reported anyone for something, I would much rather just casually and politely tell the other nurse whatever she forgot to do if it is that important. I feel like I have been singled out here. I have now been at this assignment 3 weeks and have found lots of things that other nurses have done wrong, but wouldn't dream of reporting this to the manager. I now find myself paranoid at work and scared to death someone will report me for something. I'm scared what if I overlook something I am supposed to do. I'm just really upset about this and wondered if anyone else has had any problems with nurses reporting eachother.

[Jen2002]

I work midnights and always feel we are a team. I am not one to go and tattle, I feel I should discuss it with the person. It can usually be solved that way. We are learning everyday, and I think giving each other tips is the best way. The manager should be reserved for severe problems. I wish all nurses had these feelings. It would make us better teams.

[mamason]

Yes, we have those wonderful little petty princesses at my place of work. Gotta love em! I view these people as trying to prove something to make themselves feel superior. Serious offenses are one thing. Which happens rarely. Stupid write ups are another. I just blow it off and wait for the perfect little tattle tails to crash and burn. They always do.........In the mean time, I just go about my business and try to do the best job that I can. That's all you can do. It's an internal thing with these people. Lack of self confidence maybe?

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

I report what needs to be reported - IE RN before me charted and told me that IVF A has been running and when I looked at the bag, it's something completely different (and not what is ordered). ..or someone before me signed off they gave the (ordered) Tobradex eye gtt all day and the only eye gtt at the bedside are vanc.. and upon looking it up on the computer, tobradex was never even sent from pharamacy.. then that nurse has been making a med error on this kid and it needs to be fixed and needs an incident report..not to 'tattle' on the other RN, but to look at why it happened.

[SFRN]

I hate the tattle-tale mentality that pervades nursing.

Sorry.

Ditto, I can't stand the petty sh*t in nursing, which is basically what the original posters post sounds like. Just be thankful you are there as a traveler and not as staff.

[PeaceonearthRN]

Pettiness takes away from the patient care. Each minute someone spends gossiping, reporting minute infractions etc., they are taking away from making sure the patients are safe.

It is sad that people have to watch their backs and wonder each day if they will still be employed due to this mentality. You have to wonder how much time they are giving to their patients when this occurs.

I knew things were not roses in nursing; however, I am still surprised at the mentality that permeates in many systems.

[vivere]

Yes, this is a sad truth about nursing. I am not sure it is just nurses , but that is where my experience lies, so I will comment on what I have known to be true. There are nurses of all ages, who will smile at you and not ever tell you that they have "written" you up, or talked to the manager about something you did or didn't do....some infraction, according to them. It is sneaky, and since you don't know about it, you are not given a chance to confirm or deny the supposed infraction. I am very cautious about reporting a nurse. For example, a nurse may have gotten busy transferring a patient out during the day shift, making sure paper work was covered, etc., and so when night shift comes in, they don't see all the work that was done. They may only see a messy room. We all make mistakes, on a daily basis. Nurses need to realize that they will receive the same treatment at some point, that they are giving to another. Be mindful that just as you are reporting on another nurse, you will also have someone, someday, be following your every move as well. I agree that narcotics are not included in this! I am talking about something entirely different. It is a 24 hour shift, and what one nurse does not complete, I think the next nurse should pick up and finish. We are there for the patients, and not to write up each other. If a nurse makes a mistake, we can tell her, easily and kindly....without trying to get her fired. I recently started working with a young nurse and heard her discussing with a surgeon about an incident which she stated "happened on the previous shift and was not reported"... I am very leery of this kind of communication, which is done sneakily, behind other's backs. I won't be working with this nurse for long.:typing:typing

vivere