Coworker nurse trying to ruin my reputation...

[HM7380]

I've been a nurse for 5 years, and at my present facility for 2. I've come to find out in the last 2 weeks, that another nurse (same position as me - floor nurse) has been spreading lies about me throughout the facility, as well as to other nurses in the area. She is saying I'm 'on drugs' and 'stealing narcotics'. This is a SERIOUS allegation, and I am NOT!! She's basing her entire theory on the fact I give OUT more PRN meds than she does, but this is because I'm actually on the floor, interacting with the patients, who ask me for meds, whereas she sits behind the desk and ignores the call lights. She also used to be an ADON elsewhere, and has the mentality that getting other people in trouble makes HER look better, so she constantly does it.

What should I do? I'm terrified I'm going to be canned for something I haven't done. According to another nurse, shes already gone to the DON with these accusations a while back, but nobody in management has said anything to me. My 2 closest nurse friends have conflicting opinions over what I should do. One says to confront the girl with a witness, then let it blow over. The other says I should go to the DON/Administrator and make a huge deal over it. I'm uncomfortable with the latter, as the upper management and I don't really get along, and I don't want to bring up anything that would give them a reason to terminate me. (I work in a den of snakes. Seriously.)

Fiancee says quit immediately and find another job, because this one is so stressful on multiple levels, and I've been wanting to leave anyway.

Please help! My career/license is at stake here...

[Sparrowhawk]

Just prove her wrong. If you're doing your job, she aint got nothin on you now does she. Just prove her wrong.

[Sunny0308]

First of all, talk to your Supervisor. You have to have some common sense here. Document everything. Look up your policies and procedures in human resources, and follow the guidelines. If you have any proof, and people who are willing to stand by whatever gossip they have shared with you, then arrange a meeting with your Supervisor and the person allegedly slandering you, and talk. And bear in mind you may be drug tested at any time. Good luck.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

I have been a nurse for about 10 years. I have been both staff, travel and per diem. I have been bullied and seen others bullied. I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt that everyone, including management knows what is going on, and the reason you haven't been approached is because they know that this person is not telling the truth.

The number one problem management has to deal with is staff/staff problems, and they cross their fingers and toes and just hope that the "********" will blow over. Sometimes it does, the bully or the bullied one leaves and then management doesn't have to deal with anything again for a while.

The number one lesson I have learned from being bullied is that the bully does not make you feel the way you do. You make yourself feel that way. I thought that idea was full of **** when I first heard it, but it is so true. When I think of all the hours of sadness and fear that I have allowed the bullies to take from me I want to smack myself in the head. For your own sanity you must teach yourself to ignore these idiots. They don't pay your bills, they don't feed you, they don't keep you warm at night. Ignore them and get on with your life.

Twice now I have ended up working with the "bully" from a previous job and both times they were different and paid me no attention on the second go round cause they were focused on other people and had other things going on in their lives. They didn't even really remember me and I worked with them daily before. So as you can see, you fullfilled a need they had at the time and it was never really about YOU anyway.

One time I did take one of the bullies into the break room in private and told them their behavoir was inappropriate and unacceptable and that I would be going to the hospital CEO if it didn't stop. It stopped right away. I later met nurses at other hospitals who had worked with the one nurse and they all told me that she was pure evil and meaner than hell. So it wasn't just me she was focused on.

So, long story short, look up horizontal workplace violence. Start leaving these articles around your unit. Hand a couple of them to the mean nurse and just say, "I feel like you would benefit from reading these articles." She will be so shocked that you did that she will probably never bother you again.

Also, always protect yourself in regards to giving pain meds etc. Always document as mentioned above, and always have someone witness the wastes etc. This is good practice that will always keep you safe. Three times in my career I have seen nurses walked out for diverting narcs. This took place after very lengthy investigations into the charting, interviewing the patients and other nurses, and the use of your medicine program ie: Pyxis or omnicell or whatever you use. Do not offer to get a drug test. You don't need one. If they demand that you get one, ask for it to be a witnessed catheter draw so there can be absolutely no question where it came from.

And most importantly, since you work in a den of snakes look for a nicer place to work. They are out there. I have worked in them.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Having been in management and having to deal with a lot of HR problems, I like this solution the best.

Me too.

Leave the emotion out of it, be logical and calm.

[merrywhiterose]

Go to the DON!

