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.
I'm fascinated that people continue to reply to this poster! Silver Bells, if you're not a bored troll and these posts are genuine, you need serious psychiatric care. And if you are a troll bored enough to spin the elaborate web of lies and chaos you've posted here, I guess the latter recommendation still stands.
I'm fascinated that people continue to reply to this poster! Silver Bells, if you're not a bored troll and these posts are genuine, you need serious psychiatric care. And if you are a troll bored enough to spin the elaborate web of lies and chaos you've posted here, I guess the latter recommendation still stands.
I have been trying to see someone, because I know something isn't right. Like someone else said, I had been doing well for awhile. Unfortunately, the therapist I had been seeing and doing well with is no longer an option. I've had a couple of visits with a couple of new therapists, but I haven't gotten much out of them. My former therapist was empathetic, but also knew when to tell me I was wrong. I don't know, it's almost as if I need someone to tell me I'm a jerk (had another word in mind, but probably would have violated the Terms of Service).
I know I have Asperger's, which is probably why all these changes have been so difficult, but I'm suspecting the doctors who thought I may have bipolar disorder a few years back may possibly be right. It's frustrating, because I actually know I need something, but I'm not getting it.
First let me say I believe you about the meetings that exclude you, I've seen it happen and have been involved in those "meetings" which are basically a pile on whatever manager isn't there followed by a long session of how can we shift blame for whatever the problem of the day is to another manager, the floor nurses or the CNA's instead of actually trying to find and fix the root cause of that problem.
That being said your response to this of walking out of meetings, leaving the building to go shopping and now flat out refusing to do a patient care task because you seem to feel if you are not allowed to enter orders that are somebody else's job to do in the first place you aren't going to do a task you are qualified for and should be perfectly capable of doing? Well, honestly if any of this is true I am surprised you still have a job there.
Since it seems you are still employed and for whatever reason they have not fired you yet despite having more that adequate cause if what you've been posting here is true it's definitely time to start looking for another job before you find yourself unemployed.
Sad but true, it's easier to find a job when you have a job than it is to find a job when you are unemployed and really need one.
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.
You were given a task to perform, regardless of its level of competency on your barometer. You refused. You sound petty and childish. You're lucky that you still have a job. Grow up, and perform to your job description, not to what you feel that you're good at. Your employer is paying you for that. If you can't do that, step down so that an appropriate candidate can fill the job. Act your wage, as my dad used to say
I'm fascinated that people continue to reply to this poster! Silver Bells, if you're not a bored troll and these posts are genuine, you need serious psychiatric care. And if you are a troll bored enough to spin the elaborate web of lies and chaos you've posted here, I guess the latter recommendation still stands.
I know, I shouldn't reply, but sometimes I just can't help it. I suspect that whichever camp this OP falls into, there is some level of mental illness present. It concerns me for patients and coworkers alike
stating that if I'm not good enough to enter orders, I'm not good enough to do a PICC line dressing change
Stop ACTING like a 9 year old!
PICC care is an important skill that can be achieved by a procedure guideline. As an RN you are good enough to do this PICC line dressing change and write the procedure. . BE THE CHANGE AGENT! There are many slight changes from different hospitals to a residential procedure. (call your local hospitals, home care agencies and ask for copies of their procedures.) It can be unnerving if you don't have a written protocol. I am assuming since many patients die at your residential institution you gain donations from grieving families. Whether or not you do:
1) Get a mannequin arm in your budget..one that can be used over and over.
2) Budget for supplies for the PICC mannequin dressing change
3) Write the institution policy and procedure for how to dress the arm....We all need to be on the same page. If your superiors object, reply this is going to provide a standard procedure all RNs must follow
4) Reiterate we provide RN education for maintaining the asepsis for parenteral lines.
5) provide videos that FOLLOW YOUR INSTITIONAL procedure. You can record these on your phone. Have these available for anytime viewing, transferred to some format for everyone involved to view (and this includes CNAs. They need to know the value of these PICC lines.)
6) Dealing with PICCs may seem like a more easier way to access the venous system but frankly ALL post hospital institutions need a procedure to aspirate prior to obtaining a good blood return. Additional activities require flushing after giving medications or after aspirating. Putting in a PICC costs $9-10,000 or more and there is a lot more difficulty when the previous PICC site lacked care.
I have been trying to see someone, because I know something isn't right. Like someone else said, I had been doing well for awhile. Unfortunately, the therapist I had been seeing and doing well with is no longer an option. I've had a couple of visits with a couple of new therapists, but I haven't gotten much out of them. My former therapist was empathetic, but also knew when to tell me I was wrong. I don't know, it's almost as if I need someone to tell me I'm a jerk (had another word in mind, but probably would have violated the Terms of Service).
I know I have Asperger's, which is probably why all these changes have been so difficult, but I'm suspecting the doctors who thought I may have bipolar disorder a few years back may possibly be right. It's frustrating, because I actually know I need something, but I'm not getting it.
As a medical professional, surely you understand that if you truly have bipolar disorder, you need more than just therapy? The behavior you describe here clearly affects your ability to function as a nurse (or just as an adult, really). The choice is yours as to whether you want to continue to flounder at your job, possibly endangering patients as a result, or get actual help.
LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM
1,656 Posts
I'm fascinated that people continue to reply to this poster! Silver Bells, if you're not a bored troll and these posts are genuine, you need serious psychiatric care. And if you are a troll bored enough to spin the elaborate web of lies and chaos you've posted here, I guess the latter recommendation still stands.