Horrible Coworkers

tracytoon · Feb 23, 2005

We have one of these. She was a new, inexperienced nurse, and I oriented her and mentored her. Unfortunately, it became obvious that she is rather immature and has some self esteem issues. Whenever someone had a question and I answered it or explained it, she would pipe in and accuse me of trying to make her look stupid. I was transported back to the playground when she would pout and throw actual tantrums at work if other nurses were friendly with each other and not with her. She is very loud, she yells at staff, has picked fights with other staff at the desk, most recently when family members were in the building for a death. She withheld pain medication deliberately from one of her patients.

All of this was reported, finally, after trying to be just be courteous and professional, but I draw the line at cruelty or neglect to patients. The response I received from management was that "Her feelings were hurt." "Perception is everything". So I guess that that crap covers a multitude of sins. (Not in my book.) She has been moved to another shift where she can wreak havoc and her incompetence will be magnified. The staff on the evening shift cringed when I told them the news. I've worked with some difficult people, but never worked with someone like her who is the subject of such a universal lack of respect. She did threaten staff with physical assault to another associate and it was reported. She remains employed at the facility. Amazing.

LowPaidNurse0000 · Feb 23, 2005

I have worked in hospitals and long term care facility's, home health and alf's I have had bad exp. with numerous co-workers no matter where I go, but the worst exp. I have had are with some cna's. I work in southwest florida right now and all the cna's are from different cultures, which really makes it hard, beacuse they all speak a different language, and have different values's I guess.. I hate it when you tell them to speak english and they just totaly ignore you! Then they all go on breaks together, and leave the floor all at once, and you can never find them!! But unfortunatly thats all that apply down here for these postions, so we are stuck. I have written several cna's up and it never seems to do any good, they never get fired, or it takes like numerous write ups to get fired, because they need them, it's just so sad.......

Compassionate_Nurse · Feb 24, 2005

I'm really trying not to let her bother me but we work in a small area and we are the only 2 people in the department. She has picked fights with someone in every department and is very rude to the prisoners. I know they are prisoners, but they are people and we are suppose to be nonjudgemental and take care of them. The tension is so thick that you could cut it with a knife. I've avoided complaining about her because she's been through some personal problems in the past year, but I finally had to call my supervisor this past week and tell her that I was thinking about quitting. She has asked me not to quit until she can come next month and talk to us both. I really hate confrontation, but I just can't understand a nurse being so unprofessional and rude. She did the same with the last nurse who worked with her and now she's doing it to me. I like the work I do, so it is very hard to leave. I have another job offer but am debating what to do.

if it were me i would give it right back to her! its probably what she expects and probably what she wants too. :angryfire

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Feb 24, 2005

every unit I have ever worked has a staff member who is nasty, rude, cold and uncaring, speaks inapproiately to others including patients, we sometimes call that person the head nurse or charge nurse, at other times it is someone else. I would rather have the one I described though than deal with the lying snake in the grass of a staff member that lies, and lies, and lies on everyone but always is the savior. Funny how even in different places, things are the same.

Kitkat23 · Feb 28, 2005

How many of you out there have the misfortune to work with a nasty coworker. I work with a nasty woman with poor self esteem whose entire purpose in life is to make me miserable. She yells when she gets mad, then starts the passive aggressive behavior afterward. She acts like a 2 year old. I am at my wits end. I have managed to stay calm and not react to her nonsense but I'm just about at the end of my rope. Help!!! I need some advice on how to deal with this psycho.

:angryfire I'd write her up and bring the issue to the supervisor or administrator. You have a right to feel comfortable at the job and not put up with someone's miserable attitude. I understand that people have problems and issues outside of work, but when you're at work you should smile and leave the problems at home. Nobody deserves to work with a miserable coworker. Hell, I can't stand these people. They try to make everyone else miserable and they're a pain to work with. I mostly kill them with kindness but when it gets worse, just report it to the supervisor. :rolleyes: That coworker doesn't sound too mature for the job, whatever she's doing.

PDCNurse · Mar 3, 2005

Thanks for all your advice. I had finally had enough today and decided to look for another job. It's a real shame because I love my job but I don't like the stress of working with a nut job. I also took your advice and called my supervisor and reported her. She wants to sit down and talk with both of us about the problem. My supervisor is very nice, but I wonder if she will really be able to do anything. I can hear her out, but I am still looking for something else to do.

vamclouky3 · Mar 4, 2005

03/03/2005

In Nursing, there are "strong types" and "really tired of it". The strong types are the ones who make an effort to get along with the individual that is making the difficult task of taking care of the patient a problem, daily. And the other really tired of it meaning "had enough" got to take care of it now before I holla off and do something I might regret.

Never, ever, ever use that supervisor as your crutch they like to get in messes like this its what admins do...Meddle. If it becomes an issue with the Nurse Manager and its affecting your work then by all means SAY SOMETHING NOW!!!! The patient don't want to hear anything about they worried about themselves and competent persons to take care of them as you dignify the situation.

Stress is nothing to play with either...You did good by taking care of the situation and maybe they will now earnestly place you somewhere on another unit where you can still perform your nursing duties and they deal with the naughty unprofessional person through board policy.

Don't quit the hospital unless you have alot riding there and family priorities that will have to endure a change in lifestyle. So, take the time to find yourself first and then go out again to that person and explain nothing but you did not want to stop acting like a two year old and not profession like your supposed to act -- I am not your momma and believe me you will someday see my point of view but for now my place is with my patients somewhere else but not here with you. Don't offer anything else to this person she wanted to act like a child be professional and let matters rest.

