Bullied at work

Published

I'm going to try to make this as short as possible but I'm not sure it's the type of situation that can really be edited down.

I just started a new job as an LPN in a nursing home. This particular home has a TERRIBLE reputation in all aspects but where I live, there isn't much option and the pay is really good for our area. After being out of work for nearly 5 months, I felt that I had no choice and I went to this home.

On my second day on the floor, a staff member (non-medical) came into the room I was in and said, I need a nurse. I asked her if she could give me a minute and she said okay. I was in the middle of a tube feed. The aide in the room with me asked if I wanted her to see what was going on and I said sure.

She returned approximately 5 minutes later and said "So and so was on his floor mats." I stopped what I was doing and was about to go to the room. The aide then said "It's okay, we put him in his chair." I asked if she had told anyone and she said "so and so (another aide on the floor) said that he is careplanned to be put back into his chair as long as he is on his fall mats." I figured they probably knew more than me but to be safe, I asked another nurse on the floor if I should do an incident report. She told me to ask the supervisor. I asked the supervisor who then threw a fit because these aides were supposed to have an RN assess the resident. (which I rightly assumed in the first place.)

Recap: A resident slid out of bed, aides picked up him and THEN informed me of the situation. I didn't know what happened until it was over with.

The supervisor reprimanded the aides, telling them they know better and the facility had just been sued over the same type of thing. The aide that incorrectly told everyone that they were allowed to pick him up said to the supervisor "I just didn't have an extra 20 minutes to wait for an RN" when she was asked why she didn't notify anyone.

A few days later, on Monday afternoon, the aide that said she didn't have time to wait was fired and the other one was suspended for 3 days.

I made it very clear to them the day it happened that I didn't want them to get into trouble and I meant no harm. I believed them when they said they were allowed to pick him up. I was innocently trying to find out if I had to complete an incident report and crap hit the fan.

Fast forward to Tuesday. During the day, multiple people warned me that everyone on that particular unit was mad and out to get me. I was told how I might get jumped, how they're intending to find a way to get me fired, and to stay off that floor if I could help it.

Wednesday: I was scheduled to be on the floor that this incident happened on but requested to be moved elsewhere. I was moved and things were great besides listening to people talk about me and the situation, even though they didn't realize it was me. This is when I found out that the aides are telling everyone they waited for more than 30 minutes for me and I never came.

Thursday: I went into work to find out that I was assigned as a CNA, on the hall of the aide that got fired, on the unit that is out to get me. I went to staffing and requested that I not be placed on that floor anymore. I was told, in as discrete of a way as possible, that since she got fired, and it's being blamed on me, that I have to fill her spot, indefinitely.

Needless to say, I was so stressed out I was having chest pains and I left work early. Now I'm sitting here thinking of calling off tomorrow. I haven't even been on the floor one full week and this is happening. I need a job because I have a family but is it worth this? I know how hard it is to find a job in our area and I just honestly don't know what to do.

I need advice. Please, anyone. I'm so confused as to what I should do.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Did you let the DON know what happened and what was being said about you?

It would behoove you to notify the right people in case something happens.

I have yet to have someone fight me, and have been in a supervisory position where individuals did not appreciate my decisions; not everyone meshes together, and things happen.

Your best bet is to notify leadership; I don't know what to tell you in terms of returning to your job; granted, if this is an area where this person can see you in public, what chance could that happen?

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I am sorry that you are going through this. *hugs* The behavior on behalf of your colleagues seems very immature. The aides acted incorrectly, suffered the consequences, and it seems that everyone else on the unit is taking their frustration out on you.

"I was told I was going to get jumped..." Well, when and if they do cause physical harm to you, you can and assumingly will press charges, and I can only assume that those taking part would no longer be employed either. If they so choose to behave that way then that is their issue. However, if I were in your shoes I would probably start looking for other employment opportunities.

Could you possibly commute to a job that is a reasonable amount of time away? Commuting might be worth it to get away from this crummy situation. Your physical and mental well-being is way more important than any job. Best wishes.

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They said they wanted to jump you and fight you????? WTH, is this 2nd grade or a place of employment? I would go to the DON and let them know what physical violence was threatened and you are feeling this is a hostile work environment and you want it to stop now!

Hopefully they will drop the hammer on these aides. Other than that, act professional and do your job to your best ability. You are not there to make friends.

It still blows my mind that this nonsense seems to run rampant in certain nursing situations. My husband, who is a engineer, almost doesn't believe me when I tell him stories like this...he just cant wrap his head around it.

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They said they wanted to jump you and fight you????? WTH, is this 2nd grade or a place of employment? I would go to the DON and let them know what physical violence was threatened and you are feeling this is a hostile work environment and you want it to stop now!

Hopefully they will drop the hammer on these aides. Other than that, act professional and do your job to your best ability. You are not there to make friends.

It still blows my mind that this nonsense seems to run rampant in certain nursing situations. My husband, who is a engineer, almost doesn't believe me when I tell him stories like this...he just cant wrap his head around it.

agree.

i wouldnt even work in a place like this...

my first ever job one of the CNA's slashed another's tire for stealing her assignment :eek:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
They said they wanted to jump you and fight you????? WTH, is this 2nd grade or a place of employment?

I've worked at facilities like this, where a number of the employees had a "snitches get stitches" mentality.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I've worked at facilities like this, where a number of the employees had a "snitches get stitches" mentality.

Your post reminded me of how a couple of CNAs got into a full scale fight in the parking lot after a baby shower (that admin allowed), where a CNA got jumped by another CNAs friends.

It's true that there are employees will have particular mentalities that don't line up with things taught in preschool and kindergarten, along with confronting adulthood and responsibility, well, like an adult.

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This type of bullying happens more than it should in this profession and unless the threats and allegations can be proved, which isn't always easy, there isn't much that some facilities are willing to do.

As for your position, I would not ever quit a job without a replacement. You did not get her fired, her actions did. So you need to have a meeting with the powers that be for your personal safety and to be more clear about the situation: not discreet. The CNA's threatening you aren't tip toeing around, and you shouldn't either. As for safety from being jumped when walking to your car after work for example, please have security escort you, regardless of the shift. You should not have to be in fear in any job.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
As for safety from being jumped when walking to your car after work for example, please have security escort you, regardless of the shift.
Since the OP works at a nursing home, I seriously doubt that the facility employs security staff. LTC facilities tend to run on a tighter staffing budget than other healthcare settings, so paying security guards is usually out of the equation.

I've worked at multiple nursing homes, and not one single building had security staff.

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This is just ridiculous. I would notify your manager or member of leadership about your situation. It sounds like staff members there have a "street mentality" and shouldn't work in healthcare.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

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So sorry to hear that you are going through this. Go to the DON and tell them that you have had someone threaten physical harm to you. Tell her this is a hostile work environment. If they do not have security to escort you out they can hire one but you want an escort. This is so wrong. Sounds like you work with a bunch of thugs.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I'm confused. The CNA's needed an RN to come and assess the fall patient. You're an LPN, so it's not like you could have done the assessment anyway, right? So why the world is saying they waited X amount of time for you is irrelevant.

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