Back stabbing STNA....HELP !!

achot chavi · Feb 6, 2009

As you've been told already= document, and bear in mind that she is trying to catch you in a mistake or negligence. Do your work as best as you can. Have a witness for all conversations with her- dont talk to her alone.

Stay calm and take a deep breath. Dont let her get under your skin. Unfortunately DON;s have their favorite snitches, usually CNA's or STNA's with a lot of years at the place. Keep your distance from her if you can but dont ask to change shifts because of her and dont tell anyone that you think she is changing shifts because of you...if makes you look paranoid. What difference does it make who you are working with- just be professional and treat everyone politely.

This too will pass.

indiansfan · Feb 6, 2009

Thank you for your reply.....

I have been as professional as I can be & I do my work, I happen to be one of the few there that tries to get everything done that I can possibly do during my shift. My attitude is good even though I am a mess inside when I work with her. I do not think there would be any complaint from my supervisors about my attitude or work or even how I get along with coworkers. In 24 years I have never had a "bad" eval. but I have never had an STNA like this either .

Does anyone think that, aside from my personality that makes me a bit more sensitive, part of the problem might be I have always worked & lived in a small town ?? now I am in a "big" city.....

I keep telling myself to just suck-it-up & go on working like I always do & ignore her unless she needs help with a patient. Most of the time that works for me but somedays I feel she is really trying to get me to react in a negative way. I have no problem like this with anyone else in the facility.

I overlooked the idea that she might just be a snitch for the DON...thanks for that insight.

All I want is as little stress at work as possible.

indiansfan · Feb 6, 2009

Thanks for replying. I won't change shifts or cut my hours because of her. I am a single parent & can not afford that. All I can think of is she knows that I know she will lie.....like I said I have caught her in 2 lies but I have never said anything to her about it either time. She went to one of my supervisors & told her that I had been rude to another STNA. Of course, that supervisor ask the STNA & the STNA's response was "she has never been rude to me, she is always willing to help out whenever needed and I will pickup shifts she is working as much as I can" & this STNA works a bunch of overtime (with me).

indiansfan · Apr 25, 2009

Well, after all of the above posts by me....here I am AGAIN..........Same STNA. This time she did what she was trying to do to me. I am suspended and awaiting to hear whether I will be terminated! This is the situation: Tuesday evening (dinner time for residents), I was upstairs talking to the DON about another situation & when I came back to my unit the other nurse I was working with said one resident had been left in her room & had not been served a meal tray. I walked back to the resident's room to find her asleep, when she opened her eyes I asked if she was going to the dining room for dinner, she replied "oh, is it suppertime already", I said yes & helped her to her w/c & proceeded to take her to the diningroom. I made it 2/3 of the way up the hall when this STNA came down the hall (could see the look on her face was one of ANGER). She walked up in front of the resident & pointed her finger at the residented & in a louder than usual voice said " I ask you if you was coming to eat, didn't I ? didn't I !!!!? The resident stated "yes". I told this STNA that I had not said anything (thinking she would just express her discord & go on with work...was I WRONG) This STNA then pointed toward the nurses station & said (referring to the other nurse) "that F------B---- can kiss my F------ a--" then pointed to me & said " & you...you have yelled at me for nothing before so you can kiss my F------ a-- too and this F------ place can go to h--- because I am tired of all this F------ S---. I told her I was not going to argue with her & proceeded to take my resident to the dining room, as I was walking away this STNA said " F------ report me, go ahead F------ report me, I don't give a F---. I said don't worry, I will. I never raised my voice nor did I say one curse word. I talked to the ADON on the phone about what happened & she & the DON came to the unit. They spoke to this STNA & then told me that this STNA was told to do her HS care on the residents then go home. I said if that was me you would fire me on the spot. This STNA left around 8pm. I completed my shift then wrote a note to the Administrator, which he found under his door the next morning, I was off that day but called him to follow up,left him a message which he never returned my call. The next morning, the DON called me & left a message saying the adm wanted to know if I wanted to change anything about my statement. When I finally spoke to the DON I told her I did not want to change anything about my statement because it was all true. She said ok she would let the adm know but she thought he was planning on terminating this STNA AND ME. I said " why would I be terminated, I did not do anything wrong" & she said the resident said that both the STNA & I were cursing & fighting. The DON said the resident had called her daughter & the daughter called the facility & said mom said that this STNA & I were carrying on , cursing & fighting & had upset her so and resident was crying. The DON informed me that the daughter threatened to call the state if something wasn't done to take care of this matter. I repeated that I had not cursed in front of this resident and repeated what little I did say to this STNA. The DON then told me she would let the adm know I did not want to change my statement & she would get back to me. I called the DON back about noon or so because I was to work this day at 2pm. I ask what was going on & what was I to do, she said she had not talked to the adm, she said "I thought you was going to talk to him", I said I woud just drive up there (almost an hour away) because I did not want to be a "no call, no show"...she said ok.

