Help! New Manager Blues!

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Nov 14, 2005

This is a little long, but here goes:
I have been working nights on an acute psych unit for over 12 years. We have only had 2 managers during this time, one retired but stayed on for the 9 months it took to find a replacement. It has been 3 months now with a new manager and I am ready to quit.
I have been in a position of team leader/ educator and all the night shift and many of the day shift staff have gotten used to coming to me with issues etc. New manager is defensive (understandable) though I have done everything in my power to be supportive. But any time there is anything going on that I get asked about the manager's response is that "that is not your place". I have tried to encourage staff to talk to her, but she has put just about everyone off with an unapproachable attitude.
I realize how difficult it is to come into a situation like this, but now she has begun to write people up in a punitive way for the slightest things. We have been having trouble with a couple new techs who have been known in town for causing trouble, and they having succeeded in staff splitting. I have tried to stay fair and supportive to everyone and as a result, these 2 techs went to the manager with complaints about me "creating a hostile work environment" that were completely fabricated.
I have never been "written up" in my career, and although the complaints were "unsubstantiated" I was given a written memo that says if there are any more complaints about me or if I "retaliate" I will be Terminated! The manager is not receptive to me discussing this with her, in fact she informed me of this by writing a "memo" and tossing it in front of me at the end of my shift!
I am so upset about this, and I don't know what to do. There has already been Human Resources involvement with these 2 techs, and they are not receptive to any further complaints. I feel like I am unable to do my job for fear of more fabricated complaints, and on a locked, acute psych unit, this is very frightening.
I am in an advanced degree program being paid for by my employer, and for 12 years I have loved my job. I do not want to leave, but I am now getting elevated BP's while at work from the stress of all this.
Any suggestions?

First, defend yourself against the write up.

Your manager is not the last stop in your chain of command. If you have been there for 12 yrs, somebody higher up ought to have both a rational head and a higher opinion of you!

Since you already attempted to address it with her, inform her that you are now going to take it 'up the chain of command'.

Otherwise, adv. degree program or not, you will prob be looking for another job.

It's a sad fact that some new managers stake their territory by eliminating the competition. (And in some cases, that's why they are brought in.) You might also consider stepping down as team leader, it might reduce your profile as a potential threat.

IMO, it isn't really about the 2 techs at all. It's about your relationship w/ your new manager. That has to be dealt with, one on one, or from a higher point in the chain of command.

If you are ready to quit over it anyway, it can't hurt to be assertive. Just make sure you don't get passive-aggressive. But bold, but be up front. It can't hurt, and at least, if you leave, you leave w/ your head high.

Hope everything works out for you.

~faith,

Timothy.

nightnurse47 · Nov 15, 2005

Thank you Timothy, that helps me decide to go on up the chain, I have been waffling about this for a couple weeks!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 19, 2005

Well, I have a bit of a different opinion for you. I have been in a situation where a new Director of Nursing was brought into a facility and heads started rolling. Looking back, I believe it was done to clear out some of the nursing staff and the people who hired this lady knew she wasn't afraid to jump in and chop heads off. It doesn't sound like that is what has happened at your facility, but it sure sounds like this new manager is aggressive and not afraid to confront.

It sounds as if this manager seems to believe that you are saying things that are detrimental and undermining her. Is she making that up? Are you doing a lot of talking to the staff? My advice would be that if you want to continue in this job to be like a turtle and withdraw into your shell. Stop talking about the politics of your place of work. Stay out of any issues except those involving patient care. When people ask you for your opinion on an issue you say that you have none. If staff come to you with problems other than those of the patients stop them, don't let them finish, and send them to the manager. When they complain that she will not talk with them or is unapproachable just tighten your lips, look sympathetic, but say nothing.

This woman seems to me like she is not at all sympathetic to your position. She's angry with you for something, whether percieved or real, you have done to her. In fact, it sounds like she's looking for a good reason to get you out of the facility. So, don't give her one.

