Harrassment by Unit manager--what to do?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Harrassment by unit assistant manger

I have been working on a child/adolesent psych unit for nearly 2 years after becoming a nurse at the age of 57. From the start I had trouble with this manger-being dressed down in the nurses station, being told how she discussed me and my newbie errors with other nurses and being told that I esentially did nothing right. She made the statement many times in front of me " I will NEVER hire a nurse fresh out of school again"

I had an ally in another nurse close to my age who had gone through the same thing for the prior 6 years with this manager and who tried to assure me that it was not us but that this manager did not like new older nurses. I like my work and like most of my co-workers so I have managed to stay because I only speak to this manager when I absolutely have to and have no other conversations with her. It seemed this was working but today I am ready to lose it.

I was called into the upper manager's office today and expected her to speak to me about a minor matter with a borderline girl which I explained and took full responsibility for as a error on my part.

She did this but then proceeded to tell me that I was accused of speaking in front of an IA investigator about a pt conversation which included me speaking of "(censored) hairs". I stated I have never used that word in my life and said I was telling my co-worker who had not been in for several days of a pt who in speaking to her grandmother alleged "there are public hairs in the food". The upper manager continued to stae that an IA investigator was in the room which was false.

I now have a one month (and one year total) final notice.

This is a malicious lie because the manager actually thought this was the IA man but it was actually a security guard who is often on the floor who had to speak to the IA man as did I over a different incident in which I was only the med nurse. I am not allowed to discuss this with ANYONE but when the manager was leaving tonight I said"did you actually think that was an IA investigator" She has to have made the connection and know that I know who made the accusation.

Co-workers have advised me to call the upper manager tomorrow and insist that be removed as It is a lie. I have also been advised to document harrassment which I have started to do.

Anyone ever go through this? What did you do?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I think I have figured out what a (censored) hair is. I'm not sure what a one month notice is.

The whole situation sounds bizarre and I would probably find another job. Also, if you're up to it definately try to document and prove this horrid woman's outrageous accusations as false. It sounds as if the patients are starting to rub off on her, she sounds wacko.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

i am so sorry that this idiot has it in for you. it is sadly true that sometimes you are targeted by a "superior" who, for whatever reason, basically hates your guts.

after my job (in occupational medicine) was outsourced, i got written up for....

a) putting my initials on a stapler [my own];

b) not "knowing about" an important osha program [which i had run single handedly for 18 months and had to teach my new supevisor about myself] and

c) for leaving 30 minutes early (other nurses present) for an md appt. i had requested off for well in advance.

it became obvious that this witch was going to keep up until i quit or needed haldol myself. i did quit and have a marvelous new job with a supervisor who i adore as a new friend and a true professional.

i am 50 and have been a nurse 15 years, but in my case i was hated for knowing more than my supervisor about the plant in which we worked. (she got her fnp online, by the way, 8 months earlier!!)

this woman wants you gone. hold your head up, tidy up your resume, don't grovel, and don't explain anything in your resignation letter other than "i submit my resignation effective today and my last day will be [2 weeks from today].

this only mho of what worked for me, but don't let her drive you crazy. it took me six weeks of counseling to realize my former manager was a fruitcake and that i remain, as ever, a pretty good nurse and nice person.

good luck..:plsebeg:please don't give this nasty person control of your life, heart, or professional self esteem. keep us all posted.

pat:redpinkhe

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yeah Berniemcr it's time to find a new job. Don't worry what comes out of people comes back to them and one day this lady will pay for her lies but in the mean time go get another job because you usually don't win in these situations and it's just not worth it. You're a Nurse and there's a shortage out there so none of us should accept undue stress and harrassment. Good Luck and sorry you had to run into some nasty ?sx!Unfortunately alot of nurses are capable of eating their young, maybe it's the stress

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

I've been harrassed by two nurses since I've started. Both think that I'm a student Practical, I'm not worthy of even sweeping the floor on the unit. I put up with it for about 3 months, and then I told the one (when she started in on me) to get in line. She gave me a dumb look and I told her it wasn't her turn to ride my bum that day, she'd have to get in line. Then I told her I think your turn will be about next Christmas. She shut up and backed off and we got along fine for a few months until she was fired. The second one I don't work with very often now (thank God). I also told her her turn wasn't until next St. Patrick's day. I only have to deal with this one until Memorial Day (Pleasseeeeeeeeeee.. hurry up....) when I can finish out my year and go to work full time for Hospice.

