Stop the drama

BrandonLPN, LPN · Jun 12, 2012

I look at all the drama as free amusement. Just don't get involved and bring some popcorn!

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 12, 2012

i look at all the drama as free amusement. just don't get involved and bring some popcorn!

i totally agree with you that's the attitude i sported when i was a staff nurse, however, when you're the upper management you can't dismiss the situation when it reaches you there's no escaping the "soap opera drama" therefore, one has to act and find a solution to accommodate everyone without adding more fuel to the fire, i have always said to my staff "we don't have to like each other, but while we are here we need to get along with one another" :cool:

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2012

at this level, i have given serious thought on handling the situation like esme12 has posted, just let them go at it and let it all come out in the wash and let be bygones be bygones. for example today the first thing @ 5:30am i receive a call that two night nurses and a female doctor got into an altercation in front of the pt. and their family. in addition, 5 nurses call out sick and one declines to come in if so & so is in-charge. in addition, one cna & an lpn in med/surg. haven't been able to hatch their differences since they had a few words several months ago, plus the cna won't take any orders from the lpn. furthermore, i have to deal with 3 prima-donna's nm that don't seem to realize that the good old days are gone and we have to move forward, so they have decided to do their own thing when it comes to managing their staff after several personal counseling. oh! let's not forget one of the evening pharmacist has a restraining order on one of my nurses because she claims that the nurse is having an affair with her husband, and calls the nm's every day to find out if the nurse in question is scheduled to work when her husband is on duty at the out/pt. pharmacy. needless to say, i felt like calling in myself .however, i went on my daily jog, and the palms swaying plus the sounds of the beach calmed me and gave me a new perspective on the matter. unquestionably, now you know what brought up this post. wishing all the drama queens/kings the best wherever their facility may be.....aloha~

i'm so sorry gitano.....i can't stop laughing. i know it's not really funny.....but it is real funny!!!! that's what you get for living on an island in the middle of the ocean. it reminds me of a small hospital i once managed....it was the sister outlier to a larger facility that was the trauma center...on the coast of ma....a fishing village. if any of you guys recognize this......how ya doin? :hug:

the whole town's related. one nurse was fooling around with the others husband who was the uncle's brothers in law......twice removed by marriage. :bugeyes: you know the drill.

one night they kept paging me to fight because they weren't on speaking terms with each other. :banghead: i finally had enough...in my best "i'm not putting up with this crap" mommy voice i told them to stick their heads out the window and shout as it was a more effective means of communication than paging me and if i had to come down there i was going sell tickets and make them duke it out in the parking lot while the town watched because i was sick of their pretty crap.

this is a union facility and i told them......don't make me start progressive discipline because we all know where that will lead!! ( i'm easy...if you behave). days off no pay. suspension. bye bye.

the sick calls. i would discipline. the petulant "i won't work with her" i'd give her an option of a different shift (nights) so they won't cross paths.....or they could act like the grown up professionals that they claim to be and knock it off!!!! those managers need to have an account set up on an so they can read how hard it is to find a job right now and since there are several applicant for every position.....you'd be happy to set up their severance package. that md would be in my office with the medical director and a serious discussion as to conduct becoming a professional.

are you new to this position? the may be puttin on a show. you initially need to make it clear without being aggressive...clear and concise.......and when you follow through as promised.....hopefully they will behave. i have very confidence you'll do fine.

if not indulge on large amounts of adult beverages. :hug:

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Jun 12, 2012

There will always be drama.

There will also always be a choice on whether you want to participate in it or escalate it.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 12, 2012

i'm so sorry gitano.....i can't stop laughing. i know it's not really funny.....but it is real funny!!!! that's what you get for living on an island in the middle of the ocean. it reminds me of a small hospital i once managed....it was the sister outlier to a larger facility that was the trauma center...on the coast of ma....a fishing village. if any of you guys recognize this......how ya doin? :hug:
are you new to this position? the may be puttin on a show. you initially need to make it clear without being aggressive...clear and concise.......and when you follow through as promised.....hopefully they will behave. i have very confidence you'll do fine.
if not indulge on large amounts of adult beverages. :hug:

