my co-worker set me up

momo4beans · Jan 20, 2010

First, as we should all do, seek to understand and don't react. Ask your co-worker what happened. Maybe there was a miscommunication somewhere with her and the DON. Explain the situation to your DON and proceed from there. We all make mistakes.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jan 20, 2010

Just look at this as a learning experience. For now on call the DON yourself to get the requested time off. I've seen this happen often.

Music in My Heart · Jan 20, 2010

Humbly apologize to the DON and explain that it was a mix-up but still totally YOUR responsibility.

Regardless of what happened, don't make things worse by laying the blame elsewhere. Take responsibility, promise that it'll never happen again, and then make sure it doesn't.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Jan 20, 2010

The moral of the story: If you need someone's permission to make a schedule change make sure that you have it, not just someone else's word that you do. I have had discussions with several employees who talked to each other about changing schedules without my permission. As a manager it makes it tough if people are cutting their own deals and leaving you out of the discussion.

chelynn · Jan 20, 2010

How do you know she set you up and it wasn't a misunderstanding about the day or something? Why are you getting so upset before you speak to the coworker or the DON? what kind of teamwork does your facility have if these are the first things to cross your mind?

ntgale08 · Jan 20, 2010

i am sorry you are in this situation but try to calm down and evaluate things in a different perspective....

i would think your DON called because you did not ask for approval nor confirmed that you will take the day off (since you were the one who needed the change not your co-worker).... she was right to say "you did not show up for work" --- because you really didn't whether you colleague spoke to her or not.

What I also think is that your co-worker did actually talk to the DON, and that the DON waited for your call but you did not, unfortunately --- she made that call to give you a lesson, for you to think better.... i also think that your co-worker just told you exactly what happened.... (again, you should have called your DON and then say, "I understand that nurse so and so already told you that ....................... I just want to confirm your approval.)

most of the time, when we allow our emotions to flare up, we do not think well---it builds negative thoughts and lots of anger (which happened to me many times in the past --- i learned well)...

take responsibility..... try to talk in a professional manner whether it be with the DON or co-worker.... learn from your mistake.

good luck!

Katie5 · Jan 20, 2010

She may have or she may not. But how do you figure,that you're the one requesting a change but you let her do the running around, asking and confirming. What were YOU doing?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 20, 2010

In my institution, all switched shifts are required to have both party's signatures on a request detailing the specifics for the switch, submitted to the office no later than 24 hours before the start of that shift, with an authorizing signature by supervision, before it is to be considered valid. No amount of "he said, she said" is even entertained. If you don't have the piece of paper with three names on it, it ain't happening.

That's usually how we do it where I work.

More than likely your coworker DIDN'T set you up--it sounds like she forgot to say anything to the DON, she only mentioned her change to the DON and forgot to say you were covering for her, or she did let someone know but the message didn't get to the DON. I would hope your coworker wasn't so vicious as to intentionally do something like this a peer...that's sad if that's the case.

But honestly, whether you were the one asking for the change or you are the one who agrees to cover for another person, it was your responsibility to let management know if you make changes to your schedule (a.k.a. CYA). You should not have expected your coworker to arrange it all on her own...if anything, you should have been the one calling the DON and squaring the change away and not her, since your coworker was doing you a favor by agreeing to cover for you.

I agree with the others: accept your share of the responsibility for this snafu and learn from it.

Good luck.

KungFuFtr · Jan 20, 2010

i'm upset right now becuase my co-worker set me up. i called her today and asked her if she can work for me today. we have to get approval from either don or staff scheduler to approve schedule change. she said she will call me back if its been approved or not. few minutes later she called me back and said she talk to don and she said she approved it. so me being so stupid i trusted her and thinking i didnt have to work today. i come back home and don left message on my answering machine that i didnt show up to work???? :flmngmd::flmngmd::flmngmd::flmngmd: i'm really ****** off right now because this evil person set me up.:devil: if i talk to don about this she's going to deny everything. any advice?

i don't see how people can say there was a misunderstanding? your coworker told you she spoke to the don. either the don forgot or your coworker lied to you. i'd tell the don what happened so your coworker doesn't pull that again with someone else. i'd talk to your don and ask your coworker for an explanation.

Blackheartednurse · Jan 20, 2010

What a horrible,unhappy and envious your coworker seems to be..wow...I'm speechless...i didnt imagine this could happend but I guess it is true when they say "you cant trust no one in the healthcare field? I wonder what this lame exuse for a coworker had in her mind when she did you so wrong...does she wants your job? You make more than her? Is jealous of you or simply is just an evil person...I have been in situations before whereas I asked my coworkers to work for me at a particular day and they were usually the ones who notified our boss about such request but not for a minute I would thought that could lie and try to get me in trouble..In all honesty I would definitely let your boss know about the actions of your coworker,your boss must know what your coworker is capable of in case she'l try to cause some more troubles in future..you just never know what some people will do to make your life misearble,let your boss know ASAP so she can have her radar set on this evil dog

Itshamrtym · Jan 21, 2010

Sorry that this has happend to you... It isn't nice at all. So what does the co-worker have to say about it? Just use this as a learning experience. Next time

(if there is a next time), handle it yourself. And remember, what goes around comes around.... Take care.... take a deep breath... It will be okay......

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jan 21, 2010

Was the controversial statement a little blunt? Yes, but I agree with it somewhat..are all coworkers out to get you? Of course not..but all it takes is one, KWIM? And then there are those that mean well but are just plain flaky.. :rolleyes:

OP, take this as a lesson learned that you always have to CYA..next time, call the DON yourself and verify that this switch happened.(also never hurts to get it in writing) Might take a little longer, but you'll be covered. Never assume that someone has your back..unfortunately, it just doesn't work out like that. Along the way maybe you'll find a few you can count on but until that happens, you have to look out for yourself and protect yourself.

Good luck.