Advise on how to deal "bossy" colleagues?

Nurses Relations

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What do you think is the best approach towards colleagues who are acting arrogantly and being inapproapriately "bossy"? Please help. Thanks.

Specializes in ICU,ER.

I tend to give them a blank stare for a few seconds and then go back to what I was doing.

That usually gets my point across better than any words I could say.

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I have found that a look along with asking them "What did you just say to me?", tends to let them know you are not only giving them a second chance to correct their behavior....:lol2:.....but you are not about to just lay down and play dead.:up:

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I am concerned with the posts I see here. I seem to be reading a lot of one person 'against' another. I agree there are some bullish/bossy people out there - but my guess is they are fewer in nursing. Most nursing enviornments require teamwork, so being bossy doesn't work.

Recently, I was perceived as being "bossy". It is a new job and lots of personalities in the mix - as well as recent management changes. The end of the matter was - I was folllowing direction from the charge nurse and my colleagues thought I was being "bossy". I was doing what I was told - my colleagues perceived it as "bossy" because it was creating more work for the team.

My thoughts to this group, when someone is being "bossy" take a moment to step back and ask, is it possible they are just doing what they have been told to do (and you don't like what their telling you) or does this person function differently than you? I am an assertive person (I admit it) and I have a 'get 'r done' philosophy. So, I want to do what has to be done and get it done. Others have a more layed back approach.

I'm not bossy and their not lazy. We work differently. I try me best to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of my self and my colleagues every day. I hope you all will, too. In the end we are all nurses.

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Specializes in ER, Critical Care.

I don't understand why medical "professionals" act this way. Aren't we working for the good of the patient's? I am so tired of nurses and doctors with huge egos! If anything, these attitudes only end up hurting our patients.

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There is a person in my 60-person department who is like this and NOTHING can be done about her. Her disciplinary file is a foot thick and since she has a disability, no action can be followed through.

:angryfire

She's a technician, not a pharmacist. Yes, we pull the "ignore and walk away" thing and she's totally clueless. We wouldn't be surprised if she goes home (she lives in a small town 30 miles away) and tells everyone who's in the hospital and what's wrong with them, etc. and guess what? She probably wouldn't be disciplined for that either!

Telling her to mind her own business is a big mistake because she will dig in her claws and not let go. We have had people quit because of her.

I once had a technician who would do things wrong on purpose so I would have to do them over. If I asked her to change or do something, she would say, "Make me, b1tch." :eek: Another favorite line of hers was, "You can't hire, you can't fire, so I don't have to do anything you say." Our hands were tied and we weren't sure why because she did not belong to any disability or ethnic class where firing could result in a lawsuit.

I briefly considered surrendering my license after working there; incredibly, the pharmacist I worked for was even worse. I once got this feeling that I was working with a serial killer, and when I got Internet access, one of the first things I looked up was whether there was any large number of missing people or mysterious deaths in a city where he used to live. There weren't, but I later heard some really doozy stories about him.

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Case in point about the "Make me, b1tch" tech: She once refused to deliver Phenergan suppositories to two children who had just undergone tonsillectomies, just because she knew she could get away with it.

:angryfire

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Specializes in EMERGENCY.

Thanks to everyone who posted reply to this thread.

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Specializes in LTC, ER.
Yeah it can be touchy - depends what side you are standing on. I was working w/ this CNA for some time and she kept practically LAUGHING at me in front of pts when I was trying to HELP her. She would constantly try to tell me to "go do this" and "you should do that" and etc - it was her attitude. She was very condescending and yes, BOSSY. Then she would be sitting on her behind while everyone around her was working - I had to speak to her. You don't tell your charge nurse what to do and you sure don't refuse to do what she asks you to do.

This person and I did end up getting along after a fashion - and I did suggest she go on to nursing school, since she is a natural leader AND smart (but still, lazy ... lol)... But anyway - that's what I was referring to.

And don't worry there are plenty of threads about "Bossy CNA's" and "RN's who are too good to wipe bottoms" ;)

I wouldn't call what that CNA was doing being bossy, I think she was being disrespectful. She should have understood that it was highly inappropriate for her to attempt to order you around. I have a real problem with the current thinking that there is no "pecking order" Let's face it, the cna or the tech works under the nurse. They are to provide care as directed by the LPN or RN- period. I am a staff RN, and would never speak to my charge nurses in that manner. It's called having respect. If I sincerely have a problem with something I have been asked to do, then I would speak to them in private. I call what the cna was doing insubordination. Also, a cna is not a peer of the nurse. To be a peer means that there is equality in rank/standing. Another staff RN is my peer, the charge nurse is my boss, or superior. It doesn't mean that the cna is inferior as a person, but he/she is not equal to the nurse. The cna/tech takes orders, does not give orders. My feeling is that if a cna cannot understand and appreciate that, find a new line of work. I think that alot of people have gotten confused about what the word subordinate means- per dictionary.com "subject to the authority of another." cna/techs do not have a license, they are not the ones to be hauled into court or in front of the BON, therefore they work under the authority of the licensed nurse.

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Specializes in ER,Neurology, Endocrinology, Pulmonology.

When someone has something to say I listen, whether they are trying to be bossy to make them feel better or they are trying to help. Use it when you need the info. If not, say "thank you" and proceed.

I had a situation when charge nurse, attending, ER doc and resp. therapist all had a different idea of what "I" should be doing for the patient. So, I had to choose what was right and what was protocol.

Good luck!

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