Bully?! Help,I need good comebacks!

IaCountryGirl · Feb 3, 2012

I don't know whether I say it's bullying or not. But I wouldn't sink down to giving smart remarks- it will make you look bad and can exacerbate the situation. I would give a firm, direct "You can get the gowns in cabinet abc. I have XYZ to do."

It's like the nursing assistants or CNA's of the some of the units I've been on. They try to push their work off onto a student. I prefer to do everything I can for my patient, but I will not do their work for other patients UNLESS my patient has been discharged or has left the floor for whatever reason.

wooh, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2012

Calling stupid piddly stuff like this "bullying" is an insult to those that are truly bullied. Grow a pair of ovaries and tell her to get the gown herself and go on with your day.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 3, 2012

i just started working prn at an urgent care. im an rn and there is usually only one nurse on duty (me) , a rad tech, lab, doc and front desk. we are usually busy..lately, i noticed one of the rad techs keep telling me to put patients in a gown so she can do the chest x-ray. now, im new so i'm not sure of how they really do things there, but the other rad tech never asks me that, she gets it herself.
of course i don't mind doing that to help her when she's busy but the thing is, i'm the one always busy since i see all patients and she only sees people who need x-ray. i'm mostly in patients' room so i'm not usually the first person the doctor tells if he needs an x-ray (especially chest, since it's not as predictable as extremity injuries) and so it creates a delay because she waits for me to put patients in a gown. really?!
i asked another nurse and he said that is part of their job. we can help, sure, but they shouldn't be waiting for us to go get the gowns. apparently, he never gets asked to do that, just me. so now i'm thinking, i might be getting bullied for being new. i really need good comebacks the next time she orders me to do something she should be doing. i'm young and kinda shy and is such an easy target for these, i admit. please help! i love this job so far and i don't want to lose it.

that doesn't sound like a bully, and you don't need a "comeback." just a simple, direct "the gowns are over here, and i'll be over there if you can't manage."

Sacred eagle · Feb 3, 2012

Have you considered that maybe you are the bully? If a patientneeds a chest X-ray or anabdomen x ray, how were theyexamined,with their street clotheson? They should have changed inthe examining room Before theywere seen and Before an X-ray wasordered. X-ray departments,particularly at urgent care centers Don't have dressing rooms.

rn865 · Feb 3, 2012

I suppose I failed to mention the snide comments she does especially around other people, which to me is a form of bullying. Mostly personal ones, example, our ID has a BIG RN on it. And one time she goes, "Wow, they really put a big sign on your ID so people know you are the nurse. I guess that helps because you look like you're 12. " If it was meant to be funny, none of our other coworkers were laughing. It was a big awkward moment. And that's not all. I guess this is an example of what I meant when I asked for comebacks. I try not to let it get to me, the big issue I have is the delay in patient care because she wants to wait for me to do part of her job. She's the only tech who orders me to do that. And I'm the only nurse she does it to.

rn865 · Feb 3, 2012

Have you considered that maybe you are the bully? If a patientneeds a chest X-ray or anabdomen x ray, how were theyexamined,with their street clotheson? They should have changed inthe examining room Before theywere seen and Before an X-ray wasordered. X-ray departments,particularly at urgent care centers Don't have dressing rooms.

As far as I have seen in this urgent care, and where I work at full time, patients are not changed into gowns unless they need an x-ray. Chest x-rays are not as easy to predict as, say, an ankle or hand injury. I've come across patients who I expect needs a chest x-ray and the doctor doesn't order one. It would be pointless to change everyone with a cough into a gown.

But thank you, for giving me an insight to a different way of thinking. It helps to have objective people.

To be sure, I also asked the manager if the patient usually changes in the room or the x-ray room, and she said the x-ray room. The x-ray room is a the very end of the hall and if you walk in a gown, you will be in plain view of everyone. I didn't mention though that Ms RT is ordering me to do it each and every time.

rn865 · Feb 3, 2012

Thank you for everyone's advice. I can't wait to work with her again and see if she still does it. If she asks me one more time, like, "Can you put her in a gown?", I plan to just say, "Would you?" How does that sound? One poster is right, I'm not one who really makes smart and quick remarks, so I want to do just a plain, direct one.

Thanks for that advice about googling assertiveness. I'm going to try that too.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2012

Thank you for everyone's advice. I can't wait to work with her again and see if she still does it. If she asks me one more time, like, "Can you put her in a gown?", I plan to just say, "Would you?" How does that sound? One poster is right, I'm not one who really makes smart and quick remarks, so I want to do just a plain, direct one. Thanks for that advice about googling assertiveness. I'm going to try that too.

And if she says no? I'd just say no the next time she asks and go about your business if you aren't going to have a conversation with her before it comes up.

RNGriffin · Feb 4, 2012

Before refusing to do the task how about speaking with her first? This will make the transaction seem a little more professional, and a lot more clear in understanding. Simply saying "would you?" opens up the doors for inner workplace conflict. Lets face it, the two of you must work together and learn to get along. You want to be firm & direct, but also maintain your professionalism. It's not so much of what you say, but how you say it.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Feb 4, 2012

Just tell her you are swamped now, and can't get to it. This is a team situation, and she is part of the team. In an urgent care all she has to do is hand the gown to the patient, honestly, it's not a big imposition.

Any other snide remarks, just pause, say "Wow, that was rude," and move on. If she huffs, explain that you found it hurtful and request that she stop saying those things.

wooh, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2012

THIS: Suicide of Ryan Halligan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

is bullying. You're working with someone that is annoying and rude.

allnurses Guide · Mar 8, 2012

Never ask a yes or no question if you aren't prepared to deal with getting the answer you don't want.