E-mails aka nastigrams

[Dobbysanurse, BSN, RN]

So to make a long story short, I work on a TCU with a small group of nurses - there are only 5 of us that work this unit so we all have fairly good communication and working relationships. Our Nurse manager is a nice lady - I dont see her much as I work 12 NOC shifts. I mostly communicate to her through emails which is the problem I have come here for.

It seems anytime there is an issue with any of use 5 nurses we all receive an email how this is not acceptable with vague threats that we could be reported to the board of nursing for whatever the issue is. For example; there was a resident with a medication order that was never delivered from our pharmacy despite several calls, faxes, emails which were all documented. The med was scheduled for the day so I never administered it but even I received a verbal thrashing through email about how we were all failing our patients.

Honestly, emails like this are sent several times a month and 99% of the time they don't apply to me! I get as a nurse manager, you have to manage but why should these emails be sent en masse? Its creating a very us against her relationship.

As I said, our manager is a very talented and knowledgeable nurse who is helpful and a great resource most of the time but these emails are just getting us down because when we open our emails its always "what did we do now?"

I believe she sends them not to put a particular nurse on the spot as we usually know who the email is actually directed to, but rather as a reminder that whatever happens needs to be avoided.

Thoughts on the situations? Should I address that these emails are a damper to moral especially to those of use they don't apply to or just let it go.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

So to make a long story short, I work on a TCU with a small group of nurses - there are only 5 of us that work this unit so we all have fairly good communication and working relationships. Our Nurse manager is a nice lady - I dont see her much as I work 12 NOC shifts. I mostly communicate to her through emails which is the problem I have come here for.

Thoughts on the situations? Should I address that these emails are a damper to moral especially to those of use they don't apply to or just let it go.

You said your NM is a nice lady, so you can approach her in a matter of fact way and say "I just wanted to let you know that when emails are sent to the entire group of nurses, some of the nurses who aren't involved are getting a little down." Be non-threatening and do not give the appearance of whining. If she keeps up with hose emails, you may just have to let it go.

[JKL33]

Honestly I would let it go for now. If they are personally embarrassing (by sharing one's inidividual shortcomings with the group, for example) or are wildly inappropriate by anyone's standard, then I'd think about approaching her with your concerns. But the thing is, you're not going to be able to tell your superior how to communicate and survive unscathed in the long-run...so why do that to yourself.

I've known people who have received all-staff emails that are so obnoxious with angry-sounding ALLCAPS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!! and inappropriate verbiage that all one can do is chuckle at it. And be happy you aren't the kind of person who needs to communicate that way.

For the most part, you can choose how you feel about her communications. I think you're best off reading them, extracting important content (if there is any) and forgetting you ever saw the rest of it. Live a happy life and don't feel anything in particular about someone else's personal problem.

Full disclosure: I'm not disagreeing with you and yes, I would be tempted to be miffed each time I read one of these things. But - why?? The person who wrote it sat there and banged it out without worrying how it would be perceived! So give it the same measure of consideration that person did - which is almost none. Life's too short.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

vague threats that we could be reported to the board of nursing for whatever the issue is. For example; there was a resident with a medication order that was never delivered from our pharmacy despite several calls, faxes, emails which were all documented.[/Quote]

I probably would say something to the effect of "false allegations of nursing practice violation could become a legal defamation issue and I would really hate to see that happen... but as medication dispensing isn't even in an RN's scope of practice, a report for failing to do so is groundless, i.e. untrue." Untrue verbal statement = slander; untrue written statement = libel.

Look up the criteria for a valid defamation complaint: if the report causes harm to the employee in addition to the other criteria, it sounds like the one reported may have grounds for legal action.

[HiddenAngels]

Same as above. I would weed through the stuff that's pertinent and forget about the rest. Obviously her managing style is not direct darn.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

I probably would say something to the effect of "false allegations of nursing practice violation could become a legal defamation issue and I would really hate to see that happen... but as medication dispensing isn't even in an RN's scope of practice, a report for failing to do so is groundless, i.e. untrue." Untrue verbal statement = slander; untrue written statement = libel.

^Beautifully stated!^

Whether it's been as an athlete's parent or as a nurse, I've gotten these kinds of emails. I used to respond. I don't anymore because I lost all the energy for it. However it sounds like your manager needs to go to manager training... emailing everyone is the least effective way to get stuff done, and although she thinks she's leaving a documentation trail, I doubt that would stand up legally. You cannot continuously do performance counseling over email.

[Emergent, RN]

At one of my jobs at a tiny hospital, we regularly get these obnoxious types of emails. She always starts out "Colleagues", has sugary, overly embellished language, lots of management catch phrases, and a chocolate covered turd in the middle of the email, with veiled threats.

I agree, it's quite irritating. Just ignore, not worth the trouble.

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

So to make a long story short, I work on a TCU with a small group of nurses - there are only 5 of us that work this unit so we all have fairly good communication and working relationships. Our Nurse manager is a nice lady - I dont see her much as I work 12 NOC shifts. I mostly communicate to her through emails which is the problem I have come here for.

It seems anytime there is an issue with any of use 5 nurses we all receive an email how this is not acceptable with vague threats that we could be reported to the board of nursing for whatever the issue is. For example; there was a resident with a medication order that was never delivered from our pharmacy despite several calls, faxes, emails which were all documented. The med was scheduled for the day so I never administered it but even I received a verbal thrashing through email about how we were all failing our patients.

Honestly, emails like this are sent several times a month and 99% of the time they don't apply to me! I get as a nurse manager, you have to manage but why should these emails be sent en masse? Its creating a very us against her relationship.

As I said, our manager is a very talented and knowledgeable nurse who is helpful and a great resource most of the time but these emails are just getting us down because when we open our emails its always "what did we do now?"

I believe she sends them not to put a particular nurse on the spot as we usually know who the email is actually directed to, but rather as a reminder that whatever happens needs to be avoided.

Thoughts on the situations? Should I address that these emails are a damper to moral especially to those of use they don't apply to or just let it go.

She may not realize the effect this is having on all of you.

A respectful and calm meeting between all of you and she might be in order just to clear the air and share how this is effecting morale.

What concerns me about this issue with the Pharmacy is that she should have dealt with them directly by speaking with their Director.

As far as sending "enmasse", that should not be. It isn't professional, courteous or fair, as facts have been completely ignored.

If there is a real issue with certain nurses that requires a threat to bring in the Board of Nursing, then other things should be happening instead: investigations and interviews of those involved, record checking, etc.

Now, I wasn't there, nor do I know her, but from what I have read, if I understand it correctly, it would seem that she may need some guidance from the higher ups.

Still, I would meet with her.

You mentioned that you worked nights. If she knows you are willing to come in and see her, or stay late after a shift to meet with her, that should tell her that you are serious.

(If you have a Union Rep, make sure he/she is there with you when you meet.) Just a thought.

[TriciaJ, RN]

You have a weak manager. She likes to present herself as a "nice lady" but the emails you describe are thinly-veiled hostility. I would not bother meeting with her because you will have a "nice" target on your back. Don't educate anyone at your expense.

I would keep all the emails for future reference in case you or a coworker needs the paper trail. Otherwise, I would blow her off. Like others said, take anything from the email that has value and give no thought to the rest. And I would not trust this person, no matter how "nice"ly she presents herself in person.

[JKL33]

Don't educate anyone at your expense.

Concise and wise!

[chare]

Concise and wise!

Yes, as was this:

[...]

And I would not trust this person, no matter how "nice"ly she presents herself in person.