DON said mean things about me...which I overheard.

mariedoreen · Sep 8, 2006

I was asked to come intoday since so many people were out. I can't do pt care, but i was asked to come in and help out with admit paperwork, etc. I have been on medical for a while, so I agreed.
The DON came into the office and shut the door a bit. I was outside the door in a chart, reviewing some paperwork.
She started snickering "Oh, she finally decided to come back to work? What the he** kind of person takes so much time off for BACK PAIN?! Give me a break. I can't wait till she's gone. She's useless. I hope you left her lots of work to do."
I was so upset. What kind of evil person says something like that when I'm outside the door? She didn't say it loud, but once she said my name, I tried to listen what she was saying. I have so many people who thanked me for coming in. PT's, patients, couple of the docs, OT's, nurses. But couple of day nurses and the DON took time out to be nice to my face and then snicker about me behind my back.
Just needed to vent. I'll be leaving there once school is done. but for now I need the insurance, so I've been helping out a couple days a month. I need insurance since I have so many medical problems, and my kids need it too.
Ok, vent over. Just upset that someone was so mean. DON's only been there a couple months. I've been there six years.

Totally unprofessional. I cannot stand bosses who bad mouth their employees to other employees. It's a huge pet peeve of mine, I think it bodes extremely unwell for all when someone like that is in power. Unfortunately, this kind of badmouthing (at least among employees) goes on almost everywhere. That's why I never say anything negative about a coworker to anyone else, and I try to stay busy and consumed with my own work as much as possible. Call me antisocial, but I much prefer not getting sucked into the judgmental drama that others seem to just love to swill around in.

luvkitties · Sep 8, 2006

I'm so sorry that you had to witness that ugliness...apparently, the DON and the other nasty nurses don't have enough to do if all they can do is talk trash about others :trout: I know that it takes alot of positive comments to derail a negative one, but try to focus on all of the appreciative comments you received...it seems that your contributions are valued by many...if some people don't see that, it's their problem. Just keep your chin up and know that you are important...to heck with anyone else that says/thinks otherwise...:icon_hug:

~Lori

LydiaNN · Sep 8, 2006

I'd file a complaint. That is completely unprofessional.

rehab nurse · Sep 8, 2006

i guess what upset me was that day shift stayed over to "finish some work". yet a 7.2 INR was not addressed, it was done at 4am, not reported till that afternoon, then it was left for PM nurse to give vitamin K. HELLO? isn't a potential bleeding issue more important than writing PREOP orders that can be done by PM shift? then another nurse tried to pass on an incident report! didn't tell me what happened, the time, anything. Not that that would have made it alright. Of course I didn't do the incident. That was passed on to supervisor. How can I chart an assessment I didn't do, or chart Neuro checks I didn't do, etc? Come on. And yet they make time to snicker about me.

Sigh.

I would love to file a complaint, yet I know no one will do anything about it. The whole place is corrupt.

LoriAlabamaRN · Sep 8, 2006

I'm so sorry... As a fellow back pain sufferer, I know just how debilitating it can be. Some people are just unprofessional and catty as all getout. I would have pushed the door open at that point and said "Since I'm so useless, I think I'll be leaving now."

steelerfannurse · Sep 8, 2006

Just remember- sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never harm me. That's a terribly unprofessional thing to do especially from a DON. I agree with the other reply- I would have opened the door and said the same thing. She should be careful what she says- maybe she will have back pain some day. Keep your chin up and hang in there. Just smile at her and walk on by. :icon_hug:

TazziRN, RN · Sep 8, 2006

If there is nothing you can do through official channels, then wait until you finish school and can leave. Request an exit interview and bring this up. If she did this to you, then she has done it (and will again) to others.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Sep 8, 2006

Thats a game that some managers play to intimidate and harass employees. Keep a diary and write down anything snooty that she says. (Don't leave it at work!)

Elisheva · Sep 8, 2006

I would write up what I heard, word for word, and date it. I would either make an appointment with the DON and her supervisor or wait until my exit interview, but you better believe I would address it. Your DON needs to know that she's putting herself in a precarious position, and for my part, I would want documentation detailing my medical status, my willingness to come to work in spite of my condition and my facilitie's response. May save you some she says/she says stuff down the road and it makes YOU look like the professional.

cbgalagher · Sep 8, 2006

Why would you stay at a place like that? There are so many places desperate for good nurses! IF you stay they will take your Spirit away from you. Don't let them do that to you.

Evangeline2000 · Sep 8, 2006

Just needed to vent. I'll be leaving there once school is done. but for now I need the insurance, so I've been helping out a couple days a month. I need insurance since I have so many medical problems, and my kids need it too.

Rock on. You're busting butt taking care of those kids. She doesn't deserve a minute of your time. Go on and do your job with your head held HIGH!