Walking off in the middle of report?

[BlearnRN]

I am soo annoyed! This is the second time this one nurse has done this. If I tell her I don't know something off the top of my head, (like what meds the pt is on) she will get up in the middle of report and say " I am going to go check the chart"...and then she will go and get up and check the chart. Even after I said I can look it up in the computer. What the ? So I go over after her and tell her that I have the information on the computer...she says not to worry about it....then I say well are we done then?...and she says yes... She keeps doing these type of weird passive aggressive things like this and pretends it is not a big deal. But then, the next day I will find out that that is all she could talk about for the rest of the night.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

That would be my suggestion for you the next time she does it, just tell her "When you're ready to finish, let me know", and go do something else that needs to be done.

Yep. This always happened to me with one very mean nurse who loved to point out everything I did wrong or didnt' do..

So finally one day, she got up and left during report. I got up and said, "Let me know if you have further questions, I'll be back tomorrow" I packed up my stuff and left.

It's amazing how well that works.

[caliotter3]

Take the advice of Tazzi and cardiacRN2006. Ask the person if she wants to hear report, tell her you're going to complete giving report, and keep on talking, then leave when you are finished. If she heads for the chart tell her that she can look at the chart during her shift not during your travel time, and if she interrupts you tell her she can ask questions when you are finished. Then insist on completing report and leave on time. I've found that the person who engages in this type of behavior is usually the same person who arrives late for work to begin with. Very inconsiderate and irritating.

[sleepyndopey]

Hmm, some people are so difficult to deal with. If I were you, the next time I was done giving report I would say, "If there is anything I missed, let me know tomorrow because a lot of the other nurses are telling me you complain about my a lot about my reports and I'm trying to improve". Say it with a smile. She'll get the picture. She will probably keep her mouth shut too.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

There's this one RN I end up giving report to a lot who has been here for 25+ years, so she thinks she knows it all. She never sits down for report, or writes anything down. She flits around the room putting her stuff away. When I first gave report to her on a critical ECMO kid, I sat and waited for her to come over so I could give her report. She stared at me from across the room and said "So get on with it!!" I said "what?" "Report!" So now I just start talking while she 'doesn't write' or look me in the eye, and I don't repeat anything when she asks as I'm leaving. I always chart "sign out complete, no further questions from nurse X" and leave. I'm tired of being disrespected.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Tell the supervisor that the three of you need to sit down and talk this out as you are talking about lateral violence in a workplace. Even passive aggressive is a type of violence as it creates problems at work.

[BlearnRN]

I've found that the person who engages in this type of behavior is usually the same person who arrives late for work to begin with. Very inconsiderate and irritating.

You nailed it! She is always 10-15 minutes late....I have started saying things to her about this like " I have been waiting to give you report" She will reply "Oh sorry" but it is still the same. Now she has started with some new behaviors when she comes in to work, especially if she is charge nurse ( we have rotating charges, yuck) she will get her assignment and walk all around all frazzled. Then she will do say something like " Are you ready to give report?" I will say " That's what I have been waiting for." Why does it have to be a weird power struggle? Her behavior is so annoying. I can't help but make comments back to her when she says them to me. It seems to be the only way for her to shut it and move on. - sorry another vent-

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

This behavior is her choice. Let it go. I wouldn't even bother going after her to tell her you have the information on the computer. She knows where the information is and how to get it. Lists of patient's medications is not something that is typically passed on in report anyway unless a particular medication is the cause of a problem with a patient. Let her talk. Most of your coworkers, I'm sure, see her passive aggressiveness for what it is. Anyone who is so narrowly focused is only thinking of themselves and how they are going to get their job done and not about their coworkers or teamwork, wouldn't you say?

What I used to do with people who were consistently late to report is to make them come and find me to get report--the later, the better. I never went into the report room on my own accord for them. As long as they are late I was more than happy to help make them get an even later start to their shift. I would talk slow while giving them report and almost force them to ask question after question. Have fun with them and watch them squirm for a change. The best thing is when they get a disgusted look and just jump up and walk out in the middle of your report. Just make sure you don't withhold important information. Something else you could discuss with your manager is taping report specifically for her for when she is late.

[nyapa, RN]

One more thing. She is choosing not to hear your information. That is unsafe on her part. Remember she is the one making the choice, not you. It is her problem, not yours. Just ensure to document the essential information in the patients notes. She should be reading those too.

Jay.

[flashpoint]

It's annoying, isn't it? I go through something similar every week when we have care plan meetings...I'll be trying to go over the care plan and they are talking about everything other than the patient. They'll also interrupt...I'll start going over meds or something and they'll just ignore me completely and start talking about lunch or baking cookies or something else.

I don't have any advice for you, but I know you're not alone!

:)

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

Holy Cow, there is a lot of hostility out there!!

I wonder why this kind of behavior is so wide spread? Do nurses treat their patients this way too? Why would any new grad stay in a workplace environment with treatment like that?

I have to disagree with replying with curt, abrupt responses. I used to come in on night shift very grumpy, mostly from sleep deprivation. One of my co-workers was one of those contantly cheerful types: "Hi! How are you! I'm so glad we are working together!" Once I realized she was truly sincere and took an interest in me as a person my attitude changed.

Now, I'm not saying everyone can be friends, but being polite and taking a genuine interest in another can improve you relationship. I think you can choose to make shift report an ordeal or not. Either way its gonna happen. I handle grumpy patients the same way, kill 'em with kindness, don't let em drag you down.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

Lists of patient's medications is not something that is typically passed on in report anyway unless a particular medication is the cause of a problem with a patient.

Ooohhh, but this is a favorite tactic (at least on my unit) for tripping up the new grads during report. Not only what meds, but what time they're due for the oncoming RN. I spent my first three weeks on night shift giving report to the all-time queen of being evil during signout. Now, EVERY NIGHT when I finish up my narrative note, I go through the MAR, write down all my lab results, calculate UOP and whether it's up or down from the previous shift, and prepare to give an insanely detailed report. I don't always have to use it all, but it's nice to have in case I end up with one of the meanies.

Confrontation makes me blush, cry, and occasionally vomit, so I tend to put up with way more crap than I should.

[caliotter3]

elizabells

I don't like confrontation either. It ties my stomach up in knots. The majority of this could be avoided if people would just act nice to each other.