[achot chavi]

How do you know the rumors you are hearing are even true? How do you know she went to the DON? If multiple sources are telling you this, and there is strong evidence of " where there is smoke, there might be fire". I would approach the DON with proof that this nurse is spreading rumors that might be construed as defamation of character and certainly unprofessional. Tell the DON that these rumors are a distraction and they are ruining the productive work environment on the units, other nurses are also afraid that this nurse will start rumors on them as well. If you are afraid that you cant do this in person, write it as a letter to the DON stating that you are aware that some nurse(s) have been spreading unsubstantiated rumors which might be construed as defamation of character and certainly unprofessional and you want a positive, rumor-free work environment. If you can, have others sign on it as well. Obviously follow all the previous good advice on good documentation for every PRN pill you give. Never skip this step no matter how busy you are. I dont think I would run to another job,

[jhanes]

You could get an attorney and sue her for slander, but any damages would be dependent on your showing a court that her remarks hurt your reputation. You will also need to have witnesses lined up. Since this is a small case for an attorney, they will likely not take the case on contingency so you risk your own funds if you lose in court. If you are fired as a result of her accusations, then you have real damages: loss of income, of professional reputation, etc. A letter from an attorney reminding her that she may be placing herself at legal/financial risk might stop the nonsense.

I noticed one comment that called what you are experiencing as "lateral violence." The redefinition of gossip and slander as "Violence" takes away from the real thing.

One last point: I host several Nurse Support Groups for the Intervention Project for Nurses in Florida. Hospitals often monitor nurses' PRN medication administration, looking for unusual patterns. If yours does that, they would have picked up on PRN administration outside of (in excess of) what is considered normal. You may administer PRNs more frequently than Nurse Rached, but not much more than other nurses at your facility, meaning by comparison that her patients suffer needlessly because of her stinginess on PRNs. Perhaps she has an unreasonable fear of addiction or diverting attention form herself.

If by chance, you have been abusing drugs or alcohol, please seek help at once. Drug use is an occupational hazard for nurses and diversion the likely eventual outcome in the pattern of addiction. That goes for everyone reading this. Good luck!

[apatt2]

The exact same thing is happening to me. I had to go to ED and they were on me like whiite on rhye. But the God I serve has me protected by His Grace! My manager believes the older nurse because she has been there the longest. A CNA that use to work on our floor was accused falsely, she stated. She went to jail, paid a fine, and then later on she committed suicide. She kept claiming her innocence. These nurses get so jealous of a good nurse that gives excellent care to their patients until they are apt to ruin them. I have begun to find another job because it has gotten so stressful for me and I just cannot function at 100%.

[jhanes]

I used to be an E.R. nurse and gets a little competitive down there. If you find yourself in a toxic workplace, get out as soon as possible and don't look back. Lif is just too short to put up with personal attacks, petty jealousy, etc. BTW, upon reflection, the E.R. nurse were the heaviest partiers: ETOH and drugs that I have ever worked with, and I am aware that two nurses that were at my last E.R. job committed suicide after having relapses. Denial is common, even when faced with positive drug screens, being reported to the Board of Nursing or arrest. Many continue denying that they took drugs until the very end; death or recovery. The last choice is the better one. I recommend it!

[apatt2]

Thanks for your advice. I just don't know what other fields in nursing I want to do. Any suggestions?

[jhanes]

Occupational Nursing, Walk-In Clinic, Home Care anjd Case Management. Here's a lead: Case management: care management, insurance, hospitals, home health, healthcare management, behavioral health, case management seminars :: Dorland Health

[julielive]

I am a seasoned nurse, just now returning for my FNP, and I have worked almost EVERY AREA LOLOL. Some of them a great experience, but even the bad experiences answered the question of whether or not I would like that particular field.

Some "hot" areas I am seeing right now are Case Management, just as the previous post indicated. Soon, only nurses with a BSN will be able to obtain certification as specialist in this field (this rule may have already changed, not completely sure). Currently, every area is in need of case managers. I worked in this field for 6 years after obtaining my certification. Case Management, atleast in my case, was the art of balancing the monetary cost of each patient's care with the actual needs of the patient. I examined my assignment cases and would ensure each patient was appropriately admitted (inpatient verses observation) as well as services, cost, appropriate care being delivered, etc. The role of the Case Manager is just too vast to list. Remember: Case Management is a totally different game. I recommend any SEASONED nurse to try it, especially those in patient care who feel a break is needed.