Dealing with toxic boss

Morainey, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2013

Sounds very toxic to me. I switched shifts in part to get away from an individual who always seemed to have it out for somebody - following you around and re-doing your work, going into your patient rooms to "check on things", making sarcastic comments or ignoring people, etc. I know we're all supposed to be professional, but come on. In what way is THAT behavior considered professional?? I don't think nurses should walk on eggshells around a manager/supervisor/charge/whoever like that. Is there a higher-up you can go to? That work environment seems very dysfunctional, if everyone is always running scared.

runlikeagirl · Aug 17, 2013

If switching jobs isn't an option and you absolutely have to deal with it, then I have some advice. I recently dealt with this in my current job. Sort of a similar situation but perhaps not quite as bad. I had to force myself to find something redeeming in that person, some good quality that I could maximize to my advantage. Everyone has a least ONE good quality! Haha. In my situation, it was that she really liked to chat about her family and she liked to be in the middle of everything (see - stick her nose in it). I took the approach of "kill her with kindness" being extra nice (but not fake), asking about her son frequently, and going to her for advice to help boost her up. If you can't change a situation, change the way you think about it. Sometimes though, the best thing is to hit the road!

lindseylpn · Aug 18, 2013

I had a job once with a boss like this, she was an office manager at a clinic I worked at. When I started working there the other nurses wanted me that she hated nurses and to watch my back because she especially liked to pick on the newly hired nurses. She was very nice at first but, then she started trying to belittle me in front of people. She has no medical knowledge either so when she would try to fuss about stuff, it really wouldn't make any sense or be almost comical. I worked at 2 different offices so, I just started avoiding her and I'd go to my other office manager if I needed something. She stopped singling me out and I didn't think we had a problem. A few months later I was let go and told that the company decided that they wanted an RN for the Dr. I worked for. Several of my co workers called and asked if I was okay because that office manager was telling them all that I had done something so bad that not only was I going to get my license taken away but, the Dr I worked for was probably going to lose her license too. Naturally I was terrified so, I called my other office manager and talked to her and I reckon she contacted upper management because, the next day that manager came in and told her office that she was "stepping back down" to receptionist and being moved to another office but, i believe she was fired, she never came back. This is the only job I've ever been let go from or even got a bad review from and lucky the dr gave me great references. I'm sorry you are going through this and I really don't have any advice, just know that karma is a b*tch and their treatment of others will eventually come back to bite them :-) good luck!

MARYRN2009 · Aug 28, 2013

I think the best way which is not the easiest is to talk to her. Be honest and tell her how you feel. I was not good at this but now im getting a little better. Sometimes I would not speak up but must husband supported me and helped me to speak up. I have had to comfort doctors and for the first time talk to my director and the nursing supervisor about htings that were bothering me. Obviously thing did not change much but I was able to get what I felt across. The more you hold things inside towards someone the worse it is for you