tattle tell

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, I'm new to this site. I've been a nurse for 1 1/2 years. I have worked in a nursing home since I've graduated. The problem is with this one nurse. She just doesnt' bother just me she bothers all 80 something employees and our administrator thinks that she is "wonder nurse." This nurse tells on everyone for everything. We all make mistakes and we all try to help each other out in correcting them except this one nurse. She runs to the administrator for everything. If you were charting and wrote down the wrong date, she tells. She also makes up things on the other employs to get them in trouble. I have heard her say, "I don't like so-and-so. I'm going to get them fired." The person is harrassed by her so much they usually end up quitting. She has harrassed everyone that works there at some time or another. We had an RN to quit because of all the lies she told on her. Our staff is at a bare minimum, nurses and nursing assistants. I have been doing the job of 2 and 3 nurses because we are so short staffed. I work double shifts and our DON has asked me twice to work triple shifts. I guess when you give an inch, they'll try to take a mile. Recently we have found out that this nurse has been paid $2000 to "spy" on other employees. She has been given the title "supervisor" for whatever shift she works because we are not able to do our jobs "right." I personally have not been accused of not doing my job, but one of the other nurses is on probation for 3 months because of the lies the "tattle tell" has told on her. We have been to the administrator and tried taking up for the innocent nurse, but she won't listen. I have seen many things the "tattle tell" has done wrong but I'm not a tattle tell, but now I wish I had been. Some of us have gone to the administrator with some things she has done that should be told and we are just told, "everyone makes mistakes," or "you know how people exaggerate." We have given up saying anything to our administrator because it seems that this one nurse can do no wrong. I have been thinking about getting another job just because of this one nurse. I really love what I do and the residents, and I get along with all the other employees. I feel comfortable where I am, but I dread going to work when I know this one nurse is going to be there. I'm afraid she may try to tell things on me and I don't want to risk losing my license. I have had CNAs come to me and complain about her harrassing them. She follows them around or peeks around the corner at them while they are working to find out things on them. She never leaves work when her shift is over. She usually has to stay about 2 hours late to finish her work and probably to "spy" on the next shift. Everyone is really upset with her, but what can we do if the administrator won't listen to us? I recently went to the administrator and told her I was thinking about resigning because of all the things that have been going on. She told me that it would be the same anywhere I go. Which is probably true, but I don't think that they have an LPN that runs the facility like this one does.

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well, being a nurse for 10 years, I can reassure you this is not the last time you will have the troublemaker in your midst. ..no matter where you work, you will always deal with that sort. I think the big question for you as an individual nurse is. ..do you still want to work in an enviornment that is anything but nuturing...do you feel like you are still learning and growing as a nurse or are you all consumed about this one nurse..and if you dread going to work...maybe it is time to move on. There is alot out there for you. You have the required 1 yr med surg under your belt for the most part. Could you better serve as a nurse with a new employer and a fresh start ??? I have been there...and despite misgivings, have found new life once I was able to move on...I think it is time for you to do the same...get out and start fresh...your career in this early stage should not be so depressing !!!! best wishes!!!!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I agree!! LEAVE!! You don't need the garbage that's going on @ this place, you deserve better, and it's out there for you!

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I also agree, find a different nursing job. It sounds like this place isnt for you or anyone else for that matter except the tattle tell nurse and the administrator. Manipulation and leadership are not synonomous; a good leader teaches by example and encourages growth and others follow, many times without even realizing it as the environment is comfortable. Someone who manipulates only controls a small part of their surroundings, those they are supposed to be leading only learn to avoid them. In the first example twice as much work gets done in half the time, in the second example very little gets done as everyone has called off or quit.

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It sounds kind of rough, daisie. I used to be in LTC (my favorite kind of nursing). I don't know if we had a "spy" when I was working last, but that would have been hard. I was already trying to very sneaky in my charting, meds, wound care, etc. I was also working short. That sounds decent, "working short". But most people don't realize that "working short staffed" means somebody is not going to get the care they need, feeding they need, toileting they need, relief from pain they need, wound care they need. I finally realized how I could work without guilt. Actually take care of the patients. I am a better person to do this and I just won't chart. But then I found out that this was really stupid, because I could get sued. In the medical, legal world, "If you don't chart it, it wasn't done." A year later, sadly, what I am doing is reviewing medical charts for an attorney. (I thank God I wasn't sued by anyone.) People need to understand, for example, if you pick your baby up from a daycare, and there are 2 workers for 20 babies, and they give you a documented list of everything they did that day,(but you notice your baby always has a wet diaper, seems fretful, and seems to be starved when you get home), be afraid, be very afraid.

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Yikes...what an awfull way to spend your work days - afraid of the spy.

I also work in long term care - I am the QI Coordinator for 192 bed facility. It is too bad your administrator has become sucked into this "spy nurse's web". What does your DON say - does she also beleive spy nurse?

Another option rather than leaving is perhaps filing a grievance with your Human Resource Dept/person. Your facility should have an internal procedure to follow for grievances. Clearly the nurses falsly accused can find supportive documentation/witnesses to clear them.

It sound like this "spy nurse" is causing a "Hostile work environment" - look in your personnel policy manual to see if this meets your facility's requirements.

I am worried that you are being asked to work triple shifts - that is not safe for your, residents or your facility. Your DON should never ask you work a triple. We occasionaly have a nurse who works 16 when the next shift's nurse calls in sick and we can't find a replacement but usually can split the shift into a 12 hour shift. We also look at finding a replacement for the nurse so they don't have to work days/pm then work days the next day.

