Being a target by a coworker.

[painmeds]

Hi all. Thanks in advance for reading.

Without getting into too much detail, I work nocs and I believe the days charge nurse is targeting me. I do not have ANY issues with other staff RNs or charges.

The assistant manager told me to “be careful” around her. We are friends outside of work.

She has filed a couple of incident reports against me. Some of which are completely fabricated.

I have been a telemetry nurse for 7 years and this is a first. I am a newer employee at this hospital and she has been there for 20+ years. Do I seek human resources or the union for assistance? I approached the director for advice and she told me to “talk to her.” I feel that isn’t appropriate because she is already documenting against me. I am planning to transfer to the ICU in a year. Should I just leave it alone?

Thanks again?

[TriciaJ, RN]

There is a recent thread on this site about giving people enough rope to hang themselves. That might be your best bet in this case. Fabricated is easy. It means she has nothing and the onus is on her to show that she has something. I laugh at fabricated.

I would approach your manager after every incident report and request "feedback". That would show a proactive approach to learning from your errors. It will also make the day charge start looking bad if she's writing a lot of nonsense. Do not discuss with her or your "friend" what to do about the problem person. Just deal with each situation as it comes up - calmly, factually and non-defensively.

Do not "talk to" the perpetrator. That never works with underhanded people. HR is usually worse than useless. Don't poke sticks in that cage. I would talk to the union, just to give them a heads up. (Unless the charge nurse is very active in the union; then she will have more credibility with them.) Do keep a notebook at home. Record every interaction you have with this person and with anyone else as a result of her actions.

Meanwhile, let her keep writing her stupid incident reports. She is creating a paper trail with her name on it. This is her rope. When Risk Management and whoever else starts smelling a vendetta then she will be on the hot seat. You can check your contract if there's any language about "hostile work environment" and decide if you want to use your notebook and pursue anything at any point.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Tricia gave you some good advice. The only thing I would add to it is to tell you to be careful with this assistant manager who is a friend outside of work. Your friend may be very different than my (former) friend, but I was friends with a colleague who accepted the assistant manager position, and from the day she started that job, she was treacherous. Continue the friendship, but don't talk about work-related stuff other than the very basic and trivial. Don't give her any information she can use against you.

[TriciaJ, RN]

Good point about not trusting "friends" once they have been promoted above you. I learned that the hard way with someone I would not have in a million years thought capable of treachery.

[KrysyRN, BSN]

I'm going to give you some different advice. I think you SHOULD go to HR to let them know what's been happening. If she's fabricating - LYING - about you, she needs to be reported and fired. Slander and libel (defamation) should never be tolerated. I would stop speaking to her unless absolutely necessary, and even then, with a witness present.

[kp2016]

Having been in a similar situation I really don't think HR will do much.

"The assistant manager told me to “be careful” around her"

It seems management is actually well aware of her behaviour and are choosing not to do anything. I think your best bet is to avoid her if possible and be as professional as possible when forced to interact with her. Pay careful attention to anything that seems to trigger her and avoid those things if possible. While I 100% don't think I in any way deserved the way I was treated and do think the nurse was a narcissistic bully, I can see with hindsight I should have been more mindful of not provoking her.

In terms of the fabricated incident reports. I would write a written response to each of them. Keep copies of the incident form and your response. Avoid talking about the incidents with anyone other than your manager in a closed office. Do not make the mistake of challenging this person or trying to get your co workers to defend you. People are not blind or deaf they are well aware how she is treating you and probably don't want to be the new target of her attention. If nothing changes a new unit as soon as you can swing it is a good idea. I'm sorry this is happening to you, Good luck!

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If just that one person finds you so incompetent, but no one else is dissatisfied, that speaks to the problem being with her IMO. Just quietly do your work,