Have a nice night. :rotfl: :uhoh21: :uhoh3: :uhoh21:

alintanurse · Mar 4, 2005

Thanks for all your advice. I had finally had enough today and decided to look for another job. It's a real shame because I love my job but I don't like the stress of working with a nut job. I also took your advice and called my supervisor and reported her. She wants to sit down and talk with both of us about the problem. My supervisor is very nice, but I wonder if she will really be able to do anything. I can hear her out, but I am still looking for something else to do.

Very smart! I have found that talking about the problem usually doesn't work. Behaviors generally don't change,by looking for another job. you will have a way out if things don't work out. Good luck!

MissPiggy · Mar 6, 2005

if it were me i would give it right back to her! its probably what she expects and probably what she wants too. :angryfire

I agree! Having been a nurse for 20 years now I have learned the hard way that what some people like this need is a confrontation. It has worked for me with other nurses as well as docs. It is a shame, cause I really don't enjoy confrontation but when you get to the point where you refuse to take any more and give it back, frequently it wakes them up to what they had been doing. Some folks, I believe, don't even realise what they are doing, while others just seem to be testing.

I am also careful to do it in the same type of setting that they were doing their thing in... i.e. if in front of other staff, do likewise, in front of patients, same thing. They will soon realise just how they made you feel and will hopefully back off, even if only temporarily. In that case, repeat PRN. :)

vamclouky3 · Mar 7, 2005

In reply:

With some persons you can fight a losing battle with a person that does not reform, so that puts you & the patient(s) in jeopardy by distractions that have nothing to do with A - B. Its the aptitiude that falls short of where the real problem began and how to fix it quickly. Find an avenue in private with a third person i.e. Nursing Supervisor or Nursing Chief and get it all out and decide who gets the boot or reassignment per person's choice.

Death of a patient because of distractions costs a Nurse their entire career. Eating crow is not part of the deal with a bad co-worker. Handle it and be strong cause if its not YOU then who? Take care.

I agree! Having been a nurse for 20 years now I have learned the hard way that what some people like this need is a confrontation. It has worked for me with other nurses as well as docs. It is a shame, cause I really don't enjoy confrontation but when you get to the point where you refuse to take any more and give it back, frequently it wakes them up to what they had been doing. Some folks, I believe, don't even realise what they are doing, while others just seem to be testing.
I am also careful to do it in the same type of setting that they were doing their thing in... i.e. if in front of other staff, do likewise, in front of patients, same thing. They will soon realise just how they made you feel and will hopefully back off, even if only temporarily. In that case, repeat PRN. :)[/quote
]

denurse1 · Mar 8, 2005

Thanks for all your advice. I had finally had enough today and decided to look for another job. It's a real shame because I love my job but I don't like the stress of working with a nut job. I also took your advice and called my supervisor and reported her. She wants to sit down and talk with both of us about the problem. My supervisor is very nice, but I wonder if she will really be able to do anything. I can hear her out, but I am still looking for something else to do.

I understand you completely! I just quit a job that I really liked because of a nasty bully nutjob coworker. I was 7P-7A CN and she is a 7A-7P LPN. Report was a total nightmare with her constant interruptions and badgering. She could not wait for me to finish report on a patient without interrupting with a question that I had not gotten to or a question about something totally irrelevant. Anything to break the flow of my report. Nothing my shift did suited her and she was very vocal about it. Saturday morning I reached my limit and called my DON to resign (I am still on probation and do not have to give notice). This morning I am supposed to go for a meeting with her, the DON, the RN supervisor, and the administrator. Since I am not the first to complain about this coworker, I feel that this is a complete waste of my time. She has treated others in the same insubordinate fashion that she has treated me. She has been counseled but never reprimanded. I had wanted to hold on to my job as a new position is opening in 2 weeks. I would not have to face this bully every morning but could remain at the same hospital in the ER. Just couldn't hold out. It's so unfair that the bullies chase away good help! As an RN as well as Charge Nurse, I feel some respect was due.

PDCNurse · Mar 8, 2005

I understand you completely! I just quit a job that I really liked because of a nasty bully nutjob coworker. I was 7P-7A CN and she is a 7A-7P LPN. Report was a total nightmare with her constant interruptions and badgering. She could not wait for me to finish report on a patient without interrupting with a question that I had not gotten to or a question about something totally irrelevant. Anything to break the flow of my report. Nothing my shift did suited her and she was very vocal about it. Saturday morning I reached my limit and called my DON to resign (I am still on probation and do not have to give notice). This morning I am supposed to go for a meeting with her, the DON, the RN supervisor, and the administrator. Since I am not the first to complain about this coworker, I feel that this is a complete waste of my time. She has treated others in the same insubordinate fashion that she has treated me. She has been counseled but never reprimanded. I had wanted to hold on to my job as a new position is opening in 2 weeks. I would not have to face this bully every morning but could remain at the same hospital in the ER. Just couldn't hold out. It's so unfair that the bullies chase away good help! As an RN as well as Charge Nurse, I feel some respect was due.

It's a shame that hospitals let people like this get away with this kind of behavior. It seems to be a problem in almost every facility. Even if you don't like someone, you should be adult enough to treat them professionally and with courtesy. Good luck with your new job. It's their loss.