Will the other nurses/CNAs join you in filing a grievance or hostile work environment report? Have all the nurses gone to the DON and requested a meeting with spy nurse to discuss the issues? I am baffled that your administrator and DON would encourage this type of behavior by spy nurse.

Encourage the nurses that feel spy nurse has lied to file grievances - in our facility Human Resources would have to investigate the situation.

The hostile work environment and grievance option both entail hard work, stress and risk on your part - I don't know if it will pay off for you or not. I hate to think that you will become spy nurses' next target, yet I understand how hard it is to leave your residents. However, leaving might be the best option.

Yikes - if you decide grievance, hostile work environment and they don't work, you can consider sending letters to your facility's board of directors. However, it is far easier to walk away.

Good luck - none of your options look wonderful!

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Originally posted by daisie:

Hi, I'm new to this site. I've been a nurse for 1 1/2 years. I have worked in a nursing home since I've graduated. The problem is with this one nurse. She just doesnt' bother just me she bothers all 80 something employees and our administrator thinks that she is "wonder nurse." This nurse tells on everyone for everything. We all make mistakes and we all try to help each other out in correcting them except this one nurse. She runs to the administrator for everything. If you were charting and wrote down the wrong date, she tells. She also makes up things on the other employs to get them in trouble. I have heard her say, "I don't like so-and-so. I'm going to get them fired." The person is harrassed by her so much they usually end up quitting. She has harrassed everyone that works there at some time or another. We had an RN to quit because of all the lies she told on her. Our staff is at a bare minimum, nurses and nursing assistants. I have been doing the job of 2 and 3 nurses because we are so short staffed. I work double shifts and our DON has asked me twice to work triple shifts. I guess when you give an inch, they'll try to take a mile. Recently we have found out that this nurse has been paid $2000 to "spy" on other employees. She has been given the title "supervisor" for whatever shift she works because we are not able to do our jobs "right." I personally have not been accused of not doing my job, but one of the other nurses is on probation for 3 months because of the lies the "tattle tell" has told on her. We have been to the administrator and tried taking up for the innocent nurse, but she won't listen. I have seen many things the "tattle tell" has done wrong but I'm not a tattle tell, but now I wish I had been. Some of us have gone to the administrator with some things she has done that should be told and we are just told, "everyone makes mistakes," or "you know how people exaggerate." We have given up saying anything to our administrator because it seems that this one nurse can do no wrong. I have been thinking about getting another job just because of this one nurse. I really love what I do and the residents, and I get along with all the other employees. I feel comfortable where I am, but I dread going to work when I know this one nurse is going to be there. I'm afraid she may try to tell things on me and I don't want to risk losing my license. I have had CNAs come to me and complain about her harrassing them. She follows them around or peeks around the corner at them while they are working to find out things on them. She never leaves work when her shift is over. She usually has to stay about 2 hours late to finish her work and probably to "spy" on the next shift. Everyone is really upset with her, but what can we do if the administrator won't listen to us? I recently went to the administrator and told her I was thinking about resigning because of all the things that have been going on. She told me that it would be the same anywhere I go. Which is probably true, but I don't think that they have an LPN that runs the facility like this one does.

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Hey, Remind this nurse that she is not a FBI agent.

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Nursing assistant

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As an RN in Long Term Care, Nursing Home, etc. here were a couple of my complaints. I had a resident that loved her baby. (It was a plastic doll), but this resident really thought it was her baby. One of the CNA's, thought it was funny to throw the doll on the floor and go laugh with the other CNA's, while I, as the nurse would hear the resident screaming- saying her baby was dead, and go in to try to comfort her. I would see the CNAs' snickering and laughing down the hallway. Of course, I had no evidence as to who actually had thrown the doll. No one confessed. Then there was the CNA that I told repeatedly, "Leave Mr. T's bib on." Mr. T did not like his bib taken off. He would yell and scream, etc. He related that bib to food,. So, I told his CNA,many times, leave his d... bib on, I will sweet talk him later and distract him while trying to get dirty bib off. (I was always able to do it.) But this CNA delighted in causing a ruckus and trying to take his bib off.) One time I came back from a "rare" lunch time and saw this CNA chasing this resident down the hallway to get his bib,he was screaming and crying, other residents were screaming and crying, etc. I wrote this CNA up, but sadly it was just another long list of write ups that administrators see. They get a "talkin to". People should know that there might be some horrible people taking care of their loved ones (but they are warm and breathing), and yes, I also know there are a lot of wonderful CNA's and nurses out there too. I could tell other stories but right now I am too depressed.

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I'll make this short and sweet. If you dread going to work, it's time to get out. Been there, done that, and I was much happier once I left. Good luck.

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kday, you are right. There are a lot of nursing jobs out there that are wonderful. If you were talking to me about quitting if you dread your job, etc. I quit a long time ago. Well, a little over a year. I will keep harping about LTC, Nursing Homes, because most of them are in BAD shape. (esp. in the South). I have done some of my own investigation. But my heart is still with those "loved elderly folks". I still visit now and then. It is sad when you leave on Friday, "they" cry when you told them, "I'll see you Monday." or they would grab you and say, "Please don't let nurse so and so or cna so and so take care of me." Or you find one crying and you finally convince them to tell you why they are crying (no one else has to know),(non confused people) and they tell you that "my cna or nurse does this and that- if they find out I am telling on them. It is not worth it." As I said before, there are a lot of nurses and cna's that know what is going on out there. Most of them, I think, are still out there working their butts off and don't have time to get on a computer.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

It seems to me that what nursejanedough is describing could be considered abuse? Even if you don't know who terrorized these pts, can't you report it as abuse? Is there a care plan for each pt.? Stuff like the doll and bib should be in the care plan, and all staff should carry out the care plan, not just RN's.

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