I just started a new job a month ago, and one senior co-worker is outright mean. I do not want to divulge details about where I work but it is in a doctors office setting. I don't know if I am just losing my mind, being too sensitive, or if this is truly bullying. I need insight on how to deal with a co-worker.
Again, I started working at this facility a month ago. The co-worker that normally trains new employees is out on leave but will be back in a month. I haven't met her yet. The nurse that is training me (and another new employee) is downright unprofessional (and that's putting it lightly). Every other sentence involves cursing (and in front of the patients). Management seems to LOVE he. She does do her job well, but it's how she treats others (me included) that gets me.
Let me start off by saying that cussing doesn't bother me at all but I feel there is a time and place for it and at work, in front patients, isn't that time. She also farts, a lot. I am being serious. I know you're probably laughing right now but picture yourself being in a confined space 12 hours a day with this going on. She will just let it rip wherever she is and laughs about it. Again, I get that if you gotta go, go but MY GOSH...every 1 or 2 hours and LOUDLY in front of everyone? At least we do have spray.
Finally, for the part that really has got me upset is that she is very condescending when she trains this other new nurse and myself. She tells us one time how to do something and gets very frustrated if we don't understand it the first time. I'm slow right now with the paperwork (I'm new) but she will literally tap her foot while I'm trying to complete it (it's written). This negative energy that is just radiating off of her prevents me from being able to concentrate on what I'm trying to learn. After I FINALLY complete my paperwork one day, I made a comment that I was slow and sorry. She said, "Well, this is a fast paced environment". That threw me back but I just smiled and said, "Well, I'm new right now but I will get faster." She then rolled her eyes and sighed. Good grief, am I back in high school. I kind of laughed (that's what I do when I get really mad). I think that made her even angrier. She will also whisper to the other coworker constantly and laugh at times when I or the other new nurse says something.
She does constructively criticize us at times but most of the time she lets us know everything we are doing wrong in a very condescending way. The other co-worker that has been there longer than her just does whatever she basically says. A different co-worker told me that this mean nurse has already made 2 other new nurses quit their job and stated that it was a very toxic environment.
When I asked "mean nurse" how I was doing she shook her head and said, "You got to get the paperwork down". That's all she said. I smiled and told her I would and that I'm new. Awkward silence followed.
Why am I still there? I love what I do. It isn't "typical" nursing and it's a relatively low stress job (if that mean nurse wasn't there). I'm also waiting for the senior nurse that has been out on leave to come back. After she's back I can then see how the dynamics really are. I don't feel like I know enough about this job to smart back off to her. I need her for her knowledge. After I feel like I know my job well I will be more comfortable putting her in her place (if she don't put me in my place first).
Thanks for listening to this long rant (it was more like a journal entry) but I also need advice. Being new is hard enough and this co-worker is really getting under my skin.
