Hi guys! So background... I have been nursing for almost 10 years but new to ER nursing. It was a big learning curve but I’ve felt like I’ve found my groove and everyone has been giving me great feedback (I had no concerns on how I was reforming). Well until now I guess..
OK so I just need to vent.. I saw my manager today to ask about vacation time and we were talking and she’s like ‘how are you doing, are you liking it here’ so I tell her for the most part yes, obviously there’s days that are harder than others. She then says ‘oh I’ve heard from some Charge nurses that you like to go in the separate break room to chart or look up your patients and they were worried’ so I explained I like to go there sometimes on my break only for the peace and quiet especially on some crazy days and she’s like oh OK yep that makes sense.
So then I approached one of the charge nurses who I knew was the one who told my manager this and she was so rude to me. I was completely taken back from her cold response. I explained to her that I hope she wasn’t worried that I wasn’t staying on top of things and she goes ‘ ugh yes quite frankly I am concerned because you’re the only one who does it and I don’t think you’re charting in real time’ and scoffs and walks away. I literally felt like crying. Just needed to vent and shake it off. It completely killed my morale and I am so upset. To the point that I just want to look for another job. I am usually one to shake things off but this is killing my morale. Any advice or similar experiences??
Some of these replies are assuming the OP is actually charting in the separate break room. Which s/he did not say. S/he said it has come to his/her attention that the CN thinks or assumes that's why s/he's going in there.
Also, let's point out that one could do a fairly decent job of charting in real time and still have a thing or two that (if they wanted to use their break that way) could be charted. The difference is most people worry about it after break. And...what would the CN care if someone is keeping up with labs or even reading charts on break? There are many who don't use their break this way, because it's a break from all of that....but keeping up or reviewing charts/previous charting, etc., is not some kind of moral failure.
And....are we 10, here? If the CN really is concerned about these suspicions (which I highly doubt. Very highly), adults solve this easily: Pop your head in the "special break room" when the "offender" is in there, and (in the spirit of friendliness) say, "You doing okay--or is there anything you need help with? You should be able to relax on your break...?"
This is so dumb I want one of those "Easy" buttons to press.
This is why I declare that this CN is up to no good.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
On 9/10/2020 at 9:16 AM, Guest1156666 said:
So then I approached one of the charge nurses who I knew was the one who told my manager this and she was so rude to me. I was completely taken back from her cold response. I explained to her that I hope she wasn’t worried that I wasn’t staying on top of things and she goes ‘ ugh yes quite frankly I am concerned because you’re the only one who does it and I don’t think you’re charting in real time’ and scoffs and walks away. I literally felt like crying. Just needed to vent and shake it off. It completely killed my morale and I am so upset. To the point that I just want to look for another job. I am usually one to shake things off but this is killing my morale. Any advice or similar experiences??
I'm sorry that happened to you. I'm sure it would have been best for her to handle the issue directly instead of blindsiding you by leaving you out of the loop on an issue she seems very concerned about.
My only bit of advice would be this. Sometimes the only avenue to resolve an issue is to "confront", or raise the issue face-to-face. I personally dislike that route, but I learned if you want to get the best results take a deep breath and plan what you are going to say. Make sure to pick a time when your charge nurse isn't dealing with multiple issues and you aren't visibly upset.
Maybe you can ask for some time to talk when she isn't busy, which will give her a chance to think rationally about the issues, as it seems pretty obvious there is underlying tension in that relationship.
I certainly wouldn't quit over this if you otherwise love your job!
Sadly, it appears ERnurse81 has left the building as her username has been modified to the generic "guest user" that usually happens when a person deactivates their account. This turn of events might give us a better idea of how things went down. I
This turn of events might give us a better idea of how things went down.
Maybe, maybe not.
I have worked with very few CNs who wouldn't just naturally go with the extremely easy communication I posted above as a first response to a suspicion or concern about this. As a CN I certainly wouldn't be running to the manager ??? because some newbie was sitting in the "speshul break room ???"
I have worked with very few CNs who wouldn't just naturally go with the extremely easy communication I posted above as a first response to a suspicion or concern about this. As a CN I certainly wouldn't be running to the manager ??? because some newbie was sitting in the "speshul break room ???"
Oh, I don’t disagree with you but generally the reason people deactivate accounts in this manner is that they didn’t get the responses they wanted. Frankly I thought most of the ones here were pretty supportive and the OP’s follow up action was just short of an internet flounce. Her prerogative of course but it does make one wonder. ?
That definitely was not bullying. The charge nurse did the right thing by taking her concern to her boss. Her job is not to confront you but rather to run the unit on her shift.
I will also lay odds that there are other things you do that concern her. You might want to take this as an opportunity to evaluate yourself and see what might appear to be off to the other staff.
I completely agree that wasn't bullying, but disagree that the charge nurse shouldn't have talked to the nurse first before going to the manager. That's pretty basic nursing professionalism and just being a decent human being.
I completely agree that wasn't bullying, but disagree that the charge nurse shouldn't have talked to the nurse first before going to the manager. That's pretty basic nursing professionalism and just being a decent human being.
Yes - when a coworker takes something straight to a manager instead of at least trying to talk it out with a coworker, it leads to distrust, a sense of failure, and a breakdown in teamwork. Honestly, 9 times out of 10 it can be solved without escalating to the manager. That’s what a team is and working through problems is.
You don’t fit in with there “clique”. I’m sorry this happened but you’re going to want to quit and find another job. If you stay they are not going to treat you well and will probably report you for every little thing. I’m sorry but the battle of a nursing job is fitting in with the crew and if you don’t they will make your life a living hell. Quit immediately.
what you permit you promote, I would address it again and make it clear your preference is to be talked to and not about. Let you work speak for itself and be a great advocate for yourself...we often forget that we are as important as the people coming in the door, keep yourself in mind.
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
On 9/10/2020 at 5:42 PM, Kyrshamarks said:
That definitely was not bullying. The charge nurse did the right thing by taking her concern to her boss. Her job is not to confront you but rather to run the unit on her shift.
I will also lay odds that there are other things you do that concern her. You might want to take this as an opportunity to evaluate yourself and see what might appear to be off to the other staff.
The charge nurse is wrong in this case because she did not tell the RN her concerns first. The OP went about her business not knowing that there were concerns regarding her charting until she heard it from a secondary source, their boss. The way the charge nurse acted was simply unprofessional and likely an indication of how this charge nurse behaves in general... I don't particularly blame the OP if she does not feel apart of the team and is seeing red flags after professionally confronting the charge nurse, who basically continued to behave poorly. Since the charge nurse felt comfortable enough to give feedback on someone's performance to their boss, she should have enough balls to tell the OP the same to her face first.
JKL33
7,039 Posts
Some of these replies are assuming the OP is actually charting in the separate break room. Which s/he did not say. S/he said it has come to his/her attention that the CN thinks or assumes that's why s/he's going in there.
Also, let's point out that one could do a fairly decent job of charting in real time and still have a thing or two that (if they wanted to use their break that way) could be charted. The difference is most people worry about it after break. And...what would the CN care if someone is keeping up with labs or even reading charts on break? There are many who don't use their break this way, because it's a break from all of that....but keeping up or reviewing charts/previous charting, etc., is not some kind of moral failure.
And....are we 10, here? If the CN really is concerned about these suspicions (which I highly doubt. Very highly), adults solve this easily: Pop your head in the "special break room" when the "offender" is in there, and (in the spirit of friendliness) say, "You doing okay--or is there anything you need help with? You should be able to relax on your break...?"
This is so dumb I want one of those "Easy" buttons to press.
This is why I declare that this CN is up to no good.