Handling chauvinistic male charge nurse

[pedicurn]

I work with a recently promoted male charge nurse who I would best describe as a clever 'men lead, women follow' type.

He is a second career type with a professional background ....smart and accomplished in areas outside of nursing.... but with only a couple of years of nursing experience.

He was acceptable as a junior staff nurse but loathsome to several of us who picked up upon his poor attitude. Leaving his messy bedspaces for his female coworkers to tidy was standard behaviour. Am quite upset this guy was promoted over-and-above several more experienced others with the same smarts and degree

This guy irritates me . Constant need to 'lead' me despite me having so much more experience and the same BScNursing degree....even as a staff nurse.

He has really stepped over the line a couple of times eg 'look at me when I am talking to you' .... LOL

However he usually knows how to stay within boundaries but at the same time be subtle with his expression of his perceived importance. He alters his body language to do this eg makes sure he is standing up and I'm sitting when he is telling me something.

Or he uses a slightly dismissive tone when I voice my opinion. Or he walks away immediately after saying his piece thus cutting out participation from anyone else.

He is subtle .... but he's clever with it.

He is an evangelical type and I suspect his beliefs are responsible for his offensive 'men lead and women follow' attitude.

But of course he knows he needs to keep religion out of the workplace. Because the moment he brings religion in, we will nail him.

I need to have several effective retorts up my sleeve that allow me to both maintain my self-respect and stay out of my managers office.

Any ideas ??

[Murse901, MSN, RN]

If the charge nurse in question were not male, then he would not be treating the OP like a *male chauvinist* and we wouldn't have a thread.

Thank you for proving my point. This is a gender issue, but it's been made a gender issue by the OP.

It's already been pointed out this if the guy wasn't such a sexist douche, she wouldn't have these issues. It's not about him being male. It's about his behavior AS a male. Which is why "annoying and overbearing" as you suggested for the thread title just wouldn't cut it.

Wait, so females are allowed to exhibit this behavior but males are not?

And seriously? "annoying caucasian charge nurse?" That doesn't compare, unless the OP is a person of color or in a member of a historically subordinated group in some other capacity.

You're failing to grasp the concept of an analogy.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

No, you're failing to grasp the extent of your male privilege. Either that, or you do understand, but you're determined to deny it so you're playing dumb. Either way I've wasted enough time arguing with you tonight.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Just love the term Jackwagon, Canes. Makes me laugh.

DonaldJ, exactly how tall are ya?

Let it gooooooooooo.

[Murse901, MSN, RN]

When it's all said and done, the OP wanted to find a way to "get back" at and "nail" the charge nurse. Had the issue of gender not been focused on by the OP, my advice would have still been the same. Go to work, give the best care you can to your patients, and go home.

When a co-worker or supervisor gets under your skin to the point that you're concocting plans to destroy them, they've already won.

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

Good heavens..how in the world do you know what he's thinking? Taken any Vulcan mind reading classes recently?

You know, I've read a bunch of your posts...you don't really have a leg to stand on. Period. You're not looking for input regarding your situation but justification for your own divisive behavior.

[Murse901, MSN, RN]

DonaldJ, exactly how tall are ya?

Let it gooooooooooo.

6' flat. Higher with those cool new Skechers. Does that qualify me for short man syndrome?

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

When it's all said and done, the OP wanted to find a way to "get back" at and "nail" the charge nurse. Had the issue of gender not been focused on by the OP, my advice would have still been the same. Go to work, give the best care you can to your patients, and go home.

When a co-worker or supervisor gets under your skin to the point that you're concocting plans to destroy them, they've already won.

Oh for goodness sake ... we are talking about inapproriate behaviour.

Even better if he slips into the illegal behaviour territory ..... because it will be so much easier to report him and he will get 'nailed' for it.

Unless he improves ... he is the person who is choosing to behave in this way and will be responsible for destroying himself.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Onaclearday-yes, I love the term jackwagon. Gets the point across without being dinged for cussing.

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

Good heavens..how in the world do you know what he's thinking? Taken any Vulcan mind reading classes recently?

You know, I've read a bunch of your posts...you don't really have a leg to stand on. Period. You're not looking for input regarding your situation but justification for your own divisive behavior.

Perhaps you need to go back and look at the facts ....

Only two years experience, no graduate education and no leadership/people skills.

Now compare that to what is required from female charge nurses.

We do actually have a leg to stand on .... perhaps even a case for discrimination.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

6' flat. Higher with those cool new Skechers. Does that qualify me for short man syndrome?

Well, it depends. I'm 5'10". Do you slouch?

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

Onaclearday-yes, I love the term jackwagon. Gets the point across without being dinged for cussing.

LOL

Might add .... this is a case where we do want them to fall off the wagon

[Murse901, MSN, RN]

No, you're failing to grasp the extent of your male privilege.

Male privilege in a field that is heavily dominated by women. Riiiight. With the ratio of females to males in nursing, the chances are good that a woman put him in the position that he's in. I seriously doubt that if this guy had a "me man, me bash woman over head with club" mentality, that he would be promoted by his female superior. This argument may fly in other fields, but I don't buy it in nursing.

Either that, or you do understand, but you're determined to deny it so you're playing dumb.

I'm not the one that couldn't figure out an analogy...

I never said that gender bias does not exist. I never said that males are never promoted over females. But, in this case, with the limited information presented by the OP, I don't buy it.

Either way I've wasted enough time arguing with you tonight.

I graciously accept your concession of defeat.