Is talking to my supervisor Rocking the boat?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2007

You will be considered that if you aren't confronting the person yourself. Haven't you spoken to the person herself about the her waste of time and ways to improve?

You might just have to get a little assertive and say "I'm going to give you a head to toe assessment report, please do not under any circumstances interrupt my report with any questions until the very end. Hopefully, I will be thorough enough for you."

She might not like you, but she might get the message. Try dealing with it yourself rather than going to the manager.

BlearnRN · Sep 14, 2007

The problem with going to her is that I am still new---4 months in--- and no one else has done it.....they just sit there and roll their eyes at the nearest person and let it continue....

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 14, 2007

anyway I went to my supervisor and said something---since this is a reoccurring thing with this nurse---but now since I now how gossipy the floor is....am I going to be that nurse who complains about other nurses? EEK? hope not!

Yes, people will look at you as the person who complains about other nurses -- because that is what you did. You have to realize that you "can't have it both ways." You can't complain to the boss about other nurses unless you want to be known as the person who complains to the boss about other nurses.

As Tweety said, if you have problems working with one of your team members, it's usually best to address the situation yourself (in a professional, tactful way) than to run to the manager with your complaints. If you want to be considered "one of the team," you'll need to settle minor issues within the team.

If you have only done it once, it's probably not too late to still develop/maintain good relationships with your teammates, but if you make a habit of it, no one will want to work with you.

BlearnRN · Sep 15, 2007

---So the times that I have gone to my supervisor, I have been encouraged by other nurses to do so--- Should I not take their advice?---When should I go to a supervisor and when shouldn't I? My thing is, is that I don't want to get in trouble for other peoples mistakes... and if I am staying way over for a simple report (45 min to an hour overtime) or important documentation (initial stroke assesment) has not been completed by another nurse or even if a nurse is making a medical error (not infusing heparin for 3 hrs). Granted if it is something I can fix, I will. But when a doc come to me asking why a PT is not therapeudic or the director of the department doing chart audits and looking at my pt chart and saying hmmm this is interesting---I am thinking that if I do not say something it will fall on me. I just don't want to be faulted for another person. I have heard a few times " Why didn't anyone catch this or why wasn't I told." ......

caliotter3 · Sep 15, 2007

With time and experience you will learn what matters you should take to the supervisor and what matters can be dealt with by yourself and other staff. Like others have said, if you are having trouble with a coworker's behavior, it is always best to talk directly to that person about the problem and work it out before going to the supervisor, otherwise you are tattling and perceived as one who can not be trusted to not go out of her way to make others look bad, even if the person deserves it. Remember, people are human and develop bad habits. If you have to be the person who makes this nurse aware of her behavior and that she needs to change, then so be it. Going to the supervisor should only be done when you have tried your best to work with the other person. On the other hand, some of the situations you described about what is going on with patients on the floor should be addressed with your coworkers. If there is a serious problem, or you notice a systemic problem, then bring it to your supervisor's attention. If she happens to come down to your floor there is nothing wrong with bringing her up to speed with what is going on at the time. That is just keeping the boss informed. When the supervisor is made aware of enough of the day to day goings on, then they know that they can trust their floor nurses to handle the regular stuff and bring the big problems to them. Helps reduce the supervisor's need to micromanage. They have their own set of concerns, but appreciate when the other nurses bring necessary information to them. Most of the time they don't have time to intervene in personal differences or the small stuff, yet they can't be mindreaders about the big stuff. Hope this helps.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2007

I was a supervisor in acute hospitals for some years. I expected to hear problems from new grads because you have no one else to talk with about these things. A lot of times I had a dual function as a preceptor. I don't know what your supervisor is like, but I would suggest that when you do talk with your supervisor you discuss things privately away from other employees and in a way that you indicate that you are looking for advice, not a shoulder to cry on. Ask for her opinion and for suggestions on how to handle the situation. It shows that you are working on trying to solve the problem. I'm hoping that your supervisor recognized this. Also, as a supervisor, if I picked up that there was a problem with this other nurse I would report it to your manager, not the rest of the staff. The supervisor is supposed to keep what you discuss with her confidential. The only way this is going to get to be gossip is if either you or the supervisor start talking to other people. Loose lips sink ships. If the supervisor does go blabbing and gossiping about what you talked about in confidence, then she stinks as a supervisor. People in supervision and management have an obligation to keep employee problems confidential or at least handle them very tactfully. It's usually the blabbing employees who can't keep their mouths shut and have to brag about what they know or want to complain about that cause most of the gossip problems. When it is supervision and management that do it though, it's time to get out of Dodge because big trouble is likely to follow.

allnurses Guide · Sep 16, 2007

I agree with Daytonite - a supervisor is there to help newbies adjust. You should be able to talk with her/him in confidence about how to handle this situation. She/he could then give you advice about how to nip this long-winded report in the bud.

I think you are ok - as long as this is all private.

I wish you the best . . we have one or two where I worked too . . .I was once accused of not liking someone because I didn't look at this person and just did my quick report . . . we are sitting side by side, btw. Hard to make eye contact that way.

steph