"Cliques" in the Workplace

[SilverBells, BSN]

Anyone else experience any cliques at work? Did this affect your work performance at all? 

Recently, I've noticed that some of the new people at my workplace are developing a clique.  The new DON, new interim managers and the new manager seem to be becoming buddies.  

And by buddies, I mean they spend a lot of time hanging out with each other during extra meetings that they plan for themselves.   These extra meetings don't include me.   I've noticed that they seem to involve topics that revolve around ganging up on me.  For example, the other day they spent hours deleting orders I had entered they felt were not necessary.  They also decided that unless an order has to do with infection control,  the HUCs should be entering the orders, not me.  

I feel as if they are trying to take me away from areas that I have talent and assign me to trivial tasks that anyone could do, such as COVID testing.   In fact, I mentioned that they might as well add COVID Swab Slave to my title.  They're also assigning me tasks that they probably know I won't succeed at, such as training CNAs and nurses.  In other words,  they're setting me up to fail and be miserable.  Also, I was asked to perform a PICC line dressing change the other day.  I declined, stating that if I'm not good enough to enter orders, I'm not good enough to do a PICC line dressing change. 

This is probably why when I have gone to meetings with them,  I've ended up walking out during the middle of them.   We seem to disagree on everything.   They don't recognize where my talents lie and want to take away tasks that I am strong in. 

I guess what is hard is that the previous DON was very satisfied with my work.  She never asked me to change how or what I was doing, the way these new people are.   I knew when this DON resigned, it was not going to be good.  

I used to actually look forward to work, although there were things then that I also did not care for.   Now, I'm just wondering how long I can last.  I miss being complimented on my work on a nearly daily basis.   But now, that won't happen because they've found a new "golden child."   The new leadership team seems to really like the floor nurse who is now a permanent nurse manager.   They seem to agree with everything she says.  Her paperwork and documentation aren't nearly as detailed as mine were, but this doesn't seem to matter.  It's clearly her time to shine now.  I have a feeling that if she were an RN, and not an LPN, she would probably be in the ADON role. 

Anyway, this cliquey behavior really makes me question how much longer I can last at this place.  I spend most of my time hiding away from these people, because I know we'll just disagree on everything. 

Anyone experience something similar?

 

 

[Davey Do]

I had believed cliques were only in fields like nursing, but my good buddy who's a retired blue-collar worker tells me it's the same even there.

Some similarities we found was the elite class like to flaunt their plumage but needed the grunts to get a job done. 

Neither one of us were popular or well-liked with the elite group, but we had the respect of all because we did our jobs, and we did them with high standards in mind.

It all boils down to, if you're at peace with who you are and your job performance, the rest be damned.

[klone, MSN, RN]

It's time to move on. Unfortunately, it's clear that nobody at your current workplace has respect for you as a nurse or as a leader. It's impossible to succeed, let alone thrive, in that kind of environment.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I don't know. Your attitude (walking out of meetings, refusing to do stuff because they don't let you do the other stuff) wouldn't fly for 10 seconds where I work. I normally have sympathy for your struggles, but honestly, you sound like a lot to deal with currently. I know there are reasons you feel this way, but I can see why nobody may want to interact with you also.

 

Bottom line, my job dictates what I do and I do it and receive a paycheck for it. If I don't like it I do not act unprofessionally. I just move on to something else.

[Wuzzie]

SilverBells said:

Also, I was asked to perform a PICC line dressing change the other day.  I declined, stating that if I'm not good enough to enter orders, I'm not good enough to do a PICC line dressing change. 

Let me make sure I understand this. You were asked to provide needed care to a vulnerable human being and instead you refused because you were sulking about a clerical task, that wasn't really your responsibility in the first place, being taken away. I would have FIRED you on the spot and reported you to the board of nursing. 
 

FTR: I wrote this several times and this was the most civil response I could muster. ?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

SB, time to move on. You are putting petty issues above humans. You need to also take care of yourself by going to a new environment where you can thrive. Good luck. 

[SilverBells, BSN]

Wuzzie said:

Let me make sure I understand this. You were asked to provide needed care to a vulnerable human being and instead you refused because you were sulking about a clerical task, that wasn't really your responsibility in the first place, being taken away. I would have FIRED you on the spot and reported you to the board of nursing. 
 

FTR: I wrote this several times and this was the most civil response I could muster. ?

It was more of a, "If I'm not smart or competent enough to enter orders, why on earth do you think I'm capable of performing a PICC line dressing?" type of thing.   Completing a PICC line dressing involves a lot of risk (e.g. you could pull out the PICC line, you could break sterile field and cause an infection, etc).  Entering orders does not.   If someone cannot be trusted to enter an order, then they probably shouldn't do a dressing requiring sterile technique either.  

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Oh my Goodness! I thought you were doing much better these days, but you have reverted to sounding like a toddler throwing a tantrum SB.

I remember when you displaced an utter lack of professional behavior, empathy, maturity previously with Covid patients on your unit. a year or more ago?

If you are for real you need to grow up.

 

[Wuzzie]

SilverBells said:

It was more of a, "If I'm not smart or competent enough to enter orders, why on earth do you think I'm capable of performing a PICC line dressing?" type of thing.   Completing a PICC line dressing involves a lot of risk (e.g. you could pull out the PICC line, you could break sterile field and cause an infection, etc).  Entering orders does not.   If someone cannot be trusted to enter an order, then they probably shouldn't do a dressing requiring sterile technique either.  

It doesn't matter. It was grossly immature, egregiously unprofessional, unkind and unnecessary. I think it's long past time for some serious self-reflection whether this job and this career is in yours or anyone else's best interest. 

[vintagegal, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

They don't like you. Again not your fault. Instead of internalizing every little thing, MOVE ON. Happiness comes from within- who cares what the little bitties think?

[SilverBells, BSN]

CrunchRN said:

Oh my Goodness! I thought you were doing much better these days, but you have reverted to sounding like a toddler throwing a tantrum SB.

I remember when you displaced an utter lack of professional behavior, empathy, maturity previously with Covid patients on your unit. a year or more ago?

If you are for real you need to grow up.

 

I was doing better, but the therapist I had been working with (and doing well with) went to a company that won't accept me due to location, so there's been a setback.  There's also been a lot of changes in supervisors (all of the good ones seem to be leaving) so that hasn't helped either.  Too many changes, all of them negative.  

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I can't think of any job I've ever held where there weren't some cliques. It's human nature for people to find commonalities with others that they work with and then seek to spend time with them. Sometimes it's benign and makes the workplace better for those that have a friendship, but sometimes it devolves into something toxic. Unfortunately it sounds like your workplace is leaning towards the toxic.

Clearly you have been through a lot recently. People on this board have been recommending you find a new job for years, but you have your own reasons for staying and that's your decision. Unfortunately, allowing your own behavior to deteriorate and become unprofessional puts you at risk for your current job and for finding something new if you need a reference. Whatever the situation is with your therapist I'm sure it's been an unfortunate setback, but you have to find a way to navigate and take responsibility for your actions and words. Good luck.