in answer to your question no i'm not new to the position, i been in this facility since 2000. however, this has been going on and off for a while, i look back now after the events and now i can laugh on my own without letting them know how up-set they made me i feel at times. therefore, when i make my rounds i walk with a sour face and everyone seems to be in their best behavior. unquestionably, is like i'm dealing with kids! heck some kids behave better than these professionals. once again, i thank you for your concern on how i'm doing...as a matter a fact a couple of friends just invited me over to go to the "aloha tower" and have a couple of drinks, i called my baby sitter and told her that i will be late, so i told my friends that i'll be there if i'm late to start without me but to order me a tall zombie

tri-rn · Jun 12, 2012

Gitano, I don't quite understand what position you hold exactly but I do NOT envy you. Well, ok, except the palm trees and surf while you run. Here it's birds and...well, birds :)

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jun 12, 2012

There's always 1-800-call Maury.......

Frustrating for sure. Amazing when you want people to act like grown-ups and take care of patients, already....

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jun 12, 2012

No DRAMA allowed. As a manager, you will be calling the definition of drama.

I am sure there are situations that require your call. And, there are the facilities policies that will support what ever call you make.

Stop sweating the small stuff.. make your decision , and go with it.

orthonurse55 · Jun 13, 2012

I worked at a LTCF for a few years and we all know how bad the drama is in those places! I was in the break room one day and this one CNA was doing her usual blabbing about how horrible her life was....on and on and on. I was eating my lunch and trying to ignore the group that was sitting there like a captive audience. Then one of the group looked at her and said "Amanda, how DO you keep all the drama staight?" I almost choked on my lunch!!!

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2012

Nip. It. In. The. Bud.

The only way that drama queens get fuel is when they are recognized and validated. Ignoring their tantrums and antics can only go so far...they will dig into their bag of tricks until push comes to shove and they find themselves exactly where they want to be...the center of attention.

The best way to diffuse this is to take them aside, get to the root cause of their issue and go from there. Most of the time you will recognize self esteem challenges from the drama queens. Address it, suggest a very concrete path for guidance and follow up with them in 24-48 hours.

Drama queens lack a sense of purpose and conviction in their own mindsets. More times than not, they ARE genuinely good people with an integrated concept of a strong moral compass...they just need guidance to channel their energy in the right direction. Passion is a valuable human condition that can be malleable if a goal can be broken down into attainable tasks, giving a person a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

It is up to us as leaders/co-workers/teammates to help them find the right way to channel this passion. We are all in this profession with one common purpose: to provide the best, most efficient and safest care we can deliver to our patients. Working as teammates, we can successfully jump the hurdles and cross the finish line together.

RNGriffin · Jun 13, 2012

Stopping the drama at work can be extremely difficult if you are willing to engage the participants. While ignoring co-workers is far more difficult and less productive. I have found myself shying away from the "work place chaos" by stating my values. I am here to work, have my patients stable enough to discharge, and end my shift. I do talk to co-workers in the nursing lounge and nursing station, but whenever there is a conversation that may backfire on me or involve another coworker becoming upset or combative(not physically) I excuse myself without speaking a word.

I've been called stern, mean, ******, etc. I've never been called into the DONs office to discuss workplace issues with another coworker, patient, or family member. If it takes me losing a coworkers' "friendship" so be it. I know how to separate my friends from my coworkers. Therefore, we are all here to do one thing, and that is our job.

MahzieLPN, LPN · Jun 13, 2012

stopping the drama at work among nurses, doctors, and other staff members. with that said, does anyone has suggestions on how they deal with such "drama"? or situations that they can share regarding this issue.

the workplace drama i dealt with revolved around the director and one of her clinical managers. whatever one wanted, the other did - constantly. many of us tried our darndest to rise above this "nonsense,"; however, with the two of them feeding each other, it was virtually impossible. worst of all, to me, was the fact that they talked about everyone in the presence of whoever was standing nearby - and not so thinly veiled, either. their actions finally took their toll on me; i bailed from that workplace; they won, and i am far happier to be away from "them!!" if i never see either of them again, well, great!!