advise please

[GretaRN]

Hi all,

Last night.....I've been working in a wonderful small nursing facility for 3 1/2 months...I love it, people are supportive and the residents are loved and get phenominal care...that being said...I had an incident happen and was looking for some input?? I work 3-11 and the nurse I was relieving told me that two residents were wet/incontinent..excessive...I told her I would pass it on..the 11-7 nurse which I did and she kind of freaked on me..."they should have come to me I am here till 7:30am...the residents are up by 7:30.. they should have told me.... if they don't tell me right away I am not going to do anything about it...(the day nurse is the one who told me, she found the residents herself)..."they're putting the nurses against one another", "thats gossiping" on and on...needless to say she said this in front of 2 cna's who were waiting in the elevator with me...(they didn't know what the whole thing was about)when the elevator door closed and all was done they said "don't trust her for a minute she will get you fired"..I honestly felt like she was attacking me...I simply said I was just passing the message on...she has been there for a long time...I have been upset since, should I talk to DNS who is also great? Or should I talk with the day nurse who was on... I don't want to start any drama with this nurse...thanks for the advise...

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

first, if she knew the patients were in need of assistance why did she not take care of it? Or you? Why "pass it on"???? How long did they lie in their own mess?

[GretaRN]

day nurse found this...she did take care of it...I wasn't there...she just wanted the 3rd shift to be aware of it happening........

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

day nurse found this...she did take care of it...I wasn't there...she just wanted the 3rd shift to be aware of it happening........

Obviously, these two have had encounters in the past:rolleyes: and have used you as their messenger. In the future, tell the nurse that told you to pass the message on to speak to the individual herself that you don't think you should be involved and nor do you want to be involved. That if she had a n issues with a particular shift of nurse that direct contact with that shift is the most professional and appropriate.

Stay out of the middle for your own sake!!!!:heartbeat

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

Why would you pass that on? they could have seen each other at the next shift change and had that convo themselves. Instead you passed a 'jab' from the day nurse and now you are part of something you shouldn't be. Never get involved with shift wars. When people are complaining about other shifts take it with a grain of salt. Say "that must be frustrating' and then stay out of it!!!!

[elb252]

Don't get yourself too stressed out, Greta. I think that that statement, "don't trust her, she'll get you fired", was just a general statement (as opposed to a statement that was based on the actual situation). I know enough from experience in my own workplace that cliques and politics occur, but the DNS and HR would have to prove a lot (and have valid reasons for doing so) to actually terminate you. All you were doing was passing on a message.

As another response stated, this seems to be more about a conflict with the night shift and day shift nurse. The previous responses just about sum it up; ie, explain that you prefer not to "get involved" and that you're just "passing on a message" -- and stay out the best you can. Go to the DNS when you feel this nurse begins to specifically target you.