when co-workers throw each other under the bus

Luv_A_Nurse001 · Feb 21, 2009

i know what you mean. nursing can be stressful at times and it doesn't help when you work with other nurses who would rather run to someone else rather than come to you to discuss the matter. i think communication and teamwork is the key to a better work enviorment. but sometimes you have to just ignore the bickering, gossip, and tattling and just know that you are doing what is most important...and thats taking care of patients.

breathe and have a wonderful day:up:

systoly · Feb 21, 2009

Sounds like the manager encourages this. Sad. Too many thrive on negativity.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2009

Being a nurse manager can be like being a teacher or a parent. It's a fine balance to not encourage tattletales yet still keep on top of real problems that definitely need follow up. Some managers haven't mastered this skill.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Feb 21, 2009

my boss is kinda sneaky like that.

she kinda will put a target on your back if you're new, and walk around all non-chalant and say things like "so, what do you think of nurse xyz's IV skills?" or "so, i heard that nurse abc isn't following the protocol for care planning..." and kinda opens the door for someone to say "OMG I KNOW! SHES HORRIBLE!"

when i was new i was slammed one night and needed some help with a patient being discharged.... ALL i needed someone to push them downstairs in a wheelchair, everything else was done. so i got them all ready, gave them all their printed instructions, reviewed all their meds, and put them in the wheelchair. i went to the tech and said "please bring him downstairs for me, i'm too busy right now, he's all ready to go" (which is completely within their scope and i was definately not out of line in delegating it to her).... she huffed and pushed the pt outside, and went and told my boss i was pawning my work off on her! so then my boss, instead of talking to me, got the charge nurse and asked if i was lazy (and to which she answered no!) and then had the charge nurse tell me about the whole incident--i was completely left out of the picture! the tech ended up quitting anyway but i was soo upset over the whole incident.

people can be soo petty.... especially if they perceive you as a threat or something. just do your job the best you can, and be an adult and a professional while at work.

firstyearstudent · Feb 21, 2009

I am so glad that I work on a unit with few (if any) such coworkers. Also, our manager DISCOURAGES that kind of behavior. I know she keeps tabs on us, especially new nurses, by asking the preceptor and charge nurses how things are going, but I think that's appropriate since she can't be on the unit supervising directly. Otherwise, unless it's important, she doesn't want to hear about it, whatever it is.

truern · Feb 21, 2009

my boss is kinda sneaky like that.
she kinda will put a target on your back if you're new, and walk around all non-chalant and say things like "so, what do you think of nurse xyz's IV skills?" or "so, i heard that nurse abc isn't following the protocol for care planning..." and kinda opens the door for someone to say "OMG I KNOW! SHES HORRIBLE!"
when i was new i was slammed one night and needed some help with a patient being discharged.... ALL i needed someone to push them downstairs in a wheelchair, everything else was done. so i got them all ready, gave them all their printed instructions, reviewed all their meds, and put them in the wheelchair. i went to the tech and said "please bring him downstairs for me, i'm too busy right now, he's all ready to go" (which is completely within their scope and i was definately not out of line in delegating it to her).... she huffed and pushed the pt outside, and went and told my boss i was pawning my work off on her! so then my boss, instead of talking to me, got the charge nurse and asked if i was lazy (and to which she answered no!) and then had the charge nurse tell me about the whole incident--i was completely left out of the picture! the tech ended up quitting anyway but i was soo upset over the whole incident.
people can be soo petty.... especially if they perceive you as a threat or something. just do your job the best you can, and be an adult and a professional while at work.

She should have informed the tech that it was HER work since you'd delegated it to her!! And honestly, what did telling you about it do besides get you upset? Things like that complaint should be dealt with like the garbage it is.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Feb 21, 2009

She should have informed the tech that it was HER work since you'd delegated it to her!! And honestly, what did telling you about it do besides get you upset? Things like that complaint should be dealt with like the garbage it is.

my boss is super passive-aggressive. she never tells YOU the problem... she runs circles around you by talking to other nurses. she's kinda one of those nurses that reeeeeeeeally needs to retire... she's been doing it so long she is a total cynic about everything.

thats why i was soo shocked when i turned in my notice at how emotional she got. i really thought she hated my guts and would have been doing the happy dance (i got lippy with her once and she told me she wanted to "pick the switch" on me... i guess it's a southern thing?). but then she tells me she would want me to be her nurse out of all the nurses on the floor.... she just has a funny way of showing people she likes them i guess.

i think she's honestly trying to test people or something... she will push you until you crack. she definately tries to get people to tattle on each other.

i don't know WHY nursing has to be like this, floor nurses and administrative nurses alike. there is so much drama and gossip and managers are definately not innocent of participating.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2009

Quite a few of my DONs loved the tatletales and gossipy type. Saved them the work of finding out things and keeping an eye on staff. When I took a managment position a few staff came to me to give me some gossip/ info. I put a stop to it..no brownie points for me. I worked the floor enough to now who was doing what. I hated the tatletalers....no way to build team work.

FLmomof5 · Feb 21, 2009

You know....this all amazes me. I guess that I have been spoiled! See, I have worked in MALE dominated fields for the past 25 years and MEN don't behave like this! Sheesh! (Unless you count effeminized gay men and that is a whole 'nother story! LOL)

I guess I will be exposed to it at some point....and my biggest concern is...I am a blunt person!

My typical responses to such behavior is to tell the person directly:::::: "Hmmm, I graduated HS in '79. Stopped gossiping back then. How about *you* give it a try!" or "If you want to know about nurse so-n-so, go ask her."

or for the OP's post... " Nurses copping an attitude if you ask a question, wondering why you let the family wait at the nurses station when you were paged " I would look at that person as if they were stupid and say in a sing song voice.....OH, you mean I only have that *1* patient today?!?! Here! Here is the rest I thought I had, thank you for taking over!" (Not seriously, but man I bet you would get one heck of a stunned look! LOL)

A couple of those....and they would say...stay away from her! And I would hum and go about doing my J-O-B!!! (Of course....that is probably just before I got hit with the code brown that nurse had to clean up next (duck!)!!!_

Of course, I am realistic and know the above would be asking for trouble....but, that's like those, "what would you say to your " coworker, manager, etc.... threads that are here!

Just a shame that so many nurses forgot to grow up. :bugeyes:

truern · Feb 21, 2009

my boss is super passive-aggressive. she never tells YOU the problem... she runs circles around you by talking to other nurses. she's kinda one of those nurses that reeeeeeeeally needs to retire... she's been doing it so long she is a total cynic about everything.
thats why i was soo shocked when i turned in my notice at how emotional she got. i really thought she hated my guts and would have been doing the happy dance (i got lippy with her once and she told me she wanted to "pick the switch" on me... i guess it's a southern thing?). but then she tells me she would want me to be her nurse out of all the nurses on the floor.... she just has a funny way of showing people she likes them i guess.
i think she's honestly trying to test people or something... she will push you until you crack. she definately tries to get people to tattle on each other.
i don't know WHY nursing has to be like this, floor nurses and administrative nurses alike. there is so much drama and gossip and managers are definately not innocent of participating.

"You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone!" She just found out what she had

Yep, picking the switch is a familiar concept to me....my granny would send me or my sister out to pick the switch she'd use to whip the other one with. Ouch!!

Straydandelion · Feb 21, 2009

...nurses I work with run to the nurse manager "tattling" on eachother

I agree with other posters, these nurses wouldn't be able to do that if the manager didn't allow it, whether not knowledgeable enough to stop it, or actively encouraging it.... this it dissolves any feeling of team work in an area.