First job after LPN licensing & Being treated with disrespect!

[Mary0000]

Hi I need help on making a wise decision. I just started my career as an LPN and my first week has been hell. I was hoping this dream job would focus on patient care but so far it has been gossiping, a lack of respect from colleagues due to my preceptor trying to make me look incompetent. I was put with this preceptor to train but so far the preceptor leaves out important details as far as where to chart important information therefore the doctors are complaining to management that I'm not doing the job correctly. Management believes everything the preceptor says and gives her high fives and congratulates her on doing a great job. I'm thinking the preceptor is making up lies about me behind my back to make me look incompetent. Management and the preceptor seem to be good friends. The manager makes her the leader in the area and totally disregard that we both are LPNs. She prefer to treat me like a tech. Management makes these huge announcements in front of other team members that the preceptor is the leader and we must follow her lead. I've tried to talk to manager but she always says, ask your preceptor if you have questions.

When I am seeing patients, the preceptor interrupts my time with the patients and states, speed it up with your assessments In front of the patients". She also will whisper to the doctors that I take a long time with assessments so now the doctors have started to interrupt my time with the patients. The preceptor sits and gossips with the techs and since her influence on them, now they don't have conversations with me and have no respect.

When I took this job as a new grad, I was hoping to focus on patient care and just being there for my patients as well as a positive welcoming atmosphere but it has been drama and backstabbing. I graduated at the top of my class and for someone to try and make me look incompetent because I'm not being trained correctly and because I'm the new employee is unacceptable. Being that this is a dream job for me, should I leave or stick it out and just ignore this behavior?

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

If I recall correctly, your supervisor has told you explicitly that this nurse is to be viewed as the team "leader." You seem to have a real problem with seniority and think that because you have the same license, you bring the same assets to the table. This could not be more wrong. You are a brand spanking new nurse and need to soak up everything this nurse can give to you. Is she going overboard? I have no idea. But your other thread suggests strongly that you don't seem to understand that finishing at the top of your class only a few short months ago doesn't put you on par with experienced nurses. You have tons to learn that nursing school didn't have time to teach you.

Also understand that wherever else you may go, it would be almost unheard of that you would not have a hierarchy with regard to seniority, knowledge, and experience that will trump the fact that you have the same license. Count on this and try to be a better "student" until you have several years under your belt, or you will find yourself making the same complaints over and over; only after much angst will you realize who the common denominator was in all of these situations. And by the way, as an RN who worked years in ICU, a post cath lab unit, endo, and OR, I've had many a day when the charge nurse (same license as I possess) told me to go to lunch. It's not that big of a deal. It's part of her job to help manage the flow, as coverage must be found for each nurse while they are off the unit eating lunch. If I had a legitimate issue with the timing of that, I'd tell her/him about it, and of course they would work with me on that if it were possible to do so.

[cleback]

Have you tried to actually engage her in collegial discussion of needs instead of becoming defensive? I say this because 1) you're new and very well could be missing things and 2) it would help build trust and mutual respect.

The lunch stuff just sounds petty and you should be able to come to an agreement with her without quitting.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

broughden said:

Why is it every other job related post on AN is exactly like this?

"Something bad happened to me at work. Should I quit?"

Horrible crap is going to happen to you at almost any job you have, at some point. Get used to it.

1. Identify the problem.

2. Document the problem. Keep notes on the behavior that is taking place, when it takes place and how it affects you.

3. Approach your supervisor, HR or both and request a meeting to discuss this problem.

4. Calmly and professionally convey the problem and how this is affecting your work. How this is creating a hostile work environment for you.

Basically put on your big person pants and defend yourself. Dont let one idiot run you off a job and potentially ruin your work history. Let HR or your supervisor handle them.

Unless you are being physically or sexually assaulted or harassed, or your license is being put in jeopardy, your work drama really isnt that bad. Handle it, and defend yourself.

You should have had a number 5, and that is:

5) Do some honest soul searching to see if you are in any way contributing to the problems at hand.

[Triddin]

You can definitely leave if you are that unhappy but you'll possibly run into the same problems again.

Again, let's play the game of alternate theories.

