This is a very long post and I apologize in advance for its length but I have an enormous workplace issue that I need some advice in solving.
I am a new LPN, just graduated in August 2008 and passed my boards in September 2008. I landed my second job (3 weeks in an urgent care was my first) in a new family practice office ran by a family nurse practitioner whom I really enjoy working with. The problem is my co-worker. She is a fellow LPN who came with the family nurse practitioner from the previous practice and has worked with her for two years but I've noticed an on-going theme of throwing me underneath the bus whenever there's an issue and slamming me with work while she manages to "look" busy without completing anything.
Case in point: The practice opened its doors in February. Being a newbie, of course I had no experience doing nursing visits, answering patient phone calls or doing PAs and referrals so I was supposed to work the triage while the other nurse was supposed to do the nursing visits and patient phone calls until we settled in. Somehow the other nurse never managed to clear all of the calls from the telephone during the business hours or get a single PA or referral done and all three of us (including the family nurse practitioner) would have to stay late in the night to get things done while she moaned about not having the time to do anything. I didn't moan one bit about triaging an average of 33 patients a day nor did I ask her for any help. Well, about the third week in February she comes in with this strange "I'm done" attitude and announces just before lunch that she's tired of doing phone calls all day and that's not what she signed up for and she's taking off for an hour to "clear her head" and when she gets back she's not doing the phones. Just like that. So then I'm forced to go to the telephone and try to clear messages and call patients back and do all of this stuff with referrals and PAs that I have no idea how to do because she decided that she was tired of being a "desk nurse" and basically told us what she was and wasn't going to do it. Then she decided that she and I are going to trade triage and telephone duties. My triage days being Monday, Wednesday and Friday which are incidentally our busiest triage days and lightest telephone days and that she wants to leave early every Thursday night so she decided my early day is Tuesday.
A couple of days after this incident when I came in that morning the FNP handed me a patient's file with a sticky note marked do in AM and asks me to get a call done. It was just before opening time and I was settting up for triage duty but if the FNP asks me to do something then it's my responsiblity. Anyway, my co-worked swoops into the triage room where I have a few files stacked up that I've been given to do callbacks on and announces that we don't have time for me to do the callbacks and I need to be getting the patients in because she's not staying there all night. Then she says that she'll do the callbacks and she proceeds to take all of my files. Before she goes I tell her the FNP asked me to do that top file this morning so she needs to go ahead and get that done and she says okay and off she goes into her back office so I naturally assume that she's made the callbacks like she said she was going to. So the next morning when I come in my co-worker runs me down just as I'm turning on our lab equipment and she says, "Oh yeah, the FNP is going to ask you about that telephone call that you were supposed to make yesterday morning because after you left last night she received a call about the patient and they said that you had never called them back about what she'd told you to do." And I say, "Well, you took all of the files off my desk and I told you that the top file was something that needed to be done first thing." She says, "Oh, well I forgot to do it and when the FNP said that she told you to do it I just told her that I took the file." So for the rest of the day I'm feel like crap and like I didn't do my job and I go to the FNP and tell her that from now on when she hands me a file I will do it myself and personally hand it to her so that I know it gets done.
So there have been other incidents here and there where she just sits there shuffling papers all day while looking busy as a bee and getting nothing done while I bust my butt on the floor and then when it's my turn on the phones I'm busting my butt on the phones and doing all the nursing visits and other miscellanous stuff too. She tells the FNP that I agree with her about things like scheduling patients and all this other stuff when she hasn't even talked to me about it and she's constantly being negative in front of me then putting on a fake smile in front of the FNP. The PRN nurse who has been in a lot helping us has noticed it and says that she doesn't know how I deal with my co-worker every day and tells me that I'm crazy to let her keep walking over me adn throwing me under the bus.
So then comes today. She was off yesterday. Supposedly because her eyes are red and that means she has to go to the doctor. She was diagnosed with seasonal allergies and given eyedrops according to her but she certainly didn't have a doctor's note. Did I mention that I have come to work with strep throat, a fever, URI, ruptured right eardrum and N/V? And these were all seperate illness within the first few weeks of working here and I came to work when I could barely stand. The only thing that grounded me for two days was severe vertigo that kept me from driving because my ears were filled with so much fluid. Oh, and now she's decided that we each should have alternating Wednesdays off.
Anyway, today the first thing was an incident with a patient's lab work. I don't do venipunctures because in the state I work in I have to go through hospital training first but my co-worker does. She drew a patient's blood that morning and at the end of the day it was sitting in the machine. I thought that she had spun it down since she was the one who had done the draw and I had no idea what was going on since I was triaging and she was yelling about me keying in the labs before I go home so I grabbed up the blood and keyed in the order and shipped it off to the lab. Well today, the lab calls and says that serum wasn't seperated because the sample hadn't been spun down and the patient has to come back which costs the patient more money. My co-worker immediately says in front of the FNP, "Oh, you didn't spin that blood down before you sent it in. You're always supposed to spin it down." Like I knew that she didn't spin it down before she told me to send it. It had been sitting there all day! So I was put entirely on the spot and I said that I'm sorry that I didn't spin it down and I felt horrible because I feel like now the FNP thinks I'm a slack-off who can't do a job right.
The second thing was that right after closing a telephone call from the pharmacy comes through on my line and there's an incident with a patient and a forged prescription. I get the pharmacist to fax over the prescription and it's one of our pads. So we rush around (the PRN nurse and FNP included) and we pull the patient's chart and are try to figure out how the patient go her hands on one of our prescriptions. So my co-worker pipes up with, "She hasn't been here since the 4th and you had to leave one the presciption pads out and she must have taken it then." So I tell her that after I write prescriptions I put the prescription pad in the top drawer in the triage room and the patient had been there on the 17th to pick up something and maybe she took it then or something. Incidentally the 17th is when I was on the phones and no where near the triage room or prescription pads. But guess who was? Then my co-worker says, "No, you leave the prescription pad out ALL THE TIME." Which is a lie. I will admit that the first couple of days after I started working there in early Feb. I left it on the top of the desk because I wasn't used to writing prescriptions or any of that but when the FNP told me that there are issues with drug-seekers stealing pads I began keeping the pads in the drawer. So then I immediately begin to think "What if I put it in the drawer on the 4th and the women went in the drawer and took it?" even though I can't remember even seeing the woman come in the office because I was on phones the day she came in on the 4th as well and the writing in the patient chart is definitely my co-worker's handwriting. Not to mention the fact that besides my co-worker who has access to script pads there are student nurses (from high-school!) writing up prescriptions all of the time and the many PRN nurses that rotate in and out who leave the pad on the desk and she has a habit of doing this herself. So here I go apologizing again. And my co-worker is all like, "You should think of this as a learning lesson and then you won't do it again and blah-blah-blah." The FNP says that she's going to call the pharmacy and speak to DHEC to put out alerts. So my co-worker just flounces off because she's so perfect and leaves me and the PRN nurse in the room alone. The PRN nurse tells me do not take the blame for that because I am not the only person with access to prescription pads and there are too many people around here who write prescriptions. After about ten minutes the FNP comes in and says that the pharmacist told her that the woman actually soaked an old prescription that she had written a while ago in some type of solvent and changed the medication on it and that a prescription pad had not been stolen.
Anyway, by that time I was pretty upset because it felt like I was just getting hung out to dry and being blamed for everything that goes wrong. I was close to tears. I work my butt off and my co-worker walks around like she's beyond reproach. It was well after 5 pm by this time (we close at 5pm) and I went in the triage room and put my head in my hands because I felt miserable. My co-worker comes in with her fake sympathy and asks what's wrong and I say that I'm just ready to go home and that I'm getting tired of getting blamed for things I don't do and I'm done for the day. She tries to hug me and she says, "Oh, she didn't even steal a prescription pad so it wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself. The only perfect being is God." I don't know what she tells the FNP because the next thing I know the FNP comes in to talk to me and she says that it wasn't my fault and there was no harm done and I'm so upset and I just tell her that I need to go home and I'll see her Monday. My big thing is: What if the woman had stolen a prescription pad? All that blame would have been piled on me while Ms. Perfect walks off scot-free.
