Difficulty with Staff

[RNbehindtheWall]

Hello,

I am currently in my first position as an RN. I work in corrections on third shift and there is only myself and an LPN. In my facility, there is a culture of LPNs believing they are on the same level professionally as the RNs which my boss is trying to fix and realign the appropriate heirarchy.

Here is my problem. The LPN I work with is extroardinarily diffiuclt. She does not want to take assignments or direction from me. My boss is aware of the situation and monitoring it, however she would like for me to be more assertive (which I admit, I need to be). My boss has instructed her that I am the Charge Nurse and that I am in charge of how the shift is run, etc... but I have seen little improvement.

The situation is growing increasingly difficult, as she doesn't even acknowledge me when I speak and when she does, her tone is condescending and disrespectful. She intentionally takes extra time completing even the simplest tasks. I literally feel like I am working alone. Although, I may not be seeing patients all night on my shift, I do have a lot of work to complete and I literally feel like I am working alone.

Any tips on how to better approach the situation? As a new nurse, I want to learn my trade and do well, however trying to balance that with a difficult staff member is wearing me thin. I absolutely love my job and do not want this to spoil the experience.

Thanks,

RNBehindtheWall

[DixieRedHead, ASN, RN]

"Nancy Nurse, I realize we have issues. We need to see what we can do to get to the point that we can work together. This is our job, the way we feed our families.

Theses are the things that I expect. Yada, yada yada. (What ever the parts of the jobs are that you expect her to do). If there are parts of the job that you are not comfortable with, let me know. I can no longer work with someone that I cannot communicate with in a professional manner."

Then give her a list. Keep a copy of the list to give to the supervisor.

[loriangel14, RN]

If you and your boss are working hard to treat the LPNs as "beneath" the RNs no wonder your coworker is unhappy.If her tone is condescending and disrespectful I suspect she has been spoken to like that by the RNs.Try treating her as a colleague instead of an underling.You need to give her some respect and then she will respect you.I am a PN but I am treated with the same respect as an RN in my work place.Just because someone is an LPN doesn't mean they aren't a professional.

[loriangel14, RN]

Deliberately treating one group of employees as not being "as good as" another group is not going to make for a happy work place.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

True, but...there is "the chain of command" thing. If the LPN will not follow, the chain is broken. As the saying goes, more flies with honey than vinegar, but if that doesn't/hasn't worked, the big guns need to come out. If she is refusing to acknowledge you, she is being insuburdinate, treat her thusly.

Deliberately treating one group of employees as not being "as good as" another group is not going to make for a happy work place.

[loriangel14, RN]

From the tone of her post I don't think there was much honey involved.

[loriangel14, RN]

I don't see it as a honey/vinegar issue.It's about treating others with respect,even if their role is different than yours.PNs are still part of the team.You don't inspire teamwork by talking down to others.

[rn/writer, RN]

Yes, it's important to treat colleagues with respect, but there is a difference between an LPN and an RN. If that makes the LPN feel bad and act like a naughty child, that's a problem. She certainly isn't showing respect.

People are on the same level as far as value and worth go, but each license carries with it a distinct set of responsibilities. While there may be considerable overlap between and RN and an LPN, they aren't the same. If they were, there would be no need to designate between the two.

The RN shouldn't lord her status over the LPN. dump all of the unpleasant stuff on her, and ignore her years of experience. And the LPN shouldn't drag her heels and stick out her lip and refuse to cooperate because she thinks they're both the same or she is unhappy that someone with less seniority is telling her what to do.

Seems like a review (and perhaps a revision) of job descriptions is in order. If the RN is expected to be in charge, the manager needs to explain that very clearly to the LPN and indicate that a poor attitude and stubborn refusal to take direction will not be tolerated. The manager might also ask the LPN what her resistance is about and why she appears to be sabotaging this new nurse. It may be that she is misunderstanding her role or that she was allowed to do more previously. Then again, it may be that the new nurse is presenting herself poorly and needs to learn better ways to communicate. Most likely, there is something on each side that can be improved.

OP, you need to bone up on assertiveness and delegation. Google these terms and practice being in charge without becoming whiny or tyrannical. State your expectations clearly. Expect some flak initially. Don't take it personally, but do stick to your guns. Consult with the LPN when appropriate. Her input could be a valuable asset, and that may help if she is feeling devalued by your being hired.

Neither of you is superior to the other as a human being. But the job hierarchy does matter. Hopefully, the two of you will find some way to co-exist and collaborate for the good of everyone involved.

[RN_travlr]

WEll the first paragraph states "In my facility, there is a culture of LPNs believing they are on the same level professionally as the RNs"...ouch!

Maybe thats why she hates you.

If she has been there longer and you are new to being a nurse...she probably does know more about the situational nursing than you do. I was an LPN... and I now work with LPNS that I would chose over certain RNs any day of the week. I had to do phlebotomy on my coworkers patients the other day because she didnt know how and the LPN that usually does it for her wasnt there that day.....

Dont get me wrong, I take great pride in my being an RN...but that does not mean that my LPNs input doesnt count. And as a travel nurse I often rely heavily on my LPNs for guidence when I am new to the unit. They have been there, they know the ins and outs.

Your LPNs and CNAs can and will make you or break you....heed that warning. This supervisor may be behind you but that is not everywhere.

You are to be commended for your achievement in becoming an RN..but remember at any point that LPN can go back to school for her RN, BSN, MSN....and be your boss.