I called the other nurse involved & asked if she would sit in with me to talk to the adm, she said yes & we met outside the facility and I told her if she thought her job would be jeopardized by going with me then I did not want her to do it, she said she was not worried so we went to the adm's office. I knocked on his door & he looked around & said to go get the DON, I said "ok but I want the HR person & this nurse to be in his office with me and he angerly stated " NO!! I said go get C----!!!"(the DON). I went to the DON & told her I was to come get her & told her who I wanted in his office but she said we have to go by what he says & what did I think..they were going to beat me up or something???

We sat down in his office & he handed me my statement & said "Is this your statement"...I said "yes' and he said " is there anything you want to change about your statement", I said "no". He said you have been accused by the resident in the situation of cursing too. I told him I had not said one single curse work and in 25yrs of being a nurse I have never cursed in front of a resident. He said more investigation was needed & until it was completed I was suspended & the facility would be in touch with me. I asked if I could speak & he said say anything you want. I told him again that I would not curse in front of my resident & I have never been accused of anything in 25 yrs then I asked him why he would take a confused resident's work for this. She has a dementia dx & it is clearly documented in this residents nurses notes ie: squirrels in her room taking her clothing down the hall, directly ask me what time we were leaving to go to the party tonight, and looking for her children who were here roasting marshmallows in the fireplace. He never answered, only said they will let me know.

Anyone have any ideas on what I need to do about this??? My thought is...when this STNA was told she had to go home....IF I had cursed would she not have seized the opportunity to say I had cursed too why am I not being sent home as well........

Moogie · Apr 25, 2009

i am so sorry this is happening to you. the more i work in ltc, the more i realize how common it is for facilities to deal with their "problems" by terminating employees, whether those employees deserved termination or not.

and then we wonder why there's low morale and such poor staffing in so many ltc facilities? duuuuuuh!

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Apr 25, 2009

I would dust off your resume and start job shopping. Even if this ends well for you, I don't think working conditions are going to be pleasant for you. I am sorry you are going through this. This is not fair to you.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Apr 25, 2009

OKAY...no one beat me up for this....as the nurse on duty, no matter how bad your relationship with the STNA was, you should have reported her for verbal abuse and should have told her to leave the building. Then you should have called the DON or the ED. Problems like this aren't common where I work because everyone has been told to get along or get going. I've told my staff that I don't care if they don't like each other, but they WILL act in a professional manner while on duty or they will be terminated.

Good luck with everything.

texastaz · Apr 25, 2009

Wow - I realy feel for you. Not to offend any of the younger generation, but I have seen this same thing with the ME generation on all levels. I never have been "That" smart about minipulating. Other than getting on with an Agency until you have steady work - I would seek that advice of a lawyer. The staff only cares about the threat of the State - they also care about their pocket books. There is obviousley no respect so wash your hands and get a lawyer. Sue for lost wages, wrongful termination if terminated and everything else the lawyer can put together. It is just about the only recourse of today to deal with these idiots. :twocents:

achot chavi · Apr 25, 2009

I agree, time to dust off the resume, but before you do, i would find any and all witnesses to the cursing incident and get their statements on paper that you did not yell or curse,

As to the resident if she has a diagnosis of dementia or alzheimers, I dont think her statement will be considered accurate.

Iagree with CCM about the get along or get going, and I have a staff from such a multidude of nationalities- Ethiopian, Russian, Arabic, Iraqi, Morrocan, British, Romanian, etc. and many have hostilities that have nothing to do with the workplace, and I have had to tell them be professional in the building, and dont invite them to your birthday party, etc.

In any event, your problem here is the pt who claims you were screaming and you must find a witness to support your side of the story,

Good Luck,

BTW you have to stop getting your stomach in knots just because you are in the same room as the STNA, focus on the positive aspects of your job and ignor her, she is way below you.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Apr 25, 2009

Wrongful termination?? The woman said she listened to an STNA curse at and berate a resident...that is abuse plain and simple. Not reporting it makes her just as guilty as the STNA. I'd think about firing someone for doing or not doing that.

Atheos · Apr 25, 2009

Sueing is going to go nowhere.

If you were both arguing in the hallway then you both were wrong. Even if you WEREN'T arguing back the perception to the residents was that you were.

indiansfan · Apr 26, 2009

I am trying to move on but also trying to keep my 13yr old in his current school district where he has spent all of his life, it is a small area so no jobs. I thank you for you comments/concerns