The thing is that everyone is constantly catering to whatever my co-worker wants. If she wants certain days off then she gets it. If she doesn't want to work telephones then she doesn't have to. She talks to many of the patients like they are crap. She tells the FNP what she will and will not do. The FNP is very sweet and I think that because she worked with my co-worker so long when it was just the two of them she is used to her "Yankeeness" and she generally ignores her but I cannot ignore her any longer. My co-worker will sit there and shuffle papers all day and then I will be in the office half the night trying to finish. Did I mention that I have three young children and a husband that I would like to get home to while all of children are out of the house and she's got "Bible study" every other night that she has to do go?
She's constantly peeking over my shoulder to see what time I clocked in or how many hours I have or when I'm clocking out for lunch and when I'm coming back and constantly turning things that she does wrong back on me. For instance the blood and callbacks. She constantly has an attitude with the patients and then she plays it off by saying it's her "Yankeeness". She's been working with the FNP for 2 years and I because I'm the new girl I think that she expects me to just take it and not say anything but the more I think about it, the more upset I become. I do not want to get fired and I do not want a lot of animosity but I am sick of it. My husband says that everyone just does what my co-worker says including the FNP and it seems to be true. What do I do in this situation?
Specializes in Radiologic Technologist, now in Nursing.
I'd eat dog food right out of the can before I'd stay at a place like that. I agree with the previous post. Sprout a pair, stand up for yourself, or get the Heck out of there. It sounds like a bad soap opera. Seriously, start looking for another job, you'll find one. This one stinks. Sounds like you hate it. LIFE IS TOO SHORT.
Say it with me- "No.". :) If she's a coworker and not your boss- she has no say in *most* of this stuff from the look of it other than the say you allow her. I absolutely agree with the advice to collect a notebook about these things and have a meeting with your supervisor. Good luck- she sounds like a real tool.
If I was in your shoes, I would have taken the top file and done that myself.
I would request a meeting with her included and have it stated who is your boss, what your job responsibilities are and
what is the office protocol you should follow.
She is trying to run you off and training you to be her scapegoat. After the meeting has taken place and things don't get any better, start job hunting..you deserve to work in a non-hostile environment.
I like the notebook suggestion...it is apparent that you need to cover you butt on a regular basis so this would really help. I think I am going to start me a daily journal.
Good luck to you and I hope it gets better and kudos to you for taking so much crap!
I was in ICU as a new grad, and I had some really rough times, too. Another nurse in the unit gave me some really valuable advice:
even if you're brand new, you're in the SAME level as other nurses with your job description. Stick up for yourself, don't let other people run over you.
Be assertive, even if it isn't in your nature. Don't keep taking the fall for her mistakes. confront her on it, take it to the FNP if necessary.
I'm really sorry to hear about what you've been going through - I would encourage you to continue on to get your ADN degree as well - it would take a relatively short time to get, and it really expands your marketability as a nurse.
Edit to say that you can switch jobs, but there's people like this everywhere. Escapism isn't always the answer, although sometimes its definitely a good idea to switch jobs
I would definitely go after your ADN degree. Success is always the best revenge. I would also personally talk to your coworker directly and tell her the gig's up. I would let her know in no uncertain terms that you are not stupid as to what is going on. And that it's over, as of now. Then I'd get your job description and responsibilities in writing. Good luck!
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
what's this "yankeeness?" it sounds as if you're insulting those of us from north of the mason-dixon line. if it's rudeness or brusqueness you mean, say that. it's not as if all yankees are rude!
