Advice on Staff Conflict/ Venting

[Mashira]

So here is my situation...

I am a new grad RN working in an adult acute care unit. I work night shift 11p-7a. The day shift RN is also a fairly new nurse (18 months, possibly two years). She has been at the facility a little over a year. I have been there a little over four months. She is very narcissictic. She considered working night shift at one point but didn't because she wouldn't get "enough attention". She is a cute 24-ish yr/o single girl. I am 22 and also cute. The men at the facility take note of me, previously, she was the center of attention. I am ENGAGED, and have NO interest in ANYONE. However, because the focus of the attention has recently been taken off of her and put on to me, regardless of if I want it or not, she is angry with me.

She is very rude to me, and goes running to the nurse manager to complain about every little thing I do wrong, or for my not knowing specific information that quite frankly is irrelevant to the patients care (What police department ED'd the patient? How many children does he/she have?) Now, I know that this information can be useful, and may come in handy, but when I get an emergency detention patient at 6:20am, they come in kicking, screaming, throwing punches, and in handcuffs, I FRANKLY DON'T GIVE A RATS BEHIND HOW MANY KIDS S/HE HAS! I'm focusing on does s/he have asthma? If we have to take him down to the ground, does s/he have any spinal Sx, or Hx we should know about, ect... Not having insignificant information in report is NOT something to go running to the Nurse Manager complaining about.

The unit I work has a reputation for being the worst unit because we have the most acutely ill patients. They're psychotic. Period. It's hard to work the day shift there, and she does a damn good job in my opinion, but that's no reason to think you're the ONLY shift that matters. What takes the cake? The nurse manager takes her side. I obviously do nothing on night shift and all of my acutely ill psych patients MUST sleep ALL night, and I should be doing more to make HER day easier?! I DO NOT WORK TO MAKE HER DAY EASIER! I work to take care of my patients at night. I don't understand. I just don't understand... anyone ever been in this position? What do I do? ARGH!

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

When the manager tells you what the other nurse says about you, is it in an accusing way, or an "explain yourself" way, or is it to let you know what the other person has been saying about you, to let you know? Maybe she's just keeping you informed.

Managers can see through her antics. Maybe the manager confronts her in private about what she's saying.

I think you're doing the best job you can and are quite appropriate in what you think are priorities. How many kids a patient has...how many eyebrows...whether she likes chocolate or not....age of her mother...(rolling eyes here)...these things are not necessary to the proper care of a patient. Try to let it roll off your back.