Advised by supervisor and unit manager to write up co-worker. new charge nurse mobbed as ***-stirrer now???

[2018nurseandbeyond]

About a week ago, a patient NEARLY fell after the aide who was supposed to watch them walked off the unit without letting me or the other nurse know. I only realized they were about to fall when I was standing at the nurse's station and saw them half-way out their chair wheeling theirself to us. I was angry. This aide had been giving me a lot of trouble. Not answering call bells on the high-side, not listening to me when answering the bells. Being generally rude, rolling eyes, scoffing, ignoring me whenever possible. My supervisor was aware, I gave verbal warnings with my sup for the aide to realize they needed to stop.

After they walked off the floor I decided it was finally time to write them up. They walked off the floor.

Technically it isn't "my patient", but I am the charge nurse for 40 patients. So if the patient fell I would have to do assessment and the documentation surrounding that ( which is a whole lot).

So they got written up with the support from my main, full-time supervisor and the unit manager backing me.

The other nurse refused to write a statement and so did the other aide. They told me later it was " none of my business to write that aide up"; and " this isn't my patient, so it's not my problem."

I was appalled and shocked. In the past, the aide who I wrote up was always so talked about poorly, by another entire unit and of other nurses. But I wrote them up because I was disgusted by the negligence that the aide portrayed. The other workers covered her, saying I was making it up and the other nurse refused to write a statement supporting my statement. Same with the other aide, who, ALWAYS complains about the aide who neglected the patient. Telling me, " Stay in my own business, and just let that man fall."

I'm venting and angry because now I feel like I am being mobbed by that aide's "clique". I don't like being accused of being a ***-stirrer but it comes with the territory of being only here for 7 months--but I *CARE* about my patient. I do... and for this to be said to me after all of this stress... no support... just me being accused of "jumping the gun"... is... angering and insulting.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I'm confused. How is this not your resident/ patient if you are the charge for all 40. If the aid was assigned to that resident and knowingly left the unit without reporting off then there should be a write up.

[JKL33]

On 4/25/2019 at 5:31 PM, 2018nurseandbeyond said:

So they got written up with the support from my main, full-time supervisor and the unit manager backing me.

Isn't that what's important?

On 4/25/2019 at 5:31 PM, 2018nurseandbeyond said:

The other nurse refused to write a statement and so did the other aide. They told me later it was " none of my business to write that aide up"; and " this isn't my patient, so it's not my problem."

I understand why supporting statements might be nice, but not why they are mandatory/expected. This just seems like a non-issue to me. You felt something was worth reporting and you reported it. If these other people have pertinent information and end up being questioned about the situation, then it will be up to them to lie or tell the truth.

Whether right or wrong, the fact is that there is a bit of risk involved in reporting someone. That's just one of those "it is what it is" things.

Now you've noticed a discrepancy between the amount of gossiping and complaining people are willing to do and their willingness to report the things they're supposedly complaining about. ??‍♀️

The best policy is to not participate in talking to one coworker about another and to also not entertain others' gossip. Leave the area if people are gossiping. If they come to you with something that is actually a problem, advise them to use the expected channels to report it.

[kp2016]

And this is why I avoid "writing people up". Exactly what did you achieve here? This person is now an object of sympathy!

If managers wish to reprimand staff for performance issues they really don't need anyone to write an incident form about it. Don't let them trick you into being the bad guy.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Yes, I would write her up. I would include that nurse xyz witnessed the situation but declined to sign your statement, or write her own. Then leave it with admin to question that nurse.