As for what I'd do, I'd find another job and fast. People like what you've described are toxic and can really bring you down fast.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I've been harrassed by two nurses since I've started. Both think that I'm a student Practical, I'm not worthy of even sweeping the floor on the unit. I put up with it for about 3 months, and then I told the one (when she started in on me) to get in line. She gave me a dumb look and I told her it wasn't her turn to ride my bum that day, she'd have to get in line. Then I told her I think your turn will be about next Christmas. She shut up and backed off and we got along fine for a few months until she was fired. The second one I don't work with very often now (thank God). I also told her her turn wasn't until next St. Patrick's day. I only have to deal with this one until Memorial Day (Pleasseeeeeeeeeee.. hurry up....) when I can finish out my year and go to work full time for Hospice.

As for what I'd do, I'd find another job and fast. People like what you've described are toxic and can really bring you down fast.

I love the way you handled those two.:yeah::lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I would go to HR also. They may be looking for ammunition to get rid of her.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This manager is abusing and bullying you. Horrible. I experienced something similar in my first job but I quit after 2 months. You need to go to HR and perhaps see if an employment attorney could help you. You worked there long enough you need to protect your name and potential reference from this place. I presume you have no union or rep?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.

I hope you run not walk out of that job. It is poisonous. I did a short stint as DON in LTC. Hired by a great administrator who was leaving, worked for the #$%^%$ from Hades. She wanted brown nosers and wasn't sure what I knew and didn't know so guess I was a threat. Had plenty of agency when I started and none and fully staffed when I quit. My ADON was her plant. On my six months eval about the only thing I did right according to her was to show up everyday. I quit, never looked back and while I appreciate what I learned, I'll never let myself be in that position again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, I have been through this, when I took my OR course through a bursary that was offered to nurses who were specifically interviewed. I took the course, passed with honors and accepted a PT job. The manager had originally wanted me to take FT, but because of the staffing problems they had on the floor, and my horse show hobby, I thought it would be better for everyone if I remained part time with some options as to when I picked up shifts. The manager proceeded to encourage my preceptor, my instructor and several others she could influence to begin documenting my "incompetence" so that she would be able to call me into her office on a weekly basis to degrade my skills. I was brand new, nervous and under immense pressure because it didn't take long to figure out that her goal was to have me quit voluntarily so that I would have to repay the bursary. They first attempted to have me quit before the program was even finished, by giving me horrible reviews and having long documentation of so-called problems the preceptor was having with me. I refused to be squashed and reported the problems to the program head. They got me new preceptors. I finished, but it continued on into my orientation. I was under so much stress that I didn't sleep, couldn't eat, was having anxiety attacks and my performance no doubt suffered. I finally gave up.

So, to answer your question, yes, managers will make up s___ to suit their motives, and there's very little you can do about it because there is usually an established group that knows and will help them out, standing behind them as so called witnesses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Maybe a fresh outlook is what you need eh?

Try looking around, nursing is such a mobile work force and you may find something you really like else where.

We certainly are in a position we do not have to put up with management treating us like this.

The more it goes on to her it looks as though this is acceptable behavior.

Ditch the witch and move on. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It really sounds like either your manager is a nut who has a problem with you, or...maybe you really aren't a good fit on that unit. (Sorry, as a manager myself I know there's 2 sides to the story.) Either way, you should resign and find yourself another job so that you can have a fresh start. It's a big world out there, and you have many options now that you have that RN license! Move on before you get fired, it will be better for your career and for your ego.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment