Dealing with rude staff nurses

1. I usually have a positive experience when I work at various facilities through my agency. However, I worked a shift yesterday(my first time there) and could not believe how rude some of the staff were to me. I always introduce myself and try to be pleasant. This nurse I worked with barely said good morning to me and proceeded to ignore me the rest of the day. I made the mistake of asking one question and she looked at me as if I were an alien and told me she couldn't help me. She never told me when she was leaving the unit or showed any kind of professional courtesy whatsoever. I'm wondering how everyone else deals with situations like these?

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   About boopchick

   Joined: May '03; Posts: 188; Likes: 2
   LTC

   26 Comments

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3. 
   May 29, '03

   Yes I have dealt with this and and i have reported the unit to my agency.
4. 
   May 29, '03

   I would suggest scratching that unit off my to do list.
5. 
   May 29, '03

   Not an agency nurse, looking into being one. BUT, on my unit we have many agency nurses. This behavior is passive aggressive, unacceptable and down right crappy!!!!!!!!!!
   
   We LOVE the help from agency nurses and treat them like the rest of the family... from day ONE... I suggest you get the flock out of there, if it is the mentality of the unit and not just ONE nurse.
   
   We're not all like that....:-)
6. 
   May 29, '03

   I'm a reg staff member, and we use agency et Prn staffing...no excuse for treating anyone that way..I've found the more you help someone the more help they become to you...works both ways
7. 
   May 29, '03

   I try to be REALLY nice to those types of nurses. It annoys them to no end.
   Seriously, she sounds like a miserable human. They are out there just waiting to tear you down. Don't let them do it.
8. 
   May 29, '03

   Vast majority of the time, nurses are happy that I am there. Most are helpful and friendly. Over the past years, only 2 places have shown disrespect and down right hostility to me. Both were reported to my agency and I have marked them as unacceptable for any shift. Places, like the 2 mentioned, earn a reputation among the agency nurses. Few accept shifts there.
9. 
   May 30, '03

   Thanks for the comments everyone. It makes me feel better to know I'm not alone here. I think I'll give this place one more try and if it persists, I'll cross it off my list.
10. 
    May 30, '03

    Whether I work agency or staff, I tend to see people like that anywhere I go...they could be on any unit. Agh! I too, say good morning & smile...be pleasant & helpful. But, often I find you just can't change that persons disposition or personality. So I tend to ingore or try not to think about why that person wouldn't say hello or not tell me she is leaving the floor etc... Just keep looking at my watching...thinking...this day is almost done! Always grateful that this person isn't my neighbor!
11. 
    May 30, '03

    I hope she doesn't treat her patients that way! Sad! Sorry you had to deal with this.
12. 
    May 30, '03

    Nurses are our own worst enemy. Perhaps this nurse was resentful of the hourly wage you receive? I have run into this situation several times. After a while I get tired of the unfriendlyness and attitude and move on to another institution.
13. 
    May 30, '03

    Boobchick:
    
    I am sorry this happened to you. "I guess" it takes all kinds. I would handle it by not going back but you are a bit braver my dear. Let us know how it turns out.
    
    The disintagration of nursing starts with this negativity... it just drives me crazy!
    
    I hope it works out and I hope you find lots of positive experiences.
14. 
    Jun 3, '03

    Well...I went back to the same unit this week and stood my ground. I had a MUCH better experience this time around. Figured everybody deserves a second chance. :spin:

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