Belligerent Coworker

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I had an issue last week with a coworder cussing me out in the breakroom.. she was on break.. I was not.. basically this person is a nurse aid.. she never does what I ask her to do.. always has an attitude with me.. and finally Friday her attitude escalated to the point where she cussed me out in front of other coworkers.. I wrote her up and she was given a 'stern' warning.. nothing else.. There have been countless problems with this employee, not only myself, but others have complained about her.. now.. I am looking for another job.. I have been at my current job for a year now..(hospital-med-surg floor) and I just realize that managent will do nothing to get rid of the riff-raff.. I am so upset and just dont want to go to work this week.. It has caused me so much stress. Are all hospitals this way? Is this normal that people can get away with this typeof behavior at work??? Need some advice.. even if I have to stay at this job for the two week notice, its a nightmare to think about it. Please help!

Unfortuntly, there are a lot of places which are run by aides. I've left a couple of jobs because of aides like this and am glad I did.

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

Firstly, Welcome to allnurses. There are difficult co-workers no matter where you work the difference is in how management handles these issues when they come up. Sounds like your facility needs a warm body no matter what comes out of their mouth or how they perform their job and I wouldn't want to stay there either. I think you handled it appropriately.

welcome.jpg

Diary/Dairy, RN

1,785 Posts

:welcome:

Good luck finding a new position!

annmariern

288 Posts

Specializes in vascular, med surg, home health , rehab,.

Hi, sorry to hear your having to deal with this; have dealt with the same. Made for as nightmare shifts where I basically had a CNA who ignored our mutual pts call lights, walked away when asked any questions, like what the morning VS were, etc. In the end she self destructed, freaked out the Nursing supervisor (she called security). And she still wasn't fired! Just moved. Don't get it myself, but my only advice is talk to your charge and ask that your assignments be separate, avoid any interaction with her. Sad your having to change jobs over someone elses unprofessional behavior and your management allows it to happen. Mine too. Good luck with your new job.

"I LUV IT!"

6 Posts

unfortunately it seems i have spent more time trying to build a report with my coworkers than with the people that i take care of! i have worked with some people whose integrity and morality are down below the gutter. i have had people swingin' fingers in my face telling me what they "ain't gonna do" and attitudes from the depths of hades... and i have also worked with the most pleasant people who i would trust with my life. you never know what people are capable of doing and things have known to get physical between coworkers. get out of that place! if a company allows their employees to behave that way, it doesn't look so well on them! believe me there are other places out there that would appreciate you!

Midwest4me

1,007 Posts

Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

That's a hostile work environment if ever there was one. Go up the ranks of management until the "top dog" is notified; do that whether you stay or go.

On the other hand complaining about her could get you labeled as "not a team player" despite the fact that she used abusive language towards you--I've seen that happen. I don't blame you for wanting to seek other employment. Good luck to you!

CHATSDALE

4,177 Posts

GET OUT

if you cannot get anyone to do their work and you are responsibile for the care you really need to give notice and run with your license clutched in your hot little hand

texasfr

2 Posts

Thankyou all for your support. I have been feeling so alone about this job situation. Seems no matter who I talk to at work, nobody wants to get involved etc.. I can't tell you how your kind and supportive words have encouraged me. I am afraid of what might happen next with this coworker.. who knows what she is capable of doing. Someone told me she has thrown things at nurses.. and I just can't believe she has gotten away with this behavior.. I dont know how Texas laws somehow do not apply to employees inside this hospital. I am looking for new work this week.. I have a job interview tomorrow. Thanks for understanding and giving me encouragment. God Bless...

YellowFinchFan

228 Posts

unfortunately it seems i have spent more time trying to build a report with my coworkers than with the people that i take care of! i have worked with some people whose integrity and morality are down below the gutter. i have had people swingin' fingers in my face telling me what they "ain't gonna do" and attitudes from the depths of hades... and i have also worked with the most pleasant people who i would trust with my life. you never know what people are capable of doing and things have known to get physical between coworkers. get out of that place! if a company allows their employees to behave that way, it doesn't look so well on them! believe me there are other places out there that would appreciate you!

it's everywhere - terrible employees who somehow manage to keep their jobs no matter how horrible they behave. however...at my place they finally cleaned house (new manager) in one year the new manager fired one terrible nurse and a few hostile nsg assts. one was so horrible that i did all i could to avoid working with her - no matter how polite or civil i was to her - she was nasty. it was unreal and everyone knew she was a miserable person. finally she was forced out (they tried to reassign her and she refused) it was a wonderful day on our unit.

i also heard about some nsg asst who threatened to assault the asst mgr outside the hospital and another one actually punched an rn and broke her nose.

thankfully right now all of the nsg assts are great, hardworking and professional. as they say one bad apple can ruin it for all!

YellowFinchFan

228 Posts

Thankyou all for your support. I have been feeling so alone about this job situation. Seems no matter who I talk to at work, nobody wants to get involved etc.. I can't tell you how your kind and supportive words have encouraged me. I am afraid of what might happen next with this coworker.. who knows what she is capable of doing. Someone told me she has thrown things at nurses.. and I just can't believe she has gotten away with this behavior.. I dont know how Texas laws somehow do not apply to employees inside this hospital. I am looking for new work this week.. I have a job interview tomorrow. Thanks for understanding and giving me encouragment. God Bless...

Keep your distance from her - stay professional - patient care is #1 etc

Some people just love to be miserable, nothing you can do about it and not worth the mental/physical stress

stitch2006

3 Posts

When I first started at my first job as a new grad, there was this nursing tech that had it in for me. My VS were always late, disappeared when I need a boost or to turn a pt, refused to do my noon vitals if I didn't tell her by 11am. I finally had it one day and had all this pent up anger that I finally snapped and asked Why are you always having an attitude with me? The response of course was, "Attitude? you haven't seen nothing yet" But honestly, after that episode, we had a great relationship and are constantly joking around and now she is always there when I need her. I guess she thought was the type that she could step all over on.

Hopefully everything works out with you! Good luck.

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