Upsate on trouble-making co-worker

Nurses General Nursing

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Sooo....the coworker that somehow we just "knew" was going to cause problems because she had been written up for trying to get a CNA to get a patient to sign consent decided to go for the jugular.

She was standing at the front desk, and me and the charge nurse were dicussing one of the patients on the floor (in a collaborative team-work way). This coworker stood there and listened to every word we said.

She then went to HR and accused us of violating HIPPA.

(Side note: I am sure there are plenty of people who ascertain that it was a HIPPA violation. In fact, I started a post about the issue, and the opinions were varied. After much thought on the matter, I personally decided that it was NOT a violation, because my coworkers and I are a health care TEAM. We frequently consult eachother as peers and ask for advice, or just plain vent to eachother about our patients)

The poor charge nurse (who is fantastic to work with, offers to help all the time, is pregnant, and wouldnt harm anyone) was devastated. She was basically told to "be careful". I was also told, very informally, to "be careful."

Here is what frosts my crack: the nurse that went to HR to complain has had some MAJOR violations in her practice, HIPPA included. We had a patient on our unit that used to be one of the nurses we worked with. The Complainer nurse happened to take care of her one night, and proceeded to complain ALL NIGHT to anyone who would listen that the patient was a "drug seeker". Ironically, the patient over heard the nurse saying that, was understandably furious, and fired her as her nurse. I ended up taking care of her for the rest of the shift. Can we say "uncomfortable?"

Anyways, we had a big staff meeting after the HR incident, where we were supposed to all get together and try to figure out how we could get along. The Complainer made me sick.....she sat there and went on about how "we are all one big family" and how we need to "work as a team" and "not gossip" and not try to get "anyone in trouble." I mean people were looking around the room and looking at eachother because it was so PHONY coming from her.

Soooo....anyways, tomorrow will be the first night that I have to work with her since she tried to get me and the charge nurse fired. It has been about 2 weeks since this all went down, and I am still furious. I refuse to let this get in the way of my practice.....but STILL....I cant believe the NERVE of her. Agggghhhhh.

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Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.

Well God Bless ya.....tell us how it went.

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Hope things go well for you!! This must be very stressful. Good luck.

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I can believe it. I have one nurse who makes up lies about me. Luckily, the DN knows it's BS but, of course, she'll be here forever.

I find that not acknowledging her existence eases my day. If I must, I look at her like something I'd scrape off my shoe.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Yikes. Watch your p's and q's.

People like that always get burned in the end. Her day is coming.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
Yikes. Watch your p's and q's.

People like that always get burned in the end. Her day is coming.

I totally agree to watch your back, but unfortunately I've found that justice isn't always served in this world. Manipulative people sometimes succeed in destroying others.:o

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

deleted

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
I can believe it. I have one nurse who makes up lies about me. Luckily, the DN knows it's BS but, of course, she'll be here forever.

I find that not acknowledging her existence eases my day. If I must, I look at her like something I'd scrape off my shoe.

Isn't that a shame? I sympathize, it's very difficult working with sociopathic personalities, they have no conscience and will lie to destroy another for their own, twisted agendas.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Sooo....the coworker that somehow we just "knew" was going to cause problems because she had been written up for trying to get a CNA to get a patient to sign consent decided to go for the jugular.

She was standing at the front desk, and me and the charge nurse were dicussing one of the patients on the floor (in a collaborative team-work way). This coworker stood there and listened to every word we said.

She then went to HR and accused us of violating HIPPA.

Ugh. Some people...:angryfire

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Specializes in PCU, Home Health.
Isn't that a shame? I sympathize, it's very difficult working with sociopathic personalities, they have no conscience and will lie to destroy another for their own, twisted agendas.

I totally worked with a guy that I believed was a sociopath- some of the things he said scared the crap out of me and I was afraid for my family. At one point he said that he thought that it was important to find out where people you worked with lived because then if they f#$@d with you you could return the favor. Of course he lied about anything he ever got turned in for. I was glad when I quit that job and went to nursing school full time. I was upset, however, when he ended up in my assessment class- I avoided him, time went on and he had to drop out of school for family reasons- one day I was driving to class and imagine my shock when my husband told me that this guy had been murdered. It was soooo freaky- and I felt bad because I was relieved that he was dead.

Be careful-

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Sooo....the coworker that somehow we just "knew" was going to cause problems because she had been written up for trying to get a CNA to get a patient to sign consent decided to go for the jugular....................

Sorry you're having trouble. However, you were imprudent and maybe did violate HIPAA or however you spell it by discussing a patient in a public place. Don't do that any more, please.

If you want to, write up the incident you shared here about you having to take over her offended patient. Very poor judgement on her part, I'd say, to say what she said where she said it. I can't stand nurses who decide everyone is drug-seeking. Be ready for her to return fire.

How come none of you called her on what she said in the meeting or expressed how you truly felt?

Request a transfer.

Good luck.

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I feel that hipaa was not violated, as we are a team and it would be impossible to not talk about your patients to the other nurses such as giving a report so you can take a break,or consulting with your nurse manager on a problem. I do feel however more facts and how other nurses feel about working with this nurse should have been discussed further or in more detail at the meeting. What makes her stand out as a actual trouble maker is you were working, trying to take care of your patient , not sitting around chatting or talking on the phone. She had no reason to start all of that. Good luck, at watch your back.

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