Inappropriate nurses?

Nurses Relations

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So, I'm a Float pool nurse, and last night, I was pulling meds when a Staff nurse comes up to me. Without so much of a "hello", he snaps, "How many patients do you have?"

My eyebrows raise. "Are you Charge or Resource nurse?" I ask.

"No," he answers

"Then it's none of your business," I respond.

"I have five patients tonight. How many do you have? Are you taking any admits?" he continues to press.

"Again, it's NONE.OF.YOUR.BUSINESS. Take it up with Charge if you have a problem," I retort.

"Oh, I'm just making conversation," he sneers.

"No, you're being nosy. And I don't have to deal with it!" I reply.

I told the Charge nurse about her Staff nurse's wildly inappropriate questioning. Charge said that "she would deal with it. At the end of the shift, Staff nurse had not apologized for his behavior, so I emailed his manager about the incident. The manager did not email me back.

Would there be anything else you would have done?

Specializes in Critical Care.

It's actually pretty important for nurses to discuss their workloads so that: 1)other nurses on the floor are aware of the overall workloads so that they can prioritize their care and their assisting of other nurses appropriately, and so that those doing the assignments can have a better understanding of how to divide the workload more equally. I can't help but find the OP's response to a standard question between nurses ridiculous. I get that the OP would have preferred "small talk", but "how many patients do you have" is introductory small talk for a large group of nurses. I don't think it was the nurse who asked what her load was that was looking to be difficult.

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Specializes in Float Pool-Med-Surg, Telemetry, IMCU.

Float nurse here to chime in.

At my hospital and most others I know of, float staff are paid a differential because there are stresses involved with floating- needing a broad knowledge base and a roll-with-the-punches attitude that allows you to navigate various units and their individual cultures.

In other words, float staff get paid more to deal with more crap. If people aren't as friendly as you would like you kind of need to suck it up and rejoice in the fact that you probably won't be on the same unit tomorrow. Emailing the manager was overkill. Just let it go, man! Life's too short.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
OP: You call this colleague "wildly inappropriate"? Wow not even close.

Wildly Inappropriate happened to me in 2008 when a new male co-worker snapped my bra strap as I walked by. In the scenario described I would most likely have answered co-workers quwstions and carried on with my shift.

Hppy

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
No, small talk would include at least some sort of introduction of "Hi how are you?" Launching of into questioning a total stranger, especially during med pull, comes across as very blunt.

I actually like meeting new people on my Float job. That was one bad instance. Very presumptive, are we? ;)

I work with two nurses on the High functioning Autism Spectrum - Plus I am married to an HFA. They are usually pretty neat people when you get to know them but they are often very blunt and forget social niceties - I just don't get my feathers ruffled easily. Again in the situation described I would most likely have said Hi - we haven't me I'm Hppy and You, I have 6 patients and of course would take an admission if asked. and gone on with my day.

Hppy

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The threat I see is that she was pouring meds when she was interupted. That can be deadly.

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I agree with the others and think you overreacted. This was a missed opportunity for communication and support. I'm pretty sure the two of you avoided each other for the rest of the night instead of working as a team.

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There's something you're not telling us, Float Nurse. Something self-serving, I'd bet a paycheck. Please learn better teamwork, for your patients' sake, and maybe a little humility, too. I can think

of several reasons why your fellow nurse wanted (or NEEDED) to

know your patient load that night, and I truly hope that the reason you received no email response from the supe is that they were busy emailing YOUR supervisor. And someone wiser than me already offered you good advice: switch to decaf.

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No. You did everything necessary. His infringement didn't have any real negative consequences; so I would just drop it. If you ever run into him again, you might have the opportunity to teach him something. A statement such as, "I was offended by your behavior," might prompt a beneficial conversation.

He might realize it was a terrible way to treat good help. If he doesn't apologize, don't let it bother you. People like that are usually nursing their own personal problems and need a life overhaul. Pray for him.

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I think you need to grow up and get over yourself. What was the big deal? Sounds like a guilty conscience to me!

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Specializes in Adult Emergency Case Management.

wow..overreact much? As I was reading it , I thought you were the inappropriate nurse.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I really thought there was going to be some butt grabbing or something going on when I read this thread. It was very anti-climactic.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
No. You did everything necessary. His infringement didn't have any real negative consequences; so I would just drop it. If you ever run into him again, you might have the opportunity to teach him something. A statement such as, "I was offended by your behavior," might prompt a beneficial conversation.

He might realize it was a terrible way to treat good help. If he doesn't apologize, don't let it bother you. People like that are usually nursing their own personal problems and need a life overhaul. Pray for him.

She did everything necessary?! In what world?! It was necessary to snap at her coworker & then report him to every entity going up the chain of command???! I doubt the OP will see said coworker again because she probably made such a fool of herself that she is probably black listed from working on that floor.

The OP is the one who was out of line, not her coworker. Just because the OP's coworker didn't say "Hello, my name is ____" doesn't mean the OP was in the right to snap back & not answer the question. If it was a personal question like what size bra/panty size are you, then I could see being offended. But it was a common work related question. There are zero reasons why the OP should've gotten so upset just because her coworker didn't introduce him/herself first. If anything, the OP should apologize if she works with her coworker again. We don't know the OP's coworker & there could be a million & 1 reasons why the OP's coworker didn't introduce him/herself. None of them justify the OP's actions.

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