Confronting HN?

Hi all,

Is it ever appropriate for a staff nurse,a floor nurse,to confront a HN? in regards to her unprofessionalism,criticizing other nurses behind there backs ,showing favoritism,her lack of support,questioning other nurses judgments without speaking to the nurse but talking about it to others,passive/agressive and her unhelpfulness,going home when the shift is over and not helping to take off orders.

Ive spoken to other staff nurses whom Ive had problems with but is appropriate to talk to the HN with problems I have with her?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Be very careful. I would wait a little while and watch and document specific examples, dates and times. Bring those dates and times with you, it's going to be very important to have these because you definitely are goign to be asked. Also you might want to have a mediator like someone from human resources. Also are you coworkers willing to back you up, go into the meeting with you.

[ohbet]

"Tweety",good suggestions.

Now what if I narrow my problem down to her leaving the day shifts orders for the staff nurses to finish,instead of staying to help us. Is it cool just to say "Before you go home,will you help us take these orders off? We want to go home too.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by ohbet

"Tweety",good suggestions.

Now what if I narrow my problem down to her leaving the day shifts orders for the staff nurses to finish,instead of staying to help us. Is it cool just to say "Before you go home,will you help us take these orders off? We want to go home too.

I think it probably would be o.k. because she may be oblivious to what your needs are. Always ask for what you need.

But it is also appropriate for her to delegate those duties to the staff. (I personally don't like when the manager does that kind of stuff, because she invariably messes it up. LOL)

[sjoe]

"Is it ever appropriate for a staff nurse,a floor nurse,to confront a HN? "

It all depends on what your goals are.

If you do so in the way you describe here, that would be appropriate if your goal were to be fired for being "right."

If your goal is to change this person from a passive-aggressive personality to a supportive, skilled, well-trained manager/leader, then confronting, in the manner you describe (which is really blaming and name-calling), would be counter productive and less than appropriate.

Everyone is an individual and if you wish to take a leadership role here, you would be wise to pay close enough attention to this person to really understand what HER goals are, what SHE wants both personally and professionally, and to phrase thoughts and suggestions in such a way that by performing as you wish, she will gain her goals as well.

(Of course, if it is not "worth it" to make this effort, then you would probably be better off working elsewhere. Maybe you'll wind up with a more skilled supervisor. Or maybe not.)

This skill will serve you very well when YOU are the manager/supervisor/leader/CEO, for this is the best way to motivate people who work for/with you. It is called "leadership," and is sorely lacking in the field of nursing, in my experience.

As the first PhD in Business Admin I ever met once told me, "The most important thing to learn in business school is how to let other people have your way." At the time (at age 18), I thought this was most cynical, but have subsequently learned to understand what he was talking about.

Good luck.

[ohbet]

Thanks guys,your replies are bringing me back to the rational area of my brain,where ever that is and whats left of it.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Hmmm..sounds like our HN....she seems to thrive off telling us how we do just everything wrong, how all these things have been policy...uh, no, where did you get that? Playing favorites, having her spies...oh I could go on.

I would confront her....and take a witness with you if you can!

[katscan]

I would NOT say "we would like to go home too" as it may come off sounding sarcastic, and that is NOT what you want to come off as. Just simply ask her if she would please take off the orders before leaving. You can add something like..,Thanks! that would really help us out alot! Then smile sincerely.