Getting Thrown Under the Bus

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I'm heart-broken. I gave up a lot for this job, hoping that it would be my stepping stone in the department I wanted only to find out that I'm surrounded by a bunch of people who throw their co-workers under the bus. I have been at this job for two months, and after six months, I have the opportunity to transfer, perhaps to a sister unit.

I just don't get it. I'm not the kind of person who goes around throwing people under the bus. I work hard. I just don't understand how people can be this way.

How do you cope with toxic environments, power-hungry managers, and inflexible supervisors who couldn't give a rat's butt about your dilemma? Would I be burning a bridge if I transferred?

Why are women so cruel to each other? I just want to cry.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
To be honest the new person coming in and complaining about her bad schedule is going to rub the staff who've been around for a while the wrong way. Unless you have a signed contract guaranteeing you certain hours, they're not bound to any schedule, regardless of what you discussed in the interview.[/quote']

^Good point.

Unless you signed a contract, there's not much you can do; even on a letter offer they give that "fine print".

I think a better way of handling it was going to the manager or scheduling manager and stating the hours your got hired for; better yet creating a plan or reaching out to your nursing teamwork your schedule that you want can be fulfilled; spreading the teamwork around that you feel you for shafted from. :yes:

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

See I did that but it fell on deaf ears and emails were met with silence. I offered so many different solutions but each were shot down. The manager basically said that she didn't care and to suck it up. Now keep in mind she isn't the one creating a schedule but I've tried talking to the scheduler and she was abrasive to say the least. Now I'm stuck!

Thank god I didn't quit my second job or I would be in a world of hurt. Most employers would love to have someone like me who wanted every weekend and evening shifts. Instead, this is what I get!

Not sure what the extent of your situation but I pretty much went through the same thing in terms of confiding with a co-worker/ex-friend and being thrown under the bus.... My husband warned me to not share information with this particular person, but I did anyway. The only thing I can think why someone would do these type of things is that they are unhappy, jealous and want to make themselves look better in front of manager... at least that is my assessment with my ex co-worker/ex-friend.

Good luck with everything :) and please do watch what you say to co-workers in the future. You really cant trust anyone nowadays unfortunately.

Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Forget about everyone else and listen to the feedback you are getting from the unit manager. She is trying to tell you something that may be valuable to you. You have been evaluated as someone with poor collaborative skills. In other words, she does not think you are a "team player." Take that to heart and try to work on some team building. You will be a better nurse for it, and may earn her respect and your desired schedule when she sees you making an effort. Good luck.

It really does stink when you are promised hours that are not delivered.

As a student, I would observe all that I could as far as clinical skills. If you are going to get anything from this job, it is going to have to be looking at what it can do for you, and what you can learn long term.

You know how to be appropriate. That your co-workers are not is their axe to grind. If the hours completely distrupt your school schedule, then you need to change that now. School is most important. Otherwise, look for some silver lining, and if that is observing some clinical skills, getting familiar with meds specific to the place you want to be, getting to know the MD's order sets--whatever it is that can make you come out of this experience a little wiser.

Also, if you do not have a strong leader, and you have visions of leading in the future, mental note what it is that you will NOT do.

Best of luck!

Care to elaborate? If you have nothing constructive to add, then please stay out of my thread. I'm not in the mood.

Yes, I will elaborate. And your vicious tone will get you nowhere.

I’m of the philosophy that, “if they didn’t create the problem, cannot change the problem, then they don’t need to know about the problem” In this case, those would be your coworkers.

For your sake, I am sorry that your manager did not follow through on your initial agreement and your scheduler abrasive (going by what you wrote). But you should still take up your concerns with the right people (your manager & scheduler). Or make a decision about it.

But we are all humans, so you may have felt a need to gripe to someone about your raw deal. And that’s okay. But when it becomes so excessive, think about how it impacts on your co-workers' days. Your constant woes and complains would make an already long work day (12hours) seem even longer to them.

They probably got so fed up of hearing about it but too nice (or reluctant) to say it to your face, that they complained, if only to get you to stop with the constant complaints.

You can liken it to a dripping water faucet, when you are trying to get to sleep- it gets old pretty quick.

Not much of an optimist, is she?

(Sorry, the_optimist, I couldn't help myself. :) )

I lol'd myself:).

I am an optimist because I try to see the positives in a situation. I am not an optimist that I ignore that there are two sides to a story or refuse to be cognizant of truths.

Specializes in Cardiac step-down, PICC/Midline insertion.

I would suggest just sticking it out until you can transfer to the unit you really want. Or change hospitals altogether to a unit that is what you are describing and get a fresh start. Staying at jobs for a year or more doesn't really make you look like you're "job-hopping" in my opinion. A new person trying to find their niche maybe. Then lesson learned....never ever talk about your schedule, your pay, your evaluation...nothing of that nature with any co-worker, even those you would consider your "friend". The less people know about these things, the less dirt they could possibly have on you.

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

my dear, YOU came to us....... we only have decades of professional experience to assist you with..... if you were my employee....I would only ask you one question. "Can you do your job?"

Specializes in ED.

No matter where you go in life, there are a few simple truths you should know.....

1. Women are catty. We will all deny it and say "not me", but we know that we are.

2. When working for a company, scheduling will always be done on an as needed basis. Which means, you work when they say you are needed.

3. People lie. Simply put, unless it is in writing, don't believe what anyone tells you your schedule will be.

4. Nobody likes a whiner. We all have problems, we don't won't to listen to yours through our whole shift.

5. When going to a new unit, remember that to the people that have been working here, this is their house. You do not come in to someone's house and start criticizing it. It is offensive to the people that live there. Once you have been there for awhile, then you have earned the priviledge to criticize.

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
Forget about everyone else and listen to the feedback you are getting from the unit manager. She is trying to tell you something that may be valuable to you. You have been evaluated as someone with poor collaborative skills. In other words, she does not think you are a "team player." Take that to heart and try to work on some team building. You will be a better nurse for it, and may earn her respect and your desired schedule when she sees you making an effort. Good luck.

I'm not a nurse, I'm a student aide. As such, there is a handbook for student aides, like getting a certain number hours a week, limited night shifts and flexible. This has not been the case at all. Not only am I going entire stretches with no hours, I'm also being put on shifts that I was told in the interviewing process I did not need to work.

I feel like I was blind sided. I was willing to work with the full-time staff, but they (and management) are not willing to work with me. Should I transfer? I didn't have this issue with my other aide job, and scheduling wasn't ideal then, but at least management was willing to work with students.

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
my dear, YOU came to us....... we only have decades of professional experience to assist you with..... if you were my employee....I would only ask you one question. "Can you do your job?"

Yup! And that should be the only concern. I take great care of my patients, I am competent in my skills, I do what needs to be done...

I feel that is all that should matter. I guess I was very naive to think that grown women would be mature. If they had a problem with me, they should have come to me and not act like six-year old kindergarteners.

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