How do you work with a ***** ???

mustangsheba · Feb 12, 2001

Sirens: Sounds like you made some impact. Good for you! Management must know something is up with the ****. It may be just a matter of time before her swan song comes up. I thought I could work with anybody too, but as I mentioned before, I have met my waterlucys. Three to be exact in 19 years. One whose behavior changed after my team and I confronted her and two who were incorrigibles even after confrontation. If you do approach her per Charles suggestion, do it off the hospital grounds. The only thing that would deter me is my size because I do believe that you have to get some people's attention with a 2X4. Isn't there anyplace else you can seek employment? Even at it's best, it sounds like you're understaffed. I love reading your posts. I have my very own stake - engraved. Good luck, chickadee.

Louie18 · Feb 12, 2001

Sounds to me like the same situation you would have between parent and child. ONE of you has to be the adult.

It sounds like in your situation ONE of you needs to be a NURSE.

Find out who she is.

Her behavior sounds to me like a defense mechanism to keep others from really knowing what causes this behavior within her.

There is a book called "The Pain of Obesity," I strongly recommend every person in the health care field find it and read it front to the very last page.

She is hurting somehow somewhere and all you see is her reaction to the pain.

For pain can be both physical AND psychological.

In 30 years of nursing and 43 different jobs, including two pools which sent me to probably another fifty, I have never met a person I did not like nor get along with. (If it were to happen I would find out why, because I too:

"GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY! (which encompasses her.)

Good Nursing.

Louie

Doc · Feb 13, 2001

Godzilla! LOL!

It's funny that most of the bitches are obese. I worked with one a few years back, we called her Jabba the Hut. Sometimes we used to call her The Blimp! I've found a lot of obese people have a real chip on their shoulder. To be fair, though, it must be pretty rough growing up as the fat kid, or even ending up obese. How come there's no self-help group for coping with the issues that come from being obese? Sounds to me like Godzilla badly needs one.

Doc

[This message has been edited by bshort (edited February 21, 2001).]

soundsLikesirens · Feb 13, 2001

Update: well I ended up working last night, anyway. Here's what happened...after I called in, I got to worrying about was discussed in our last unit meeting: self-staffing. I thought: oh, Lord: will I have to work with these people AGAIN and what about my usual "group", we all work as a team and I don't want to lose that...I called the asst. unit manager at the hospital and asked her about it...she said no, it was just an idea right now. (I'd thought it was to start on the next schedule; that's why I was concerned). She then asked why I called in...and I told her. She practically begged me to come in, because for some reason, the nurse who works the 3p-3a shift had also called in! I took ten minutes to think about it, called back and told her no...she kept on asked if I would please come in at 11 and do third shift. I told her okay, that it was against my better judgment but I would...she promised to speak to the unit manager, etc. I got there at 11pm and the House Supervisor comes on the floor as soon as I do. I got a fair patient assignment and an apology from the RN who was charging the previous night. She said she "didn't know" I had 12 patients. (?) Whatever; I don't really have a problem with her - I like her - it's Godzilla that gives me the creeps! Also, I got an LPN that is part of my group, and we work together as a team, so that was a big shot in the arm. Also we had 3 on the floor whereas, they usually split the floor. Come morning, the asst. unit manager comes in and is very appreciative. I do believe I made some serious points with all of this. To head off any further problems, I am simply going to tell her that I cannot work with Godzilla and to not schedule us together. Any makeup weekends - hopefully there won't be anymore because I would probably drag myself to work no matter how sick I was, rather than risk having to work with that ***** again!

soundsLikesirens · Feb 13, 2001

A surprise for me: I'd thought I could get along with ANYBODY. I'd thought I liked everybody..............NOT!!!!!!!

