I'm not sure if this belongs under the Bullying category, but I am starting to feel bullied. I
t all started when I informed the director of our unit the reason for the delays in getting patients admitted from the psych ER to our inpatient unit was because the patient assessments had not been done earlier while the patients were waiting for available beds, some 12 or more hours previously.
I did not seek out the director and say, "hey look, So-and-So wasn't doing their job for the previous 5 hours before I came to work". However, this nurse was spoken to about the delays. This nurse now believes that I "tattle-tailed" on her and has demanded an apology!
I do not feel I owe her any apology and have told her so. I have also told her that I did not seek out to get her in any trouble, just stated the facts of our delay in treating patients.
Since this time....over a month now....she refuses to talk to me except for the bare minimal required of us in order to do our work (it's a small admissions office). And she never lets an opportunity go by where she points out an error that I have made. I respond each time by saying, "Thank you for pointing that out to me!"
In addition, she will inform me when I come in for my shift that all assessments were done, will roll her eyes at me, and state "so there's no reason to tell on me!" I ignore these remarks.
I do not wish to escalate this drama any further. I think the whole thing is so juvenile. My purpose in posting about this incident is to gain feedback. Thanks.
thats not bullying in my eyes.... if i were you i would have confronted her for that incident and then go to your boss....... from there if she acts like a fool confront her again and take it from there.
She's mad. I would be as well. I don't know about the eye rolling and all that, but you'd certainly go on my ignore list for a bit. Talk to your co-worker first next time.
If the OP sucks up as you suggest, she is writing "sucker" on her forehead.
Attempting to resolve a conflict with a co-worker is not "sucking up". It's called being an adult. No matter who is right or wrong, the one who offers the olive branch is the bigger person. You can dig in your heels feeling self righteous that you did nothing wrong and don't owe anyone an apology, or you can recognize that the other person feels hurt and maybe there is something you can do to smooth things over, without necessarily falling on your sword.
She's mad. I would be as well. I don't know about the eye rolling and all that, but you'd certainly go on my ignore list for a bit. Talk to your co-worker first next time.
She was asked a direct question by her manager, was she supposed to say, gotta talk to suz q before i can give you and answer?
That being said, it couldn't hurt to talk to her and explain that you didn't name names, but that you were asked by the Director what was going on and you had to explain about the delays...and that you're both on the same team.
While it isn't bullying, I think the matter is still bothersome and can create a poor work environment for someone (clearly how the OP feels). Some people just can't focus when others are constantly sarcastic, rude, mean, or passive aggressive in the workplace. I'd just ignore it because I couldn't care less about someone else's attitude. I once had a coworker not talk to me for a year because I approached him about a mistake he made. If you want to be perfect, don't become a nurse. I didn't care until he tried the silent treatment crap on two occasions when it came time for hand off report. Once, and I talk to you. Twice, and I get my manager involved. It never happened again.
I would expect the eye rolling and silent treatment, if something I told the boss resulted in my coworker being reprimanded.
It's a logical consequence. Right or wrong wouldn't factor into it. We humans behave in predictable ways and most of us don't respond well when our jobs are threatened. Even when that threat is small. Even when it's deserved.
Maybe the OP should again go over her co-worker's head, and report her for bullying.
I think the problem also lies in how this director works. A lot of directors like to do informal peer evaluations which consists of asking an employee about another employee's progress or performance. It is done in my facility, but usually during the initial probationary period. Still, if my director suspects someone is causing a unit-wide issue, she'll approach various staff about that person before finally approaching that person. And when she does approach that person, it's in the form of, "The staff and I have noticed..." or "Based on your peers.."
I would expect the eye rolling and silent treatment, if something I told the boss resulted in my coworker being reprimanded.
It's a logical consequence. Right or wrong wouldn't factor into it. We humans behave in predictable ways and most of us don't respond well when our jobs are threatened. Even when that threat is small. Even when it's deserved.
Maybe the OP should again go over her co-worker's head, and report her for bullying.
Aside from the last line....I love this post.
My job of 15 years has recently been "threatened" by a new "nurse" (I use the term lightly with this one) Because my direct boss loves to foster the tattle tail syndrome. So far this new one has made some serious reports on me but when asked for specifics she cant supply them...just says she "knows I do it" whatever that means. Even ES and HR said it's unfounded and no mark against me but alas, it continues because it's being ALLOWED by my direct supervisor. Its super hard to work now...I dread, with all Im worth, going to a job Ive dearly loved for 15 yrs!!!
OnlinePersona, LPN
352 Posts
thats not bullying in my eyes.... if i were you i would have confronted her for that incident and then go to your boss....... from there if she acts like a fool confront her again and take it from there.