Published Jan 20, 2010
nursynurseRN
294 Posts
Ok So I've been at this hospital for about ten years or so.. Started off from the ground up as a CNA.... Now as a RN I pretty much know everything to do with my floor, and department. I get along great with everyone. I feel like its my second family. The last month I have been getting in trouble by one of the nurse educators regarding my time punches, the way I note orders, to expired tubing not being changed. I am NOT excusing anything that I did. Some of the things she had pointed out were true and maybe after ten years I might be getting sloppy. The Biggest problem is, though that she points out all these things in a very degrading way, she announces it in the nurses station in front of my other colleagues and pretty much ruins my day. I have never seen her do this to any other staff and I don't know why she is all of a sudden picking on me. I have Come on to shift with IV's infiltrates , IV 6 days old, bad charting, and things of that nature and those things are not being corrected and keep going on. I Want to quit, I think its sad but I feel really BAD and I don't understand what is happening. One of my collegeus who heard told me she never saw her talk to any other person like that before and if something was wrong she said it in a nicer way. I don't want to tell the director becasue they are life best friends and I think Id rather quit.... WHAT do YOu think?
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
I wouldn't quit over this. Instead, meet with her and talk about it. Tell her you don't understand her behavior and that you don't appreciate the degrading put-downs in front of everyone. Corrections, to the best extent possible, are to be done in private, or with the supervisor and union rep present, not the way you describe. But don't let this person's unprofessional behavior make you quit. You have too much invested there.
leslie :-D
11,191 Posts
agree w/caliotter about talking to her.
i was just posting in another thread, how communication is key in successful relationships.
you needn't ask her in a way that will put her on the defense, rather, relaying it as an observation, and that "you certainly hope you didn't do anything to have her upset with you."
always share your concerns with the source, first and foremost.
if that doesn't resolve the problem, then you can bring it up the chain.
(and keep good notes for yourself!)
leslie
Katie5
1,459 Posts
Ask her.
Both are great advice thanks!!! but there a few other reasons I wanted to quit and I guess this last month was the straw that broke the camels back. LOL The 45 min drive and the pay... I guess I might be looking for a way out too. THE pay problem is mostly because since I moved up there they have managed to pay the least to me. The NEW grad brand new from the outside make 36 an hour while I only make 28. I just wish I could have started on an equal playing field. All of this inconjuction with this lately have just piled up on me and I ready to explode. Not to mention I can probably find something closer and better paying. What kills me the most is leaving my family.
Yes. Start to keep good notes for yourself. You never know. Maybe the nurse educator has taken it upon herself, or has been told, to target you for termination. Stranger things have happened. You need to protect yourself. And bring your everyday job performance up to par. She can't criticize you if you are the best employee on the floor.
Well, if there is a pay disparity, they are aware of it and she may be documenting your mistakes and below par performance to have ammmunition against any complaint by you or your request to bring your pay to parity. You have been slack in more ways than one. You should have addressed your pay all along. Now, you can't, because they have evidence that you aren't doing the best job possible. You need to think about whether you want to stay with this or maybe think about starting over somewhere new, for more pay. Good luck.
this is true but all along I have been an LVN and never have I got any criticism for anything. But as a brand new RN grad this is all coming up.... Still being on orientation this last month?
You are probably right though...
There could still be an agenda to get rid of you, thus the "You're an RN now, buck up." attitude. They want more out of you, or for you to go on your way.
Mike A. Fungin RN
457 Posts
I think you need to:
1: Be direct with her about criticizing your performance in front of your coworkers. Say, "I appreciate your feedback and I'll address the issues you've brought up, but if in the future you feel we need to have another discussion about my performance then that needs to happen in a private setting."
2: Don't give her any excuses to single you out. Put forth a stellar performance in the months to come and she'll have to move on to someone else.
Batman25
686 Posts
I would start to keep a log of everything that happens. I would also request a meeting and have an independent witness present so their can be no she said/she said after it. Calling you out in public is unprofessional and unacceptable. That needs to stop ASAP.
I do think some who work up from CNA to RN within the same facilities do run into problems like this at times. It can also be harder to get fair starting pay for your new title. I would start looking elsewhere for something closer to home for more money where you can start fresh. You can catch up with your friends there on days off.
Fix the things you are doing wrong and are aware of and be the best you can be until you leave. I would try and get out before they fire you.