Advice needed for coworker problems!!!

[kidnurse98]

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!

[moonchild20002000]

I am so sorry about the situation you are in.I think you need to first speak to an employment attorney and see how they can

help you.Then you need to get out even if it means working at another hospital or not working for a while.

Yes report the aid to the board.Also the NM as well.Depending what the lawyer advises take it up the chain of command and

to Human Resources and the Risk Management. You are working in a hostile work place.The patients are at risk!

I have been in awful work situations,not quite like this... these things need to be done to protect your kids.(your patients)

I hope you are out of that situation very soon. Just get out before they get you!

[Jonathank]

I'd run- not walk- away. Have you looked into filing a criminal complaint about the tube switching?

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

OP, you're in a hopeless situation (I hate to tell you, but I've been there and recognize it for what it is). There is only one solution:

You must leave, before you get fired.

They are obviously setting you up for just that, getting fired. The meeting with several managers is one example, as is writing you up so you can't transfer (they don't want you to transfer internally; the goal is to terminate you). You have to take action before they succeed, because job hunting with a termination on your record is no fun.

You need to look for another job somewhere else now. While you're still employed, they won't call your current manager (who is definitely not on your side) for a reference. Then give the necessary notice (2-4 weeks, find out which) and watch your step - and back - carefully as you work out your notice. Then move on, and don't look back. If you really want to work for this hospital again, you can always reapply in a few years.

Yes, it's unfair; yes, it's highly unprofessional for your manager to favor her personal friend and subordinate PCA (this should never be); and unfortunately, it's not an unusual situation, and you cannot win. Don't even try. She will always side with her buddy PCA and you will lose, if you try to report/complain/contact HR about it (HR are not your friends, either).

No one can hold you responsible for what the PCA may have done; it's hearsay, you have no proof, although you're probably right that she's trying to get you fired. But you can never prove it, and the manager won't side with you anyway.

Sorry this is happening to you, I wish you the very best.

DeLana

[kidnurse98]

Yes, this situation sucks....a lot! The past two weeks have been hard. Heavy assignments, NO help from PCA's, etc....

I am going to meet with the "top" manager this week.

Over the last few shifts I have heard and learned a lot from some co-workers. This PCA is totally crazy and for some UNKNOWN reason, I have become her target. I cannot believe they would do this to an awesome, passionate, smart, educated RN with a lot of experience. My surveys, etc. from families are off the charts, the NP's and docs love the care I give their patients.

I just do not understand how someone can do this to someone else.....I am obviously not cut from this type of cloth. I found a great website about work place bullying. EVERYTHING that this PCA is doing to me is on this website!

I want to keep my job at this hospital. I DESERVE it, the patients I care for definitely deserve it. If I do end up term. before I transfer I will RAISE ALL KINDS OF ****. With lawyers, news, the BON, etc.

Until then, I am going to stick it out, keep a smile on my face, help everyone I can and continue to provide the BEST possible care for my patients and their families. This is the only option I have......there are NO jobs available at all where I live. Hospital jobs are really hard to find, and I am a hospital nurse. I tried long term care once, it wasn't for me. Uggh.....I just pray that I can keep everything together until I can transfer or Godwilling, find a great job someplace else.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

The only problem with you not leaving is that the PCA may hurt or kill someone in her efforts to make you look bad. Also make sure you bring up the fact that this aid is saying she is a nurse in chat rooms. It is against the law to say you are a nurse if you are not.

[sevensonnets]

Get your documentation ducks in a row and report your NM to the BON. Then get out of there. Don't wait until a patient dies.

[littleolive]

Sounds like the same thing Im going through:eek: I have 2 managers one that is too mean and the other that plays favortism. They both suck as managers. And the one who play favortism is favoring the my coworker who is trying to get me fired. Im so sick of this..its been going on for 2 years now.

[WoosahRN, MSN, RN]

I didn't read all of the posts but saw a couple that mentioned keeping your own records. I absolutely support that. Write down every interaction, keep all emails, keep track of phone calls, etc. Also, most workplaces have a Zero Tolerance to bullying. Look into it and ask your HR department about it. I recently found out about our hospital having a Zero Tolerance policy on Bullying due to an incident that happened on the unit BUT it was funny because our manager was trying to convey the seriousness of it....problem is...she is the number one bully! The whole aura of the unit would change if she left but one can only hope. I truly hope your situation gets better (and I will read through the rest of the posts in case I missed any updates). As you have realized you need to do everything to fight for your license and no one is going to do that better than you! Good luck! :redpinkhe

[WoosahRN, MSN, RN]

