my coworker is trying to micromanage me!

Nurses Relations

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There is a nurse on my floor who is trying to micromanage me and I absolutely dread working with her. She's been on light duty for several months and is auditing people's charts . I was supposed to get a post-op patient up twice on the night shift and I was so busy I forgot and only did it once. She confronted me and I apologized and said I would be on top of it tonight. I was on top of it and, even took him for a walk. I charted 15 minutes before my shift ended but she apparently was digging in my charts prior to that and pulled me aside although it was still in front of everyone to tell me how disappointed she was in me for failing to take his second vitals and getting him up. I told her I did and she asked if I really did and I said YES!. Then yesterday I ask her a simple question of who to call regarding a question a pt had and she gives me the answer but then goes off topic and asks me if I'd done this and this yet. And I Said yes. And she said you did? ANd againI Said yes! I'm a new grad and obviously I make mistakes and have questions but I still feel like overall I do a good job and I just feel like she is micromanaging me and now whenever I say hi to her she give me a cold hi and doesn't look me in the face. And she's micromanaged me in a similar way couple other times I've worked with her. She's been there for several years so maybe she thinks she high and mighty but I've caught her not knowing the answer to basic things, too. How do I deal w/ her? Has anyone had this happen?

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Keep doing all of what you are supposed to be doing when you're supposed to be doing it, tell her what she wants to know when she asks you, and stop thinking so much about her. She'll get tired of it once she sees you're not missing things anymore, and move on.

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She's on light-duty auditing charts. That does not mean she has been promoted. Just say "duly noted," and move on.

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You could try, "I was going to do that right now, but you've pulled me away from my work so I've had to delay it to answer your questions." Or something similar which might give her the hint.

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Specializes in Education, Administration, Magnet.

I agree with Roseyposey. Just answer and move on with your day.

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Flip your hair every time she does it.... Respond with, oh yeah I just did it.... Sorry I waited so long I just had to put my face back on.... Ask her, how Does it look? And while she is responding, pull out a make up mirror with a brush and start applying another layer, followed up with another layer of lip gloss or lip stick..... And agree with everything she is saying... And exit with a catwalk to the restroom or break room. Be as fake and smile.... Give no signs of being irritated. And for future reference always make her answer your questions as oppose to you always answering to her. Audit her auditing....

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Just talk to her. Tell her you appreciate her attention to detail and respect her experience. Add that you appreciate the feedback and make her feel important by asking her such things as how she prioritizes and manages time. A little ego feeding goes a long way. When she expresses her "disappointment" in you I suggest thanking her for the feedback and walking away. If it continues you will have to confront her but this must be a last resort because she may become your worst enemy auditing your performance and reporting any perceived gaps in care to supervisors. Never apply makeup in a clinical area. It is an infection control risk and the diva behavior is petty.

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Specializes in Emergency.

That sounds infuriating. My suggestion is to give her what she wants. Gush something like "oh my goodness, what a wonderful idea!" "Thank you so much for your wisdom!" "You're like the mentor I always wished I had" "Thank you for pointing that out, I value your input"etc.

Note: these must be said in full happy-shiny-person mode. Big smile, bounce in the step and not a trace of sarcasm. Then go about your day and think of it as your own private joke, because you and she both know what just happened and there is not a thing she can say about it.

May have worked for me with my workplace troll ;)

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Specializes in Pain, critical care, administration, med.

I would tell her that you appreciate her feedback and then walk away. I find those that are the most critical of others are usually the worse practitioners. Hopefully she will be off of light duty soon!

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Specializes in Trauma | Surgical ICU.

She's auditing charts, she told you about your late VS entry (you said that you are inputing VS 15 min before shift change. IDK about your unit but if this is a regular floor VS is every four hours meaning if you are day shift that's 0800, 1200, 1600 and you're inputing a 1600 VS at 1845).

Don't be patronizing, acting as if nothing is wrong and all is wonderful is just disrespectful and will just get you more unwanted attention later on. You don't want to be targeted and be labeled as "that" new grad. Instead, go up to her directly and ask her what she thinks is lacking in your performance. Something like, "I know I'm a new grad and you have been observing me a lot. I want to be good at my job, is there something you think I need to work on?"

Be straight to the point but respectful. If this is a hospital you want to work for, you need to learn how to handle this situation by being tactful and assertive (never passive-aggressive or just plain aggressive). She already earned her stripes, you haven't... yet.

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She's on light-duty auditing charts. That does not mean she has been promoted. Just say "duly noted," and move on.

^^^ This.

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If I were you, and she has time to audit your charts, I would delegate light duty stuff to her every time she asked a question. "Nope, I sure didn't chart that set of vital signs yet. Why don't you take so-and-so her meds and I'll chart it right now?"

See how long she bothers you after that.

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