I've been a nurse for 11 years and I have been in my current position for two. The last 6 months have been VERY stressful and I do not know how to deal with it. I have been feeling like I have a huge target on my back and that feeling was verified today.
When I first started this job, everything seemed to be o.k. The people are totally different than @ my last job. I honestly do not feel close to anyone, and this is two years later. I tend to keep to myself, do my work, my charting, etc. Working in peds you spend a lot of time in the room, esp. if there is no one else there with the kid. I ALWAYS offer to help people who need it, as long as I have time to help, I will. I provide excellent patient care, follow all policies, procedures, attend rounds, get my meds administered on time, collaborate with the MD's and NP's, etc. I feel that I am professional and have had nothing but awesome comments from parents and the kids.
The issue at hand actually started when I took this job. There is one PCA on our unit who thinks she is above doing anything you tell her to. You can delegate tasks until the cows come home and she does not do them. She used to correct me and other nurses in front of kids/family members on NURSING tasks. After a while I got tired of her doing this and I went to my manager about the problem. Later, I found out that my manager (who I rarely see or work with) and this PCA are very good friends outside of work and hang out on a regular basis. The manager had her come and talk with me, yadda yadda, all was well after our conversation....or so I thought!
Over the last several months I have had at least 5 nurses tell me the things she says I do/say to her! I overheard her talking to another nurse about me one day and I stood and listened to what she was saying. It was all lies, but people (the same ppl who complain about her as well) seem to be listening and believing her. I now have this rep. of being a total you know what, rude, crass, curt, etc. This is not me at all. I work hard, truly care about my job, attempt to do my very best while at work, I am working towards my mater's, etc.
Today, my manager came onto the unit and went to the "charge nurse" very loudly told her that she needed to watch my patients while I went with her for a meeting with her and the other higher up manager. I found this to be very unprofessional, but she really seemed to enjoy letting anyone who was nearby that I was going to the office. I knew that this was more than likely more issues with this same girl.....I was right! I went to the office with the two managers and was told that I have terrible body language, I do not delegate to the "PCA's" and that "several" people have complained about me!!! I could not believe it.....not only was I shocked but I was also very deeply hurt. I tried to speak up for myself but they did not listen to anything I had to say. They just went on, for an HOUR, with this and even said that I am not helpful when other nurses need help! This is a total b.s. LIE. I always help others when they need it. I rarely sit down all day, but I will help anyone at any time. I was also reprimanded becasue I do not delegate properly.......After the 1st time my "manager" said this, I asked ALL the PCA's that I work with how they felt about my delegation, etc. They all said that I was their favorite nurse to work with and that I was the only one who ever helped them with patient care.
The manager then told me that one of the patients said that they "heard me" say something bad about this PCA.....I never take care or even see this patient. Again, lies. Am I going to say I have never said anything bad about her? No, I have. Usually to my family or to a friend who I can vent to. I do not run and "tattle" like SOOOO many nurses do on my unit. If I see something that someone is doing wrong, I say it to that person-in a professional and constructive manner. After a while I got really really tired of what my "manager" was saying and I tried to speak up for myself......I told them both that I have had issues with people there, who have been EXTREMELY nasty and disrespectful to me, and I just ignored it.....and went on with my day.
This PCA has truly ****** with my job and two recent events have made me wonder if she is not messing with my license. One patient's vent settings were completely changed (the pt. was gone from the room for a long time that day and was not on the vent while gone. The only person I saw in the room was this PCA!) and I found another patient's tube feedings running through the gtube and not the jtube.....someone switched them! I am sure of this because I had already assessed this and I went back in to do the bath (that she was supposed to do) and found it.
I have a very strong intuition and can read people very well.....this chick is just crazy! I truly feel that she messed with both the feeds and the vent, idk-maybe hopng that something would happen and I would get into BIG trouble. When this did not happen, she has started an all out smear campaign at my expense. Idk why this girl hates me so much, but it is obvious. Not only to me, but to several other nurses and pca's who have said things to me about the way she speaks to me and treats me.
I got in trouble for not delegating, but after a while, wouldn't you stop deleg. if the person u deleg. to does not do their job or flat out LIES about it? Or if you cannot find her the entire shift? It is MY RIGHT as a LICENSED REGISTERED NURSE to delegate or not to delegate......am I right??
I just do not know how to handle this....I am very tired of it. I really love my job, not the ppl, but I am there to work. The more I think about this the more po'd I get! I do not deserve any of this and I have no idea what I have done to this girl. I TRULY believe she suffers from a personality disorder. Many other nurses complain, the other PCA's complain, the unit secretaries complain.....but nothing is ever done.
Any advice would be appreciated.....how do I deal with this? BTW my evaluation was great.....except for the part that my "manager" had to include about the things this nut has said. ALL of my peer evals were excellent, patient/family evals=EXCELLENT. I really feel that no matter what I do I will not come out of this o.k. Should I contact someone at HR?? I mean, isn't this some sort of slander or something along those lines???
Thank you for the help. Sorry this is so long, I just needed to vent! 
