Aggressive Nurses

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2009

Are you saying you are this type of nurse, or are you saying you don't like this type of nurse? Or, are you saying that you have been this type of nurse, but now you don't like this type of nurse? Or that you were starting to become this type of nurse, then decided you didn't like what you were becoming, and now this type of nurse bothers you?

Moneypitt · Jan 10, 2009

I am saying that I was that type of nurse. I am not anymore and am hoping to garner discussion on this type of behavior. Do you do it and why? Do you accept it and why? Do you have suggestions for improving interactions when facing this, ect.

patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 10, 2009

Some Rns you realize they dont know what the heck they are talking about, you spend several hours cleaning up after their mess. A few, you can go right from the report they give and trust what they have to say/

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2009

What made you change? I'm glad you did, I think that's great.

I'm the type that is fun to work with. I like to have fun with my coworkers and not pick on people or cut them down. I like to joke around at work. I do sometimes feel self-righteously critical of another nurse, which in actuality is really pure hypocrisy on my part, since I'm far from perfect myself.

PICNICRN, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2009

I think that this kind of "I'm so smart" behavior is a strange combination of insecurity and newly acquired self confidence. Rarely is this behavior seen in the nurse who is a leader on the unit- one with years of experience in their area, a helpful team player, a good teacher. I've noticed this is usually the behavior of someone not too new, yet not all that many years experienced- usually wants to take only the sickest pt on the unit and is annoyed with a "boring" assignment. Just my 2 cents.

And yes... I am ashamed to say that I think I might have exhibited some of this behavior long ago--- sometimes I see this types and think-- was I that big of and a$$??? Oh well at least I grew out of it!

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2009

I find myself impatient with certain staff. Only because I am having to drag out of them important information. I will ask questions but only if I am uncertain what they are trying to say. Some will ramble and never get to the point at all. Others that I get impatient with will tell me how they decided that they didn't need to follow protocol and just did what they wanted.

Just the other night I got irritated with another nurse who was interrupting the report I was receiving from another nurse because she wanted to go home. I wasn't finished getting report from the other nurse. I was also getting a quick charge report along with pt report ( just the hilights on the new patients and updates on existing patients that had procedures and what not). We were almost done and I kept asking her to go to the pt room and I would be there in a minute. She kept on until the day nurse told her to knock it off. The day nurse forgot important details because of that constant interruption. I have never demanded to give report when someone was obviously in the middle of receiving report from another nurse. I couldn't believe that.

miko014 · Jan 10, 2009

I know it's really easy to be impatient with certain people. especially when they are the ones who constantly seem to miss things.

Just the other night I saw a new nurse frustrated and in tears trying to give report to one of our aggressive gals. The aggressive one has been on our unit for like 20 years. She''s actually a nice person but she comes across as gruff, and if you don't know her, she can be very scary. The new girl is one of the sweetest people I have ever met, and she breaks her back every day and tries to do everything for everyone. I wish this aggressive nurse (and the several others that we have) would take a deep breath and try to have a little patience for the new folks!

That said, I think I've been impatient with some of the ones who constantly "forget" to do things!

patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 10, 2009

I know it's really easy to be impatient with certain people. especially when they are the ones who constantly seem to miss things.
Just the other night I saw a new nurse frustrated and in tears trying to give report to one of our aggressive gals. The aggressive one has been on our unit for like 20 years. She''s actually a nice person but she comes across as gruff, and if you don't know her, she can be very scary. The new girl is one of the sweetest people I have ever met, and she breaks her back every day and tries to do everything for everyone. I wish this aggressive nurse (and the several others that we have) would take a deep breath and try to have a little patience for the new folks!
That said, I think I've been impatient with some of the ones who constantly "forget" to do things!

You know, you pinned the tail on the donkey right there... They forget... like when i had a patient the nurse and her nursing orientee did not do accu checks on our patient all day. Opps I forgot.

WalkieTalkie, RN · Jan 10, 2009

I must be getting old. I think I may have been that nurse. Impatiently listening to report, flipping thru the chart or the computer, gathering info, not waiting to hear it. Interupting with my most important questions. Feeling ticked off at the start of shift over the incompetancy of others.

Ugh, I despise this type of behavior. When it's happening, they usually don't even hear what you're trying to tell them in report because after you've said something already, they ask you a question that you have just given them the answer to. I don't know why it's so hard for some people to just listen. I give pretty quick and to the point reports, so it's not like I'm annoying or anything. There's really only one nurse on my unit who does this consistently, and she's worked there for quite awhile. I've just gotten used to it, because I know no matter what I do, she will still not pay attention, so I basically just give her a brief report and then wait for her questions because she's not listening to 90% of what I'm saying, so why waste my breath, you know? :banghead:

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2009

When I was a brand new RN giving my very first report, the nurse taking over was extremely impatient rolling her eyes at my preceptor then back at me, sighing, swiveling in her chair, tapping her pen and shaking her leg. It was so offputting and destructive to my then fragile self-confidence which was in short supply.

Now I precept new nurses recalling how these are make or break experiences for them. When coming into work, I start the day with the niceties and try to really mean it. Attitude is everything and I believe it goes a long way to team building and it just makes the day a whole lot better. I really think that what I give comes back to me. A good attitude is contagious.

CathyLew · Jan 10, 2009

yea, I know I have done that in report. When you follow a nurse who has left you a big mess... and you know from past experience, that trying to educate the nurse is a lost cause. (it's one thing to follow a new nurse, who just doesn't know, had a bad night, and got frazzled.... you try not to show impatients with that person) But I worked the night shift long enough. I know who sits arround reading magazines, and not doing rounds on their patients. It is those people that I do snap at in report.

And sometimes you see new nurses grill you in report about labs. Not taking the standard, no abnormal labs, as good enough. I had one gal that would want values, all the normal ones, every shift.... so I would give her real obscure component test results. ...the MCHC is XX#, she would be writing all of it down. never asking what it was, or what the normal was. yea, mean, but gave me a chuckle. :smokin: I knew she would look it up somewhere later.