Getting dumped on by resource nurse who doesn't like me... what can I do?

[bluesky, BSN, RN]

Hi all.

There is an older than dirt nurse on days who just hates me and *always* assigns me the crappiest, busiest, not-really that sick, don't learn anything patients. Unfortunately, I tend to work mostly night shifts after her so this is is a recurrent thing. I just got my evaluation the other day and they said I was doing well but that ***I needed to start taking more complicated patients*** but this person won't assign me any, ever. I keep on telling management and they say that they've spoken to her but she's been there forever and they're sort of afraid of her too, I think. Every so often when other nurses are resouce, I do get sicker single pts... but unfortunately that only happens less than once a month.

What should I do?

[Elenaster]

Bluesky,

Sorry about the old bat projecting her misery onto you. Just ignore her as best you can and see if you can get one of your co-workers to swap assignments with you. Try to do it when you're going to be working several nights in a row so you can keep your assignment. You could also try getting to work a little early and telling her that management wants you to have a more complex assignment and she needs to change you to patients X and Y instead of A and B. If she refuses, write your manager a note on the spot and give specific examples of what she says. Don't ever worry about trying to get her approval because you won't. Every unit I've worked in has one just like her - worked there since they laid the foundation, holier-than-thou, know-it-alls that seemingly gets away with everything. Hang in there and maybe she'll retire soon.

[bluesky, BSN, RN]

Bluesky,

Sorry about the old bat projecting her misery onto you. Just ignore her as best you can and see if you can get one of your co-workers to swap assignments with you. Try to do it when you're going to be working several nights in a row so you can keep your assignment. You could also try getting to work a little early and telling her that management wants you to have a more complex assignment and she needs to change you to patients X and Y instead of A and B. If she refuses, write your manager a note on the spot and give specific examples of what she says. Don't ever worry about trying to get her approval because you won't. Every unit I've worked in has one just like her - worked there since they laid the foundation, holier-than-thou, know-it-alls that seemingly gets away with everything. Hang in there and maybe she'll retire soon.

Thanks for the laugh! That's such a good idea... to document as I go along... never would of thought of that. Aaaaahhh retirement_ wouldn't that be lovely.

[Gail-Anne]

I agree with above re: letting her know that you require different patients. Something to consider trying if that doesn't work.... ask for a meeting with her and your manager. Try something like " EEEE, I've been finding that you don't give me difficult patients even though I have asked you to and let you know that I feel I'm ready for them. Do you have any concerns that I and our manager need to be aware of? Is this the reason for you assignments?" This puts the ball in her court, she either has to put-up or shut-up, so to speak. If she says that she is concerned that you aren't ready, let her know that you will ask for assistance as needed.

As it says above, document, so you have specific info to fall back on if you have to go to management. Look on the bright side- you could be continually working with this nurse, not following her on shift!

[begalli]

Gosh, we have one person where I am do this as well. He's very cliquey and always gives the "good" assignments to his friends and those he perceives to be important, and it's SO obvious. He's very manipulative.

He is the ONLY person I observe behaving like this and we have 20 or so staff RN's and 2 asst nurse managers who regularly work resource and make assignments on night shift.

Every single person who works resource, I feel, is very fair in their assignments and takes into consideration who needs exposure to what while also taking into consideration what is available to them as far as staffing goes and what is best for the unit on any given shift. There is ALWAYS someone around who can help out nurses who may be taking a certain type of case for the first time. We always have a very good mix of skill levels.

I sometimes wish that others could see what the handful of my co-workers who are affected by his behavior see. It doesn't happen to me so much anymore because I called him on it privately (boy, there sure is a chill in the air when we work together and not by my doing, I'm very friendly and mature, I don't hold grudges - it's all him). He wouldn't dare give a crappy assignment to anyone he perceives to matter. And so those people who "matter" don't really see what's happening. And that's where the manipulation comes in. They think he's great, very smart, can handle anything. The smart and can handle most anything part is right, but he's awful with treating every nurse with equality, he's not great.

I only talk about this when someone comes to me looking for a confidant. I dunno, maybe I'm perceived to be a good listener. I usually recommend that they keep track of specific patients that they are assigned when he's on and then speak directly with him about it. Then, if they don't see an improvement, take it to the next level.

This is exactly what I did a few years ago. I said look, you assigned me chronic #1 and 2, chonic #3 and 4, chronic #5 and 6, the last three times you worked resource. I had names of patients and dates. I want something else and specifically I want....

As nurses, we have to speak up for our own learning needs. No one is just going to do it for us.

p.s. This doesn't happen very often because he doesn't work resource all that often, but it does happen every single time he does work.