Hello Everyone, I'm new here to the site but I have been reading through discussions for quite a while. Well, now the time has come to where I need some advice, so I figure I will reach out on here and see if I get any feedback (positive or negative).
I have not been a nurse for very long, but I have been in the medical field for at least 5 year or so. I recently moved to a new hospital about 6 months ago and I have came across a co-worker that continues to rub me "the wrong way". It DID start off as "petty" I guess you would say, things that I could and was ignoring, for example, this particular nurse has not been with the hospital any longer than I have or in the medical field any longer than I have, in fact she is about 4 years older than I and we both graduated around the same time from getting our Associates in Nursing and we both came to this hospital after completing our internships at other hospitals, BUT this girl has the "I know it all and I am the best at everything" attitude with the "I hate the hours and don't want to work ANY Holiday's" laziness. She always came across to me as the type of girl that just enjoyed having the initials behind her name or the ability to say "I'm a nurse", but doesn't have the heart or the devotion to actually BE anything other than, well I'm not sure what. She just seem's that she wants to have the title and I've even heard her speak of going back to school to become either a NP or a PA. Either way, that kind of stuff, I have been trying to ignore and so far it has worked out ok. The other day though, I overheard her talking to someone in a "joking" manner while on her phone in the break room and something she said and the tone of voice she said it in just made me cringe. She was actually saying she was going to get some kind of hidden camera to wear, like a pen/pin (not sure which one), so that she could record the ridiculous patients we have to deal with on a daily basis!! Now, like I said, it could have been a total joke, but she went as far as to talk about different "spy gear" websites she had visited and how long they record and so on and so on. So as a fellow nurse on break, in the same room that she was in, overhearing her conversation, I thought to myself that it was WRONG to not only joke about if that is indeed what she was doing, but to discuss while AT WORK!
I'm not the type of person that goes around and "gossips" or runs and tells, in fact the only other person that has heard me complain about this one particular girl is my fiance' simply because I try to keep to myself and my opinions to myself especially in the work place. I don't like drama and I sure don't like being in the middle or causing the drama. This just really bothers me!! I have heard this girl joke about "accidentally" taking home medications and not noticing until she took off her scrubs, I have heard her talk horribly to patients, and I have heard her talk horribly about patients. She just seems very nonprofessional to me and not at all dedicated, but she sure does like to hold her head high like her sh*t doesn't stink (in the words of my southern grandmother). It all just makes me want to climb the wall.
What I am asking about though is, what should I do about the conversation I overheard? I mean it could have been just a joke, it was her private conversation and she was not talking to me. I have no idea what any kind of spy gear would look like so I wouldn't know if she had it or not, but I do know that it is an EXTREME VIOLATION to have anything like that. We aren't even allowed to have our phones really b/c of all the regulations these days and the technology that comes along with a phone.
So, should I just keep my mouth shut or should I say something?
You are very bothered by this person, as evidenced by the great detail in your post. I'm wondering if she isn't aware how badly she's pushing your buttons and enjoying it. Your post also sounds quite judgmental to me. Personally, I can't offer you much hope because there needs to be a lot of change on someone's part. The behavior you describe may annoy many people, but it seems to bother you most. Find a way to put emotional or physical distance between this person and you before your dislike of her becomes a problem and comes to the managers attention. I doubt any of this is what you wanted to hear, but it's my best and best intended advice.
Specializes in drug seekers and the incurably insane..
As the other posters have stated....focus on your own work. You'll run across many types like her throughout the course of your career. If she's pretty ****ty...she'll hang herself. I have some co-workers that absolutely drive me nuts. I have one who is pursuing her BSN, which is great, but never fails to post her assignment grades on Facebook. I'm glad she's doing well, but we don't need 3 or 4 updates every week!!
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
Remember what Mr and Mrs Brady always told Cindy, "no one likes a tattle tale!"
There is nothing wrong with not getting along with a coworker. As long as you can still work with a person for the better of the patients.
Don't keep your mouth shut...vent away here, vent to your fiance...those are both safe and healthy options. But I strongly advise you to say nothing to this person unless she says something directly to you. And, if you witness (NOT overhear) her being nasty to a patient, intervene at that time.
Trauma said it best. I was a NM once and if an employee had come to me to report an overheard conversation such as that, I'd shake My head and never really trust the tattle tale again, and I would give the victim (the one whose conversations are being repeated to stir sh!t) the benefit of the doubt. Also, any other person you reported in the future would also likely get the benefit of the doubt b/c your motives seem suspect.
