Charge Nurse Ignores Me

Nurses Relations

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How can I get a nurse to not ignore me. I will say her name and tell her something but she does not acknowledge that I am speaking. I only talk to her about valid work issues, this is not socialization. Thanks!

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I had a nurse once claim I was ignoring her. I was sitting at the computer behind the nurses' station inputting my 6th admission for the day. She never said excuse me...she never made a noise. She just stood there and had the audacity to say I ignored her....

I never talk to her unless its regarding a patient or somehow work related. Usually she is just chit chatting with another nurse. I do not interrupt when its regarding a patient but I can hear when she is just talking about her hair/nails and I feel that the patient question should come before this. I dont think its a lot to ask to have someone make eye contact with me (at the least) so I know they hear me when I am telling them something. I will try some of your suggestions.

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.
Being married to a cop I have to chime in. Can someone file battery for a tap on the shoulder? Yes. Will it go anywhere? Sure, the charge nurse would get that psych eval someone previously mentioned. LMAO

I am so glad I do not work in the US!

Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I don't know but this sounds like really childish behavior Some how you have annoyed the charge nurse or she may feel your questions are invalid, either way this has to be handled. Pt safety is priority. I would go to the NM with specific information re this if you can't get her to come around on your own. This may put a target on your back, worst pts in the unit etc but this is unprofessional.

It's not Battery. There is certain touching that you impliedly consent to, and tapping someone on the shoulder to get their attention is one of those things. For it to be battery it would have to actually cause harm and the courts now, at least every court I have heard of, requires harm as an elemant of a battery action. It's the same thing as stumbling into someone on the sidewalk, or patting someone on the shoulder. Although, I wouldn't do it to someone who would dislike it, because it might cause them to dislike you and some people are weird about being touched.

I work with a nurse who is extremely HOH. Maybe she is?

I work with a nurse who is extremely HOH. Maybe she is?

I've got a doc that I used to think was ignoring me until I realized she was HOH.

I've also had people that thought I was ignoring them. Not HOH myself, but if I'm in my own head about something, I can be very unaware of the world around me.

Try talking to her about hair and nails. Chat with her about non-work a little, see if she thaws out a little.

What has caused the problem in your relationship with her?

Give her a compliment, give her a small gift for Christmas, ask her to have lunch with you, something like that.

I don't think she should have to butter her up to get her to do her job. She is a charge nurse and staff will ask you questions and use you as a resource. The charge nurse needs to learn people and listening skills or step down.

If she dislikes the OP then it is her job as part of management to leave those feelings aside.

Specializes in Dialysis.

How about you talk to her about it. Catch her when she's available and tell her you want to talk in private. There, explain that you feel that you have a hard time getting her attention and ask her if there is a better way to approach her. This is professional, puts her on notice and solves the problem.

Specializes in L&D, OR, postpartum, pedi, OBGYN clinic.
I don't think she should have to butter her up to get her to do her job. She is a charge nurse and staff will ask you questions and use you as a resource. The charge nurse needs to learn people and listening skills or step down.

If she dislikes the OP then it is her job as part of management to leave those feelings aside.

Haha of course she SHOULDN'T have to but when has that ever been the way of bedside nursing politics? :) OP: I used to have a nurse do that to me, ignore report, not look, annoying? Yes. So I just gave my report when I knew she could hear and I made myself very visible. Then left and charted reported off to so and so. I also made it a point to HELP her with her patients, complimant her on whatever. Eventually it worked. We are very cordial now and I enjoy her company. All work situations have a culture, you can go the strict hard line of "she has to listen, go to the boss, she should step down" but that makes you the bad guy against the charge. Or you can go in sneaky and soft and it usually works out. :)

Haha of course she SHOULDN'T have to but when has that ever been the way of bedside nursing politics? :) OP: I used to have a nurse do that to me, ignore report, not look, annoying? Yes. So I just gave my report when I knew she could hear and I made myself very visible. Then left and charted reported off to so and so. I also made it a point to HELP her with her patients, complimant her on whatever. Eventually it worked. We are very cordial now and I enjoy her company. All work situations have a culture, you can go the strict hard line of "she has to listen, go to the boss, she should step down" but that makes you the bad guy against the charge. Or you can go in sneaky and soft and it usually works out. :)

We all have different approaches and I don't go in trying to be buddy buddy with someone. I'm not there to make friends. I'm there to do my job and it's obvious this charge nurse isn't doing hers and sounds unprofessional. I'm not going to pretend to like someone when I don't. I will have work related conversations with them and keep everything professional.

I have had this happen to me when I was ignored and my method works too.

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