Mijourney · Feb 13, 2001

Hi soundslikesiren. I'm glad you make it through your weekend. Your post seems to indicate that you had more than a plateful with floating and patient care. Did I read correctly, EIGHT FS blood sugars at one time?! With insulin coverage?! That's amazing. If I was still in the hospital setting, "godzilla" would be second fiddle if I got a load similar to yours. With a patient load like yours, I'd probably look at "godzilla" as if I were looking through her and keep truckin'. As you did, I would have exercised judgment in calling in for the next night and not because of "godzilla." Is it standard for a nurse to be assigned a high ratio of patients who require crucial monitoring to be performed by the nurse at the same time? Even though perhaps not perceived as crucial as blood sugars, I also think it's ridiculous for one nurse to be assigned a high ratio of patients where each patient may require IVPB to be hung frequently. Am I being overly concerned about this?

[This message has been edited by Mijourney (edited February 13, 2001).]

grammied50 · Feb 21, 2001

Originally posted by soundsLikesirens:
I need advice...I work med/surg, and if we miss a scheduled weekend, we have to make it up. Well, guess what. My makeup weekend is working "with" the biggest ***** I've ever seen. I am so dreading this. Usually, things don't bother me...I mean, I like everybody I work with and I can get along with about everybody.....but this "nurse" doesn't like anybody...the last time I worked with her, she really pissed me off. She gets mad...ALL THE TIME...she is hostile, hateful, and spews venom on everyone....I can't stand the thought of working 2 twelve hour shifts with this ***** . Because, I know she is going to get me mad....the last time I "worked with" her, she came up to me when I was checking orders on a chart...she was simmering (as usual) and started mouthing off to me while I was TRYING TO CONCENTRATE ON WHAT I WAS DOING...I got pissed, turned around and told her to get away from me; that I wasn't interested in what she had to say...she did, but kept making comments under her breath...God, I got SO mad. I didn't say anything else but I was so pissed I could feel my blood pumping and I hate that feeling. To top it all off, we won't even have a clinical leader that weekend. There will be one other RN scheduled for 12, with more seniority than us, so hopefully she will make the assignments, etc. God I dread it......any advice?????? I am considering going to my unit manager and asking if there is ANY WAY to get out of working this this ***** ....help help

if i am not mistaken, this person't behavior may fall under "work place violence". it needs to be addressed by your nurse manager asap. if she chooses not to do so,then contact human resources. this is a serious issue. it is how more violent things start! is is abuse and should not be tolerated. if admin. does not respond,see your union rep. if you have one. deb

soundsLikesirens · Feb 21, 2001

Hi everyone. I thought this thread was closed, until I just happened to be passing by, just happened to be in the neighborhood and, well....you know. Actually, "Godzilla" is looking better every day because my regular group - the group I've been boasting and bragging about - now they're starting to act up. God, is there no end to it? The last night I worked was awful - I ended up in the hallway at 6am, venting to a really wonderful LPN...I was okay until she hugged me...then I started to boo-hoo. I was just so torn-up; so disappointed in my group, the ones I'd been bragging about. It was awful. It probably didn't help that I didn't take all my days off, but took a 12-hour shift but for DOUBLE-TIME - I couldn't say no! However, I am in the midst of three nights off and I am taking them all, I don't care what they are offering....the time off has done me good. I've decided to stick it out for a year, for the experience (I've been there almost 6 months already), and then I am going to investigate ICU nursing. There's an ACLS class starting soon and I registered for it today. So at least I'll know I'm not stuck there...I'll have some options, if I want them. It pays to think ahead, to prepare and plan. Also, I feel like I need it to float to the telemetry floor.........thanks for all the comments.

mustangsheba · Feb 21, 2001

Six months is enough where you are, sweetie. Get your ACLS and move on.

soundsLikesirens · Feb 22, 2001

The two positions in ICU are supposedly coming open in June, so I'll be hangin' around nearly a year, anyway. Plus I wonder if it would be any different anywhere else. But, at least in ICU I wouldn't routinely have ten to twelve patients. Anyway, just knowing that I don't have to stay there; that it isn't permanent, will make it easier, I am sure.......