I believe that the OP has a valid concern. Yes she might have a bad relationship with her co-worker, however we, as nurses, are our patient's advocates and if I had overheard that a co-worker was discussing the intent of "spying" and "recording" their patients even if she was joking I would go to my supervisors. Are they not supposed to be there as our resources?! No matter what my opinion is towards someone I am going to do what is in the best intrest for the patient and report this person in a professional manner. This is a MAJOR HIPPA violation let alone ethical. How would you feel if this co-worker went ahead and followed thru with her spy plans and it in someway or another harms the patient? This is just my opinion but I say better safe than sorry and stay professional!
OP, you go into great detail about why you don't like your coworker including the fact that she's proud of the initials behind her name. She has every right to be proud of herself and hold her head up high just as you do! Concentrate on learning to be the best nurse you can be. Don't be looking for "OK now I've got you" moments to get her in trouble. Stay out of her private phone conversations. You may not like her but you can't create a hostile workplace for her. That's illegal. You don't want to get a reputation as a snitch because that will dog you forever.
...No matter what my opinion is towards someone I am going to do what is in the best intrest for the patient and report this person in a professional manner. This is a MAJOR HIPPA violation...
No it isn't. Nothing has happened, no ones confidentiality has been breached, no information has been disseminated. HIPAA does not apply.
...let alone ethical.
Huh? That part lost me.
How would you feel if this co-worker went ahead and followed thru with her spy plans and it in someway or another harms the patient? This is just my opinion but I say better safe than sorry and stay professional!
Oh, for heaven's sake! Do you really think that she's going to "follow through with her spy plans"? It was an off-the-cuff, break room phone conversation that the OP eavesdropped on then brought to this forum to get her overall negative opinion of the coworker affirmed. The OP needs to go back to work and mind her own business, up to and including in the break room.
to me the answer is PURE and SIMPLE: go to your manager/charge nurse. this is just APPALING i would not give it a second thought. this chick needs to be brought down my friend shes disgusting.
Oh, for heaven's sake! Do you really think that she's going to "follow through with her spy plans"? It was an off-the-cuff, break room phone conversation that the OP eavesdropped on then brought to this forum to get her overall negative opinion of the coworker affirmed. The OP needs to go back to work and mind her own business, up to and including in the break room.
the girl has some major issues if shes even KIDDING like that about the camera. i really think it's inappropriate.
mind her own business in the breakroom?? really?? the breakroom is definately NOT a place of privacy and everything u say will be leaked. the fact that this chick said it out loud, without any regard for WHO is in the room speaks for itself. shes stuck up and rather weird. granted it may have been just a horrible joke, but thats pretty lame of her. i said it before, i will say it again, go the your charge nurse or manager b/c stuff like this can lead to other things. even tho shes was only "joking" ... i dont think a REAL NURSE would joke in that manner.
the girl has some major issues if shes even KIDDING like that about the camera. i really think it's inappropriate.
mind her own business in the breakroom?? really?? the breakroom is definately NOT a place of privacy and everything u say will be leaked. the fact that this chick said it out loud, without any regard for WHO is in the room speaks for itself. shes stuck up and rather weird. granted it may have been just a horrible joke, but thats pretty lame of her. i said it before, i will say it again, go the your charge nurse or manager b/c stuff like this can lead to other things. even tho shes was only "joking" ... i dont think a REAL NURSE would joke in that manner.
Well, I need to be reported to the state for planning homicide, because just the other day, I muttered to a coworker at the desk "If 403 calls one more time, I'm going to give him a big dose of pillow love." Obviously I am disgusting and appalling, and I need to be taken down. I am not a real nurse, as a real nurse walks and talks like an angel and never has a morbid, horrible sense of humor.
dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I
1,163 Posts
You are very bothered by this person, as evidenced by the great detail in your post. I'm wondering if she isn't aware how badly she's pushing your buttons and enjoying it. Your post also sounds quite judgmental to me. Personally, I can't offer you much hope because there needs to be a lot of change on someone's part. The behavior you describe may annoy many people, but it seems to bother you most. Find a way to put emotional or physical distance between this person and you before your dislike of her becomes a problem and comes to the managers attention. I doubt any of this is what you wanted to hear, but it's my best and best intended advice.