- again, in icu, and I get orders from my charge nurse to do things anD to go in break if things are lagging behind. There are definitely nicer ways to phrase these orders than others, but a common thing for charge nurses to do to keep the flow of the unit. I had another charge nurse who would tell me how to do things, but it was her way of teaching (she was one of the smartest nurses I've ever met). Her delivery could have been better, but she always passed on valid information. Also, with only the two of you on, I'd be more concerned if your former preceptor was not checking up on you frequently p. You are still learning how to be a nurse.

- everyone in our ICU has the same education but those with experience get the leadership positions because they have experience and can help newer nurses

- sometimes it takes a while for people to warm up to you ( see above mentioned charge nurse). Buying gifts won't magically make you friends. She doesn't have to be nice, just professional and respectful.

- gossiping ideally shouldn't happen on the work place. Is she talking about coworkers? Management? Her his and who won't keep the toilet seat down? I feel it's more likely the techs flock to her because they've worked together for a while and they are friends.

- no offence, but I doubt she cares enough to try and run you off the job. Nothing I've read in the past two posts suggests that. It might be something as simple as a personality clash. It might take her timeto warm up to you. You might be irritating her with some of the things you do or don't do. I don't know but it's rarely a one directional event.

So you can quit. It's generally frowned upon and I'd personally have another job lined up before doing so. Could you talk to her? Use specific examples and use "I feel" and "this makes me feel" statements. If that doesn't work, at least you tried and can explain that for your next interview. Just be prepared that she may have some issues with you too.

[beekee]

I get the sense that drama follows you wherever you go.

[vanilla bean]

beekee said:

I get the sense that drama follows you wherever you go.

I'm suspecting this as well. In addition to the content of the post, there's the title with all the !!! which in and of itself is pretty dramatic, lol.

[vanilla bean]

Mary0000 said:

She talks nicely to all the other workers (techs) & respects them but when she approaches me, she tries to give me orders. It's impossible to work with her.

It doesn't sound like it's impossible to work with her. It sounds like you're the only one having a problem with her.

[halosfire]

It seems as though some of you nurses are giving this new nurse a hard time. I am sure you have all come across a bossy nurse who may be jealous or feel threatened by this new nurse. Believe me after 30 years of nursing there are still rude and unprofessional nurses in every job. I would try to work it out however if it continues I would report it and maybe have a sit down with manager and the 2 nurses .Ladies sorry but sometimes:happy: they just don't like you no matter how hard you try.Give this nurse a break~

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You may have the same title, but you are new. Anywhere you work, a good senior nurse should still watch out for you and the patients, especially if there are only two of you.

Be grateful for her continued guidance, and get rid of that chip on your shoulder.

"I am debating on putting my notice in to leave this area ". Feel free, imagine answering the question as to why you are leaving.

[Neats, BSN]

I think people who precept think of themselves as a leader with responsibility, someone who likes order, someone who wants to impart their knowledge onto someone else (does not matter what the reason is) in short a preceptor is a leader/teacher/mentor.

It is hard to step away from this role and just assume you are my equal once your X number of weeks are completed. You are like my child who is now a teenager...still in need of guidance.

You maybe competent but I think a different approach would fix your issues. Since it is just the two of you why not let the person who has been there the longest assume the team leader roll. Quite frankly I really do not care who is in charge as long as I get a lunch or as long as the work is done in a competent manner within policy/procedure and does not cause me more work than I can handle/should do if I made the decisions.

I agree with a lot of others here about leaving, you go somewhere else it is same stuff different faces. Your issues with others will go with you until you learn to communicate and rid yourself of "control".

Lastly I want you to know when I started out in LTC as an Administrator- I took over that facility, I felt ready to assume my role as the Administrator. I was there for at least 13-14 hours daily and would run the staff ragged until one day the staff stepped up said they could not take it any more and if change needed to happen I should let them do their jobs. I was the administrator but smart enough to know these people cared about me enough to want to help me out. I would be more worried if your mentor does not communicate with you.

[Mary0000]

I have no problem with an experienced nurse nor any type of leadership. This has all to do with respect and that should come naturally as with common sense. Also I have been told that the "experience" nurse has a jealous streak...

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Why would an experienced nurse who has a good rapport with the rest of the staff be jealous of a nurse fresh out of school?