Also, get letters of recommendation from the NPs, Docs, and other RNs that work WITH you, that see you in action as a person and a nurse. These can speak to proof of your character and reputation. I had a co-worker who was wrongfully terminated. She had a very busy, critically ill patient. Several people were helping her and a piece of equipment was set up wrong. She did not set up but admits she should have noticed it as she reported off. But again, very busy night, several people in room, this was just unfortunatly not noticed. The NM has always been out to get this RN and she used this to get her fired. Since no one else came forward she said she was going to use her as "an example". This RN never got to talk to Risk Management or HR. The NM talked to them both, so she (RN) was never able to represent herself or her side of the story. All of a sudden she was unable to get a copy of her emplyee record, etc. The NM then goes further and reports it to the BON. Well, the RN went from heartbroken to fired up! Now this NM was going after her license. So she was able to get letters of recommendation from the Intensivists we worked with as well as the Neuro Surgeon that was in the room who also stated that the equipment caused no harm to patient and did not change patient outcome (pt died several days later due to illness). The BON goes to do their ruling and realizes that something just doesn't seem to fit (due to RN's reputation as conveyed by the letters and her own records of events). So they are doing their own investigation which is a benefit to this RN. Just saying, it's a great example of how getting letters of recommendation, by people that were there during your employment and can speak on your character, work ethic, safety, etc, as well as having your own proof and records can help you if anything does happen to threaten your employment and/or license.

In addition, keep climbing the ladder. If your NM isn't listening (obviously she part of the problem) go above her. If that person doesn't listen, go above them. If they are going to make your life hell, give them hell right back. Yes, there will be retaliation but you are already getting that. Keep fighting and get mad! If not for you, for the next person and for the patients. If you have to go to the hospital director or even the board in charge of your hospital or chain of hospitals, do so. But go with a strong argument and proof!

[General E. Speaking, RN, RN]

Curious as to what is happening...

OP?

[littleolive]

I too have an assistant manager who is targeting me. Because I emailed my manager about this coworker who is buddies with her:rolleyes: for missing orders all the time and pushing their work on me every time I work after this person, I have to have a meeting in HR!. The problem is getting worse. My letter wasn't a personal issue, it was about trying to fix a problem that is ongoing. This manager looks for anything to complain to me about. But she can't find anything..i know its eating her up. She hates me.

[kidnurse98]

I just came back to this post from January, 2011. Boy, how things have changed. The manager that was giving me he** is GONE! For some unknown reason, she took another position in the hospital. I got the news shortly after these events happened. Of course, right before she left she TRIED to start up a bunch of crap with me again...saying how negative I am, how mean I look, etc. I'm not negative, and at the time, I had every right to "look" upset! She started up with this again in her office. It was just her and me. I listened to her, but the LOOK in her EYES, it totally FREAKED me out. This lady is a real piece of work, she's definitely missing something from her frontal lobe :)

During this meeting, I looked right at her and told her she was creating a hostile work environment for me, by bulling me and stating false accusations to her manager about me. Once I said it, she just looked at me stunned. She shut her mouth, and I have not heard anything else since. The PCA has cooled her jets as well.....she still doesn't do anything you ask her to, so I just do it myself.

Since that "B" left, things have been great I am happy that I stuck it out....and I FIRMLY believe that God answered my prayers. I am there for a reason. I love my job, I love those kids I care for, and I love the families that I support, teach, and care for as well. I don't think everyone can be so lucky, so if you are in a similar situation and you happen to read through these posts-take the advice from some of the ppl who replied. Most importantly, KEEP AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF ALL THE INTERACTIONS YOU HAVE WITH PROBLEM STAFF. If you notice someone doing something they shouldn't, report them immediately.

I now have a great boss, she was one of the managers that I felt I could go to when all this was happening to me. She was a great shoulder to cry on, and she knows how things really went down. I still feel that there is some strain in the relationship that I have with the main unit manager. I think it will take time to fix, and when the time feels right, I will approach her about it. THANK YOU to all the great advice and support. I hope nursing will change for the better. REAL NURSES don't abuse, bully, attack, or gossip about their co-workers. WE ARE PROFESSIONALS! We take care of our patients and do the very best we can for them.

So if you ARE ONE OF THE NURSES THAT BULLY, get some help. THE PROBLEM LIES WITHIN YOU. Stop treating people like crap, you're not only going to have karma nipping at your hiney, but you're putting patients at risk. The Joint Commission is coming down hard on this type of behavior. Although I think that it is about time, it saddens me that an outside agency must enforce professional behavior at hospitals nationwide.

If you are someone who is going to be or is a nurse for 1. the "money", 2. to meet a doctor, 3. to work 12 hour shifts....please do society a favor and QUIT NOW. The majority of us have wanted to be a nurse our entire lives, we cannot imagine doing anything else, and we know in our hearts that is what we were put on this Earth for. Real nurses would not ever treat another human/dog/ant the way that I and thousands of others are treated everyday.