Do i look tasty???

JohnBearPA · Jun 28, 2006

I too had the "Nurse from Hell" as a colleague once. Smae happened to me, got snapped at all the time, got verbal abuse, talked down to, given the worst assignment, and generally treated like I was the stupidest thing this nurse had ever seen. I got her name for a gift exchange at Christmas, got her the book "how to win friends and influence people" or whatever it's called, and she actually got a good laugh out of it. If you don't let her know how she made you feel, she can't try to make it stop, so let her know w/o being nasty or offensive to her, and maybe, if she's a rational adult, it'll change. Best of luck to you, and please try not to take it to heart, as hard as that might be at times.

imamommynurse · Jul 1, 2006

Hey Guys...

I just wanted to update you all... Well.. after a couple days of her being nasty to me and me basically shoving sunshine up her you know what I didn't see her for a while.. Then miraculously yesterday I saw her and she was VERY nice to me... I don't get it... I guess maybe she figured well it is kind of hard to be mean to someone who is nice to everyone all the time... I did talk to some of my co workers and she is known for being kind of nutty though... Like mood swings etc.. She makes comments sometimes that make me think she is out there so I definitely know it is HER and not me... I also figured that I am new so all I can do is learn as much as I can and get my revenge by being the best nurse I can.... Which means ALWAYS staying on top of my game..

I think our hospital is having crackdowns on the nurses eating eachother though because we have gotten emails telling everyone to "BE NICE or ELSE"... Seriously... so people ARE aware of the problem and steps are being taken to change it.. Our hospital is big on making new grads feel welcome and making them stay (we have a high turnover rate for new grads)... so they are trying everything to make sure we are happy... I can see why new grads leave though.. if you are treated poorly- you are going to leave as soon as you get experience...

Oh... I also sort of made a joke to the nurses at report.. My charge nurse told them "don't eat her." So I said, yeah I have snacks in my bag if you want to eat something."

AmyD_RN · Jul 3, 2006

That is so awesome to hear from you! I am glad it gets better and am glad that at least you know you are being thought of!! Good luck and keep us updated. You give me hope for positiveness as I venture out next week to my orientation!!!

AmyD RN

DaFreak71 · Jul 3, 2006

in ALL of life. No matter who is being rude to me...from all walks of life and all professions....i found this to be useful:
put on a HUGE smile and ask in a sweet voice. "are you intentionally trying to be mean to me?"
It works wonders. And I have even made a few friends. The reply is usually "no, im sorry, im having a horrible day...."

As Epiphany already said, we need more practical suggestions on how to handle these situations, what to say, etc. Thank you for posting this. Here's what I do when confronted with similar situation in which the mean person is in a position of authority over me:

Me: (with a concerned expresson on my face and a soft tone of voice) Are you having a rough day today?

Them: (response A) Nothing is going right...etc, etc, etc.

Me: If there's anything I can do to help you be less stressed out, let me know.

This usually works to calm the situation down. Of course there's a second scenario....

Me: (with a concerned expression on my face and soft tone of voice) Are you having a rough day today?

Them: --insert angry response or more yelling--

Me: I ask because I can't think of a single excuse for acting so unprofessionally. I don't like being yelled at.

Other replies that I believe are assertive would be:

If your too angry to explain this procedure to me calmly, let's go find someone else who can help me.

Tell you what, while I'm gathering the supplies and checking the orders, you go grab a smoke/snack/soda/etc and when we get back together let's be nice.

***it's all in the way the comments are delivered. You have to say something before you get too hurt/angry to respond professionally. Don't say these things through pursed lips or gritted teeth, the goal is to let the other person know that you will not hesitate to address their behavior and in addition, you'll try to help calm the situation***

Holly27 · Jul 4, 2006

I have been informed by my new supervisor that the night shift was "strong personality" and if that would be a problem ? I laughed and told her I can handle my own and that I'm always up for a challenge. I really didn't mean to laugh but just the week before I had my first run in with the dreaded nurse from hell.

It was our last two weeks of clinical rotation and all students went on and on about this nurse who was just flat out rude to the students. We are s'pose to pass meds for her and everyday and I mean everyday she would still pull them and complain because she had to put them back. Never notify us of things we could check off on(including our instructor) and when we would ask her, she went to her supervisor and complained that we were bugging her. She made 1 girl cry.

Well one day I beat her to the Mar and she came in just complaining. I tuned her out and avoided her all day. Well the next day she came in and tried to pull the same thing and started talking about how she was in a BAD mood and was really just a bit*h and for ppl to deal.

LOL I turned around and smile and said "really? I had no clue! I thought you were just being your normal cheery self. You totally fooled me!" and just smiled and kept working. Do you know that she showed me how to use the bladder scanner that day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The whole class almost fell out including my instructor!

I can't wait to start work. !!! :lol2:

JohnBearPA · Jul 4, 2006

I have been informed by my new supervisor that the night shift was "strong personality" and if that would be a problem ? I laughed and told her I can handle my own and that I'm always up for a challenge. I really didn't mean to laugh but just the week before I had my first run in with the dreaded nurse from hell.
It was our last two weeks of clinical rotation and all students went on and on about this nurse who was just flat out rude to the students. We are s'pose to pass meds for her and everyday and I mean everyday she would still pull them and complain because she had to put them back. Never notify us of things we could check off on(including our instructor) and when we would ask her, she went to her supervisor and complained that we were bugging her. She made 1 girl cry.
Well one day I beat her to the Mar and she came in just complaining. I tuned her out and avoided her all day. Well the next day she came in and tried to pull the same thing and started talking about how she was in a BAD mood and was really just a bit*h and for ppl to deal.
LOL I turned around and smile and said "really? I had no clue! I thought you were just being your normal cheery self. You totally fooled me!" and just smiled and kept working. Do you know that she showed me how to use the bladder scanner that day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The whole class almost fell out including my instructor!
I can't wait to start work. !!!

ROFLOL! GOOD ONE!!!!

buddhanah · Jul 4, 2006

I don't know how anyone could treat a new nurse that way and not remember what it was like to be in that same position years ago. In those situations you just have to become the better person and just remember that when you are a more experienced nurse, you take the time to help a student out and be a mentor. Be the exact opposite of the person you hated being around in school clinicals.