If you don't mind getting fired, then open your mouth and go for her jugular. However, I'll suggest to you right now, that you won't win. You will become a victim of her power. Chances are she is going to be gone soon if she is causing enough havoc. If you continue to defy her you won't be around the day the staff celebrates her departure. Remember the old adage: Loose lips sink ships.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Nov 19, 2005

Well, I have a bit of a different opinion for you. I have been in a situation where a new Director of Nursing was brought into a facility and heads started rolling. Looking back, I believe it was done to clear out some of the nursing staff and the people who hired this lady knew she wasn't afraid to jump in and chop heads off. It doesn't sound like that is what has happened at your facility, but it sure sounds like this new manager is aggressive and not afraid to confront.
It sounds as if this manager seems to believe that you are saying things that are detrimental and undermining her. Is she making that up? Are you doing a lot of talking to the staff? My advice would be that if you want to continue in this job to be like a turtle and withdraw into your shell. Stop talking about the politics of your place of work. Stay out of any issues except those involving patient care. When people ask you for your opinion on an issue you say that you have none. If staff come to you with problems other than those of the patients stop them, don't let them finish, and send them to the manager. When they complain that she will not talk with them or is unapproachable just tighten your lips, look sympathetic, but say nothing.
This woman seems to me like she is not at all sympathetic to your position. She's angry with you for something, whether percieved or real, you have done to her. In fact, it sounds like she's looking for a good reason to get you out of the facility. So, don't give her one.
If you don't mind getting fired, then open your mouth and go for her jugular. However, I'll suggest to you right now, that you won't win. You will become a victim of her power. Chances are she is going to be gone soon if she is causing enough havoc. If you continue to defy her you won't be around the day the staff celebrates her departure. Remember the old adage: Loose lips sink ships.

It would be my opinion that it is already too late to retreat into your shell. The writeup is the first step in the paper trail to get rid of you. And believe me, as you have already discovered, she doesn't need you to give her a reason to write you up.

Most facilities require a paper trail to fire. If you don't challenge this now, when she has enough write ups against you, you'll be gone. And if you challenge it then, it'll just look like you are a disgruntled EX employee.

I think you have to engage the higher ups in the chain of command before it comes to that point. And even if it means that you eventually have to go, you are setting the stage for management to question her future actions. That could mean saving the jobs of one or more of your co-workers later.

If you truly see yourself in a leadership position, being a leader is also an advocacy position and taking a stand is also advocating for those under you.

~faith,

Timothy.

nightnurse47 · Nov 20, 2005

Thanks to both Timothy and Daytonite,

What I have done is what both of you suggested, actually! I am proceeding up the chain, but with restraint. I am not filing a grievance, but to ask for help in working this out.

I have in fact, gone as low profile as I can, not discussing this with anyone on the unit and just referring my co-workers back to her. The last thing was my getting "spoken to" because I misread her handwriting on a staffing sheet, even though there was no one else who read it correctly either, so yes, I do believe it is personal.

Looking back through all of my communications (email) with her, they have all been cooperative, and supportive, I have been very careful. Every thing I report gets checked on with someone else, and when I am correct, she is angry. I just can't bring myself to stop all the education I have been doing just to let her get it snarled up, that feels so passive agressive to me. I am just trying to stay out of the way, do my job and cover my behind as best I can.

In the meantime, I am severely stressed out, but I want to try to hang in there!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Nov 20, 2005

I think your job is gone, and now you just need to decide how you will be leaving. If you go higher up there is a small possibility she may misstep and make herself look bad, but you may be able to cover your own butt so the higher ups have some doubt as to her veracity.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2005

If the very worst happens and they try to fire you, be ready to immediately tell them you are resigning. Then either hand write a letter of resignation on the spot or get one to them that day or by the next day at the latest (and keep a copy to prove you resigned). This way you will avoid an involuntary resignation on your record. It they tell prospective employers that you were fired you will have a copy of your letter to show they are lying and show further proof of their wrongful handling of you.

nightnurse47 · Nov 21, 2005

Good idea Daytonite, I will have a letter ready, just in case. This just makes me very sad. I really enjoy my job, and it feels awful to think I may need to leave after all these years when this person has only been here for 3 months and most likely will not make it over the long term. I don't want conflict, I just want to do my job.

Thanks for the support.