I would definitely go after your ADN degree. Success is always the best revenge. I would also personally talk to your coworker directly and tell her the gig's up. I would let her know in no uncertain terms that you are not stupid as to what is going on. And that it's over, as of now. Then I'd get your job description and responsibilities in writing. Good luck!
Unfortunately,rotten backstabbing colleagues is the one thing you can count on, pretty much anywhere you go...
So you do have to stand up for yourself and stop taking the blame silently.
On the other hand, I think that LilyBlue's advice is right! Success is definitely the best revenge!
I recently went through a similar situation. One of my co-worker did a thorough job of sap against me. The difference with your situation is that for the longest time i had no idea what was really going on, beside feeling an increasing hostility and lack of support amongst my colleagues.
I won't lie and tell you that I wasn't really upset about her mean practice (I didn't even "know" the girl!) ...the damages to my reputation were so extensive that I was totally isolated at work .I obviously don't condone manipulators, but it was almost fascinating to watch how she managed to twist and "report" every single situation to make it look like I was incompetent, lazy and rude- while portraying herself in the role of the noble victim, the great experienced nurse (1 year of CC experience for her/ 7 years for me) whom sacrificed herself to "babysit" me so I "wouldn't harm any patient". She lied, lied and lied some more, and in every one of those lies, she was the best nurse ever! I actually laughed when i learned the details of the stories she was telling around!
Well, as it turned out, this hurtful experience was a blessing in disguise! While she continues her poor self-esteem shenanigans, I was offered a better position (under the sun :onbch:), and I am getting great grades in my master to become an NP.
Guess who wins in the end? :dncgbby:
So, don't stoop to your colleague's level, it isn't worth it and it would only make you become ugly like her. Take the high road, discuss the situation with your manager very openly, have another job lined up just in case the manager didn't support you, and continue your education. The higher up you go, the less you will be at the mercy of individuals like her!
Let us know what you end up doing and how it goes!
I wish you the best of luck, and a good amount of courage- and remember: Success is the best vengeance!!!
Firstly, tell her off. You can do this in a polite way while still getting your point across. She is walking all over you and she will continue to do it because she knows she can get away with it.
Secondly, pick up a small voice recorder from an electronic store and keep it in your pocket while at work. Press "record" any time you think she's going to say something nasty (to you or a patient) and bring that as "evidence" to your boss. You could do a Google search on products like that, commonly packaged as "spy" gear. Something small and discrete.
Go to your supervisor ASAP and report what has been happening. If nothing changes, go above your supervisor and take it all the way to the top. You have a right to work in a good environment and if this nurse if preventing you from doing so, she needs to be stopped.
(I didn't read the entire thread so I apologize if I repeated anything that has already been said. Good luck!!)
what's this "yankeeness?" it sounds as if you're insulting those of us from north of the mason-dixon line. if it's rudeness or brusqueness you mean, say that. it's not as if all yankees are rude!
please hold off the attack and exclamation points. i apologize if you misunderstood but i do not refer to her attitude as "yankeeness" my co-worker coined this term of "yankeeness" herself. maybe i should have worded my post differently to make it understood that it isn't me who pinned her with this moniker. when she says something rude she then brushes it off by saying, "oh, it must be my yankeeness showing." further, i am not insulting anyone because i am originally from "north" of the mason-dixon line myself and even though i've lived majority of my life in the southern states i know that not everyone from the nothern states is rude or brusque.
I would also personally talk to your coworker directly and tell her the gig's up. I would let her know in no uncertain terms that you are not stupid as to what is going on. And that it's over, as of now. Then I'd get your job description and responsibilities in writing. Good luck!
NewMexicoJohn
46 Posts
I'd eat dog food right out of the can before I'd stay at a place like that. I agree with the previous post. Sprout a pair, stand up for yourself, or get the Heck out of there. It sounds like a bad soap opera. Seriously, start looking for another job, you'll find one. This one stinks. Sounds like you hate it. LIFE IS TOO SHORT.