How to deal with rude coworkers

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I am a nursing student going into my senior year at a university for a BSN degree. This summer, I am working at a hospital as a nurse intern and I absolutely love it so far. Everyone is SO nice and helpful (except one rude nursing assistant). My first couple hours on the unit, I answered a patient's call light who was calling because he urinated in his bed. His johnny was completely soaked in urine so I found an extra one in his room and helped him change into it and I also changed his bed sheets and pad. I thought I was helping the nursing assistant out. But, an hour or so later she told me and my preceptor about some person who changed her patient into his clean johnny before she could wash him up and was complaining because that person used the "nice johnny" but she was talking some serious ****. I blatently said, oh that was me omg I'm so sorry about that (I have no problem owning up). I told her, his johnny was completely drenched with urine and I didn't want him sitting in that so I changed him. She literally told me, well you should've left him in it until I had a chance to wash him up. I was thinking lady are you serious? As a healthcare team we should always strive to preserve human dignity. Talk about degrading...being forced to sit in your own urine (he was embarrassed as it was).

Anyways, she rubbed me the wrong way after that situation but I brushed it off. I though well I really have to suck up to her and she'll like me. So I started saying thank you so much for the smallest things and told her how awesome she was. Today was my fourth day on the unit. I was in a double room talking with my patient when the physical therapist was with the other patient. The physical therapist helped the patient use the bed pan and then she told me that she would put the bed pan in the bathroom so that it could be measured later. In a few minutes when I saw the nursing assistant I said, "Hey just to let you know the physical therapist helped "so and so" use the bedpan and it is in the bathroom so that it can be measured". The only reason I told her is because we need to record strict Is and Os for our patients since we are a cardiac floor. Also, I would've measured the urine output myself but seeing as this patient was not one of mine, I didn't have access to her chart. So the nursing assistant responded with the rudest OKAYYYY??? (like why are you telling me this) I have ever heard.

I am so done with this woman. I always smile at her in the hall and say hello when I pass by but she completely ignores me. Usually I am not bothered by what other people think. But I just want to know why she doesn't like me. Did I do something wrong? Does anyone have any advice for dealing with rude coworkers? Thank you in advance. :)

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Honestly, develop a thicker skin and speak directly without emotion one way or another, polite business. No more compliments trying to make nice. And give her a dead pan look when she says something absurd.

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It's just something you're going to have to learn to deal with unfortunately. I've been a CNA for 2 years now and really it sound like this woman needs an attitude adjustment. I work with a couple like that. They would rather the patient sit in urine and bm until bath time (which may be 2 hours away) instead of doing a quick clean up and grabbing a new gown later.

As for the urine in the bedpan since you had no access to the chart I can understand you not messing with it. Makes sense. I've dealt with nurses that will go check on their patient, check the container and write down the measurement then come out and ask me to empty it. I mean really? You can't just pour it out, you just picked it up and recorded the amount and you can't take an extra 2 seconds to dump it in the toilet? Now that ticks me off.

But back to the point, I have learned that working in this field does require a bit of thick skin, and if you can't kill folks like that with kindness then it's best just to ignore them outside of purely professional contact.

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I wouldn't go out my way any more. At the end of the day as long as you are doing a good job then you really cannot worry about others action or attitudes. And it may be nothing personal. Some people just have nasty demeanors

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I don't think they should be in this line of work but some are

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

I just tell them to shut the **** up!

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Thank you for the responses everyone!

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It's just something you're going to have to learn to deal with unfortunately. I've been a CNA for 2 years now and really it sound like this woman needs an attitude adjustment. I work with a couple like that. They would rather the patient sit in urine and bm until bath time (which may be 2 hours away) instead of doing a quick clean up and grabbing a new gown later.

As for the urine in the bedpan since you had no access to the chart I can understand you not messing with it. Makes sense. I've dealt with nurses that will go check on their patient, check the container and write down the measurement then come out and ask me to empty it. I mean really? You can't just pour it out, you just picked it up and recorded the amount and you can't take an extra 2 seconds to dump it in the toilet? Now that ticks me off.

But back to the point, I have learned that working in this field does require a bit of thick skin, and if you can't kill folks like that with kindness then it's best just to ignore them outside of purely professional contact.

Thanks for the great response, I really do appreciate it. Wow I cannot believe some nurses will really write the output down and ask you to dump out the bedpan...unbelievable! I have always been really sensitive but I have gotten better over time. I plan on following your advice about ignoring this person outside of purely professional contact. Best wishes for you!

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Specializes in Psych.

You will meet many rude co-workers in your nursing career, unfortunately! I would not try to make nice anymore, she has made it clear where she stands. Regarding the incident with the patient saturated in urine, that is not acceptable! You may need to let her know professional, yet stern way what you expect from her, and being treated with respect would be #1 on the list. Good luck!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

I have found that often nipping back when someone nips at you helps to stop the behavior and let's them know that you will not tolerate the disrespect. When I nip back, it's specific to the incident and then generally treat them as I normally would, professionally and with respect. Usually the only time I hold a grudge with any of my co-workers it often relates to a perceived poor work ethic, lack of accountability, or repeated disrespectful interactions.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

When I first started as a nurse I had a day shift charge nurse who just kept picking on me. It's like he was testing me to see how far I'd let him go. After about 8 months of taking it and taking it I was ready to walk out and quit until I finally just went right back at him. I can take a lot but when I've had enough, I've had enough. Ever since I let him have it we've been just fine. He acts like I'm his buddy or something. I just let it ride. As long as he leaves me alone and let's me do my job I don't care.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

As much as I hate to say it, people like that are testing you, and you can only get them off your back by showing them that you can't be pushed around. They are usually not very smart, will try to get out of doing work at every opportunity possible, and will not help others. I've had to do that too many times to count, and all of them shared the same characteristics above.

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