Disciplining employee in front of other employees?!

[Seas]

Hello all,

I am a Nicu nurse. I wont go into detail about what type of an issue and all, as that doesnt really matter. Long story short, I got a verbal disciplinary action by my manager in front of several other coworkers today. I mean, she stopped me there and just lectured what I just did, how I shouldnt do it, do that, dont do that, etc. She talked for several minutes which is actually a long time in that circumstance. Seceral nurses were around; and they all listened to it. Some of them looked at us and turned their back. But I am very sure that that event was very witnessed and talked about once I left. Needless to say, I was and am still very embarrassed.

I cant defend myself about the subject as I deserved the talk and whatever disciplinary action I may face for it. However, I don't think that is the way to discipline your employee either. In front of everbody! I got my MSN in nursing administration, and I am sure that that is not they way of doing it. Not professional, not nice in any way.

The verbal action was all that happened. While still at work, I expected all day to be called into manager's office to sign papers for it and making the disciplinary action official. But it didnt happen. I actually wanted to be called for it, because I wanted to voice my frustration about the way it was handled too. As my manager, she has every right to discipline her employee if she sees something, but an employee also has a right not to be embarrassed in front of others during it too. Anyway, I am going back to work tomorrow. I may be called into the office, or not, I dont know. All I know is, I am frustrated, demotivated, and embarrassed.

My question is, should I get in contact with my manager if I dont hear from her and discuss my concern about the way she handled it? If so, how? Face to face? E mail?

Or should I let it go? What do you all think?

[lavenderskies, BSN]

First off I'm sorry that happened to you.

Secondly, she may not be aware that what she was saying was embarassing. I can't tell from your description. And even so, something embarassing to one person may be entirely a non issue to another.

If it was me, I would ask her for a meeting. I would (if you can) thank her for something good in the interaction. Let her know that you are open to correction and redirection. Ask that in the future you meet in private because you are able to focus better on what she is saying if you are having a 1:1 exchange.

I'm sure others will have additional suggestions. :)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

When I was in the position to administer disciplinary action or constructive criticism, my personal mode of operation was as follows: "Praise in public; criticize in private."

Your manager was rather unprofessional. Unless you were about to kill one of the premature infant patients, there was no need to criticize you in an open-air setting.

[Seas]

Thank you all! I will talk with my manager today. Very good ideas.

[kaylee.]

I hate this type of situation! Its totally embarrassing/belittling to do this!

It happened to me once, and I was so caught off guard and humiliated!

I never approached her about it...however i wish i had.

If your scolding was a personal/private matter, then i think it should be addressed. That is so unprofessional.

I would do as the pp suggested, meet to discuss the discipline/problem and bring it up then.

[SmilingBluEyes]

My supervisor yelled at me once in front of no less than 10 employees and patients once.

I was hot and patients were asking me if I was ok (!)

Once I cooled down ( a few days later) I went to her office and explained how yelling at me in front of others was unprofessional and did not convey the message she intended. She ended up apologizing. She did not intend to humiliate me; she did intend to correct a situation that was actually not of my making.

[CHESSIE]

Hello all,

I am a Nicu nurse. I wont go into detail about what type of an issue and all, as that doesnt really matter. Long story short, I got a verbal disciplinary action by my manager in front of several other coworkers today. I mean, she stopped me there and just lectured what I just did, how I shouldnt do it, do that, dont do that, etc. She talked for several minutes which is actually a long time in that circumstance. Seceral nurses were around; and they all listened to it. Some of them looked at us and turned their back. But I am very sure that that event was very witnessed and talked about once I left. Needless to say, I was and am still very embarrassed.

I cant defend myself about the subject as I deserved the talk and whatever disciplinary action I may face for it. However, I don't think that is the way to discipline your employee either. In front of everbody! I got my MSN in nursing administration, and I am sure that that is not they way of doing it. Not professional, not nice in any way.

The verbal action was all that happened. While still at work, I expected all day to be called into manager's office to sign papers for it and making the disciplinary action official. But it didnt happen. I actually wanted to be called for it, because I wanted to voice my frustration about the way it was handled too. As my manager, she has every right to discipline her employee if she sees something, but an employee also has a right not to be embarrassed in front of others during it too. Anyway, I am going back to work tomorrow. I may be called into the office, or not, I dont know. All I know is, I am frustrated, demotivated, and embarrassed.

