what can you do when a nurse sets you up

[oatmeal]

Situation: a nurse that follows me has tried in the past to set both the morning nurse and myself up by saying she "mysteriously found" drugs in a cup in the cart hours after shift change. This was several months ago, nothing came out of the incident for any of us. The managers and supervisors are aware that there is an issue with this particular nurse getting along with others, yet nothing has been done. To safeguard my license and any further issues, I have had the nurse I work with on my shift witness each night that my cart is clean and no "cups of un-given medications" were left anywhere in the cart, prior to shift change. (kind of like a witness). This has been done without the accusing nurses knowledge. Today it has happened again. The same nurse accused me of leaving an entire cup of meds in the cart for 1 patient. Only this time, it was 2 shifts worth of medications, every single med, with the exception of the narcotics. I only work one shift. I do not "pull" other shifts meds, and to boot, the accusing nurse signed off that the cart was clean prior to shift change, as well as my having the 3rd nurse verify my cart was in fact clean and free of any "cups". I was actually written up for said medications, regardless of the fact that I have an RN witness, and the accusing nurse signed her name saying my cart was clean hours before "finding" these meds! I refuse to sign the write up, and am paranoid to work ahead of this nurse. This is my license she is messing with and it seems I have no recourse! Can I file a complaint with the BON? I have a copy of the paper she signed stating the cart was clean. She is clearly setting me up, and diverting medications to do it. Someone please let me know, I need advice. I have asked to be moved off the hall, and was told a resounding no. I was told I have to continue working with her. I'm literally scared to take the cart tomorrow knowing she is working behind me. The supervisor will not come check my cart because she doesn't want to be involved, and management basically said we either get along or we both lose our jobs...Completely unfair in my book. I am at a loss. I never thought a person let alone a nurse would ever do something like this, let alone twice. I don't know what else to say.

[caliotter3]

You are pretty much out of luck because your supervisor lacks a backbone and refuses to back you up. I see the best recourse in the short term is to move on down the road to another employer.

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

I would NOT lay down my weapons yet. Your supervisor has someone he/she answers too, correct? That is the person in which I would appeal to next. Fight for the right thing. But if the DON is refusing to back you, and you are getting no support it is a toxic environment and I'd leave too.

[KyRN😉]

Have you tried just flat out asking this nurse why she's doing this? Maybe if you try being direct and embarrass her by calling attention to the fact that she signed documentation stating that there were no cups of Meds left in the cart she'll feel stupid and stop. Something's not right here; she clearly has a personal vendetta against you... Or she's mentally ill. Or she's diverting narcs and trying to draw attention away from it. Something! I would draw attention to this and talk with the other nurses; sometimes knowing that people are aware of your behavior and gossiping about it can embarrass you enough to STOP. That's really weird though, idk what to make of it!

[cdsavannah59, CNA]

I'm not a nurse, but here is what I would do in that situation. At shift change speak with the nurse that makes these accusations smile and tell her that you have heard that she has reported you for leaving medications in cup, then show her the med cart and ask her does she see any meds in cup before you clock out, just so she can be comfortable in the fact that no meds are left before you leave. Also if you don't get along with her I have found that reverse psychology works like a charm because for some it's more about the power struggle then the subject itself. This can help to turn a trouble maker at work into a friend instead or at least someone who can tolerate you without complaining about you. For some reason some people we work with like to get us fired for their own personal feelings towards us and most of the time they are the lazy ones who can cause a very hard worker to loose their job. So try and be a friend, ask her how her day was, does she have children etc, once she see's that you are someone that she likes she will no longer pick on you.

[CryssyD]

I like the idea of being direct with this noxious person--especially if you could do it with a moderator (like a supervisor or manager). Flat out ask her, maybe by starting with "I've noticed that I seem to have this recurring problem with left-over meds on my cart when you work. I don't know why it keeps happening, and only when you're here. Do you have any ideas?"

Or you can bring it to the supervisor's attention by asking if, in order to prevent the recurrence of this strange phenomenon, there could be a sign-off sheet for "Cart Checked and Clean," maybe as part of signing off to the next shift. This way, just as a nurse who has signed off on the narc count cannot suddenly appear with a narcotic "missing" and blame the previous shift, an oncoming nurse can't just "find" a cup of left-over meds once s/he's signed off that the cart is clean.

