Gossip

[pppp87]

I've been a nurse for over 3 years. My current position is in a group home setting that is funded by the state. We have several different group homes with adults who have DD. My position before working here was on a step down floor, so total different ball game. It's been a somewhat difficult transition for me, because I'm used to "acting now", having the MD on standby for whatever I may need. I try not to abuse that principle and the MD actually encourages me to call about anything, even if it's just me not having a good feeling about the resident. I've worked in a nursing home before also, where we were able to act somewhat independently of the MD. If Johnny gets a scratch on his leg, and he's not allergic to ointment, it's 5 am in the morning, just apply some and follow up in the morning. My current job is state-funded and our DON is all about calling MD first for orders. I work on day shift so it's not a big issue.

So, my issue with this job is mainly the gossip. It is SO prevalent. To the point where people won't tell you to their face what they think or question your actions, but will raise all kind of hell behind your back and notify supervisors. Apparently, the new gossip about me is that I call the MD about everything and don't use nursing judgement to carry things out. This was told to a staff on my home and asked to be anonymously told to me. Smh. I've called the doctor 3 times last week, one was for hydrocortisone for a rash, one time for barrier cream for a stage 1 coccyx (we need MD order for any ointment). Last time was a call after a resident had seizure like activity, and threw up. He sat down, I checked his vitals and systolic was 82 in one arm and 84 in the other. I called the MD, who told me I needed to call an emergency call to our clinic nurse right away (meaning the clinic nurse will have to come out and assess and bring him back to the clinic for monitoring). I called the clinic nurse, who got upset because she had several other things going on. She said the staff needed to bring him. I told her staff is shorthanded right now and can't, but regardless MD requesting emergency call since he's hypotensive. All she focused in on was the fact that I said staff was shorthanded and can't, and got furious that they were being called out. This MD is known to always ask for residents to be seen in the clinic when you call about anything. But anyway, I guess word is getting around that I called an emergency call simply because the staff was shorthanded, which was not the case.

I usually don't care when people gossip but to attack my nursing judgement because I "call too much"? And then to not have the guts or ethical conscience to discuss it with me or at least my supervisor? I care immensely about my residents and try to act as if they were kids or grandparents. If my child gets a scratch on his leg, I want him on some Polysporin. Unfortunately as a nurse, I can't just apply it and run on about my day. I have to get a MD order to protect my license. What if my resident has an allergic reaction and I've been applying ointment BID for a few days?

I'm going to talk to my supervisor later. But I just really hate that this place is full to the brim with gossip. It wouldn't matter if people actually directly called me out on whatever they thought was wrong, but behind the back insaneness is really annoying and frustrating. Any tips on how to deal with this?

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

I'm reading this over 6 months after you posted it. How are things going? Let me know if you still need support with this. :)