My question is, should I get in contact with my manager if I dont hear from her and discuss my concern about the way she handled it? If so, how? Face to face? E mail?

Or should I let it go? What do you all think?

This same scenario happened to me, nearly 30 years ago when I was a relatively new hire from another facility. It was not a manager, but a coworker, and she did not know what actually happened but what she "thought" had happened. When she knew what transpired, she did not apologize. This was her modus operandi. She perceived herself as "super nurse," and I had been warned that another newly hired RN, who had been hired before I was hired, nearly left due to her attitude.

Fortunately, for all concerned, she soon left the hospital setting to work for a group of doctors, where she had the same reputation of "throwing coworkers under the bus." At this group practice, until recently, when one retired and one left to return to the hospital setting, she had a few "chosen ones," whom she would never humiliate or demean. Since I have retired, I do not know the situation at the group practice.

Wherever you choose to work you will find someone, who can only feel good about about herself/himself, if they can put someone else down.

[paramedic-RN]

She was definitely wrong, one thing I've learned though is that you can never tell a manager/director they they've done something wrong. If she thought yelling at you in front of co-workers was inappropriate she wouldn't have done it, but obviously she doesn't think it is inappropriate which is why she did it. Unlikely that you will change her opinion on the matter. If you complain to someone above her you risk it getting back to her that you "tattle-tailed" and then you'll really have a target on your back. I would take it to a neutral part like HR and say to them "I don't want to take action on this I just want to start a paper trail in case there are any future incidences with her." Also don't tell her she messed up but use "I statements" like "I felt embarrassed" that way she won't feel attacked but you'll plant a seed in her head that maybe she messed up.

[Natasha, RN, BSN]

If it were me, I would let my manger know (face to face) that if corrections need to happen in the future, then in private would be best. Otherwise, if some situation should arise again, you could get a repeat

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

Hello all,

I am a Nicu nurse. I wont go into detail about what type of an issue and all, as that doesnt really matter. Long story short, I got a verbal disciplinary action by my manager in front of several other coworkers today. I mean, she stopped me there and just lectured what I just did, how I shouldnt do it, do that, dont do that, etc. She talked for several minutes which is actually a long time in that circumstance. Seceral nurses were around; and they all listened to it. Some of them looked at us and turned their back. But I am very sure that that event was very witnessed and talked about once I left. Needless to say, I was and am still very embarrassed.

I cant defend myself about the subject as I deserved the talk and whatever disciplinary action I may face for it. However, I don't think that is the way to discipline your employee either. In front of everbody! I got my MSN in nursing administration, and I am sure that that is not they way of doing it. Not professional, not nice in any way.

The verbal action was all that happened. While still at work, I expected all day to be called into manager's office to sign papers for it and making the disciplinary action official. But it didnt happen. I actually wanted to be called for it, because I wanted to voice my frustration about the way it was handled too. As my manager, she has every right to discipline her employee if she sees something, but an employee also has a right not to be embarrassed in front of others during it too. Anyway, I am going back to work tomorrow. I may be called into the office, or not, I dont know. All I know is, I am frustrated, demotivated, and embarrassed.

My question is, should I get in contact with my manager if I dont hear from her and discuss my concern about the way she handled it? If so, how? Face to face? E mail?

Or should I let it go? What do you all think?

Jeeze, why are you tip-toeing around waiting for the other shoe to drop. Approach her! Ask for private 1:1. Thank her for the corrective active as best you can. Then speak out.

If she was trying to make a point to other nurses not to make the same mistake you did, then perhaps a group e-mail or staff meeting would have been better because you were caught unawares and while concentrating on your work. A private meeting would have been better for you so you could focus on the correction rather than be embarrassed in front of co-workers you will have to return to work with.

Even nurse managers make mistakes and don't want to be corrected in front of others.

[OBwonKnewbie]

I agree that it was inappropriate for her to talk to you about the issue in front of everyone else

[NcPCT]

Let it go. If this nurse thought disiplining you was ok in front of other ataff members imo I think that in her head it was ok & you saying anything could backfire? But, again saying it right and sticking up for yourself matters too. Tough one. I'd let it go.