If you have such a sign-off, and still got in trouble when left-over meds suddenly showed up, that would seem to indicate that it's not only that particular nurse you need to worry about. If your supervisor or manager is allowing you to get in trouble in spite of clear evidence that you're not doing anything wrong, go over their heads; with people like this, it's only a matter of time before they set you up in a dangerous way.

[KyRN😉]

I like the idea of being direct with this noxious person--especially if you could do it with a moderator (like a supervisor or manager). Flat out ask her, maybe by starting with "I've noticed that I seem to have this recurring problem with left-over meds on my cart when you work. I don't know why it keeps happening, and only when you're here. Do you have any ideas?"

Or you can bring it to the supervisor's attention by asking if, in order to prevent the recurrence of this strange phenomenon, there could be a sign-off sheet for "Cart Checked and Clean," maybe as part of signing off to the next shift. This way, just as a nurse who has signed off on the narc count cannot suddenly appear with a narcotic "missing" and blame the previous shift, an oncoming nurse can't just "find" a cup of left-over meds once s/he's signed off that the cart is clean.

If you have such a sign-off, and still got in trouble when left-over meds suddenly showed up, that would seem to indicate that it's not only that particular nurse you need to worry about. If your supervisor or manager is allowing you to get in trouble in spite of clear evidence that you're not doing anything wrong, go over their heads; with people like this, it's only a matter of time before they set you up in a dangerous way.

I agree, if you've brought this to a supervisor's attention and it hasn't been addressed... Well objectively look at that supervisor. Are they friends outside of work? Maybe check FB for this info, if there are pics of them hanging out it's a clear indication that they are both equally involved in setting you up! In that case.... Idk, that's a tough situation!!

[oatmeal]

well, suddenly this nurse has not shown up in 2 days (called off twice now), so, no "meeting" as of yet. However, I have a witness statement that my cart was clean and checked prior to her taking the keys on said date, and her signature that the cart was in fact checked. When the witness statement was brought in today, suddenly the write up was withdrawn. Just an update.

[KyRN😉]

well, suddenly this nurse has not shown up in 2 days (called off twice now), so, no "meeting" as of yet. However, I have a witness statement that my cart was clean and checked prior to her taking the keys on said date, and her signature that the cart was in fact checked. When the witness statement was brought in today, suddenly the write up was withdrawn. Just an update.

Good! If she comes back, I'd,personally, keep it real and tell her about the withdrawn write-up. I'd probably be really smug about it too;)

[LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN]

Due to the refusal of management to deal with that something that falls UNDER management IE: employee relation issues, I would find a new job regardless of whether or not this particular nurse stays. The supervisor doesn't want to be "involved" in something possibly occurring in her facility? Then she needs to step down as a supervisor if she doesn't want to get involved in facility happenings. I agree that this nurse could be diverting narcotics and is trying to turn the attention away from her. Not showing up for two days only adds fuel that suspicion. I would call your corporate employee assistance hotline.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Well, that's a nice twist! Maybe the threat of her losing HER job because of her little game shook her up a bit. When (if) she comes back, I would absolutely not turn keys over to her until you've both verified that there are NO med cups that she can blame on you. Your supervisor is an azz. I'd go above her head for not dealing with this the way a manager should.

well, suddenly this nurse has not shown up in 2 days (called off twice now), so, no "meeting" as of yet. However, I have a witness statement that my cart was clean and checked prior to her taking the keys on said date, and her signature that the cart was in fact checked. When the witness statement was brought in today, suddenly the write up was withdrawn. Just an update.

[MadelaineT]

Glad to hear things are looking up. However, because of the poor management support you describe—both your nurse manager and the supervisor were totally useless—I would spend a little time looking around for other opportunities. The next time an issue comes up, will this nurse manager and/or supervisor be helpful? I doubt it. And though the natural next step is to go above the unhelpful manager or supervisor, doing so will likely make enemies of the manager, the supervisor and all the other managers and supervisors they confide in.

The shifty mean nurse is a bully, and unfortunately, bullies who are as bold as she is frequently have a ladder of bullies in the administration backing them.