Help!!!

al7139, ASN, RN · Nov 1, 2007

Hi there,

I feel your pain. I have been a nurse since May of this year, and have had real problems with one nurse who takes forever to get report. I was really getting frustrated with this because she did not follow our units protocol for report, but would do it her way. This sometimes left me waiting on her for over 45 minutes. I finally asked other nurses about this and found that they were just as frustrated as I was, but noone seemed to think that complaining would do any good since she had been there so long. Well, I have no problem saying what I think, and went to the clinII with the problem. Almost immediately, the problem was solved, since they have to pay us OT to wait on her.

I would recommend trying to go to your supervisor with th eproblem, and see if they can help.

As far as the report you got in turn, plus being left with a pt who was upset and covered in stool, if this happened at my unit, that person would have been written up at the least. In my opinion, if it happens on your shift, you stay to take care of it. For example if I am busy, and have new admits, and don't get all the admission ppwk done, I never pass it off to the next person. The same with other aspects of pt care. I would never hand off a pt covered in stool, with an infiltrated IV, etc. I will always stay to take care of these issues. "There are no changes." is not acceptable. Even if I have had the pts before, I want to know about what was done on the previous shift, etc. I would be willing to bet that if you told your supervisor about this "report" they would be very unhappy with that nurse.

I know it is hard to speak up when you are new, but I have found that if I do, changes are made. Your supervisors don't always know whats going on unless you tell them.

Amy

ebear, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2007

Gaylord, I am SO SORRY that your son missed the parade :madface: . I would print out an exact copy of your post and give it to your supervisor and department head. This seems to me to be pure spite on the part of the other nurse. I would also want a complete explanation of why the patient in "52" was left in such a condition. Don't let this go!! Again, I am so sorry that your son missed such a fun time for kids. That really makes me mad!

ebear

rachel33138 · Nov 1, 2007

You should follow the chain of command, report her to the manager or better yet discuss the situation with her and take it from there.

Good Luck,

PS there are these types of people everywhere, you just have to learn a way to NOT ALLOW them to get to you!!

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Nov 1, 2007

You have pts that spend 3 days in the ER??? Wow,.I thought my ER was overcrowded and understaffed!!! Did I miss something??

Sorry about your experience with this nurse,...unfortunately being a nurse doesn't equal being a kind, compassionate, responsible person. You will find this type of person in all professions though,..usually with enough rope these people eventually hang themselves. Do your job,.chart, chart and chart again!

Best of luck to you!!

Gaylord Focker · Nov 1, 2007

It is an observation/decision unit within the ER. technically we are only supposed to keep people here for 24 hours and then they are either admitted or they go home. unfortunately we have a few patients now and again who slip through the cracks and end up spending a few days here. It gets worse this time of year now that our tourist season is kicking in to gear. the good thing about it is they have a private room while they are here but unfortunately our rooms dont have bathrooms:lol2:

By the way, my son did not care about missing his parade, he is only 1 1/2. my wife and I were the ones who were disappointed, but we got to hang out with him a while and help eat candy!!

leslymill · Nov 1, 2007

Gaylord, I am SO SORRY that your son missed the parade . I would print out an exact copy of your post and give it to your supervisor and department head. This seems to me to be pure spite on the part of the other nurse. I would also want a complete explanation of why the patient in "52" was left in such a condition. Don't let this go!! Again, I am so sorry that your son missed such a fun time for kids. That really makes me mad!
ebear

I completely agree with this and could not have said it better.:balloons:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2007

First, congratulations on passing boards.

Her passive-agressive behavior needs attention. If you choose to ignore it, you are giving her permission.

I am a fan of direct confrontation first before going to management. Read the book "Crucical Confrontations" for help. However, I also think you need to make management aware with documentation. So as suggested write this up much as you told us here, present it to management, telling them you'd first like to speak with the nurse herself, perhaps in the presense of management, but you want written documentation of your concerns.

Then you follow up and call her on each and every behavior that is wrong, nipping it in the bud with a consistency that will drive her mad, but lets her know you're not giving her permission to behave this way. "You were 30 minutes late for report. It's my understanding report begins at 6:45, I would appreciate it that you would be ready". "You left without taking report, walking rounds is necessary, so please don't leave 30 minutes early", etc. etc.

Keep a documented record of each conversation and incident, providing this to management as well.

Firm, assertive consistency is needed. It's going to be unpleasant, but not as unpleasant as ignoring it and having her continue to the point it's eating you up inside and affecting your family life.

You're also going to have to watch out for catty retaliation where she calls you on stuff.

Good luck. Keep in touch.

PRESLA · Nov 1, 2007

]:angryfire Sometimes you have to give back what you get maybe I am being petty but do her that way a few times and she might get the picture!! :smilecoffeeIlovecof

Lisa

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 1, 2007

I agree with everything Tweety has said. If you don't handle this now, she will do just as she pleases. I also agree with the poster who said that your management will probably not be pleased to be paying you overtime because someone else is playing games.

Another thinig I want to mention. If you know someone does not have goodwill toward you, don't give that person any ammunition against you. You did this when you told her that you wanted to get out in a timely manner. You expected her to act like an adult professional, of course, and she did not. Cultivate an air of unhurried patience, and maybe even suggest that the extra overtime on your check will be quite welcome. She'll probably break her neck to get you out on time!!

This is one of those "don't ever let them see you sweat" situations. It will drive her nuts to think that she's not "getting to" you.

Good luck, and I'm sorry you're having to deal with this one!

sharona97, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2007

I hear ya. I too,had a similar expereince where a brain tumor patient in a LTC facility was laying in a pool of vomit the morning I went to say hello to her before my shift. She was not assigned to me that day, and at the end of my shift, I went to see her,(she just grabbed my heart), and there she was still laying in the same condition. I went to the DON,lest I say pretty P**ssed off and filed a complaint. It is so important to keep your integrity intact to keep you sane IMO, let alone keep the patient's integrity intact.

Glad you could have some halloween fun with your kiddo. But I certainly feel Tweety nailed it on the head.

leslymill · Nov 1, 2007

Okay Tweedy said it better.

I like your Holloween Signature Costume Tweedy.