Ahhhhhhhh....here we go........AGAIN.... This time it's personal.
After a meeting at work a month ago, my boss called me on my cell, as I was driving home, to say, "what is your natural hair color?" I said, "Well, it's probably a light brunette. Why do you ask?" She said, "Go dark. To be honest, your hair is so light it looks borderline trashy."
Yes, I was dumbfounded. She hired me, blonde hair and all. And NOW says I look "trashy". (I've asked several other people, including my own mother...who is completely honest)...and other nurses who said, "Are you kidding me? I wouldn't say that to anyone, even if I didn't like them!"
She must have known she upset me, because she called me at work the following day (when I was doing triage and the phone was ringing off the hook) to say "Did I upset you?" I told her she didn't. But yes!!! She did, and I wasn't about to get into it at work. I have since told her that her comment hurt my feelings. I have received NO apology.
Also, yesterday an MA in the office drew up several flu shots in advance and had them in the side rack in the refrigerator. Had a nurse flow appt, have been TOLD to use them, as it "saves time". Isn't it a cardinal rule for nurses to NEVER administer a med/vaccine without drawing it up yourself or at least WITNESSING it?????? I told her I didn't feel comfortable using it. She got angry, grabbed the pt chart, while things were falling on the floor, refused to listen to my explanation as to WHY. When I tried to explain it to her she raised her voice and said, "I'm NOT going to argue with you!" Then proceded to go around the corner, put me down to other nurses, and that was that.
A few days ago she asked me if I did venipuncture. I said, "No. We weren't taught that in nursing school." She says well MY nursing program taught us to...we had to do 200 blood draws to even GRADUATE." (BTW, it bothers me that she says nursing school...I have ultimate respect for medical assistants, as some have taught me how to do an EKG and other clinical skills I wasn't taught in school.) She then said, in front of 3 other MA's, "Where did YOU go to school at??"
And so I said, "This lil teensy school in the middle of a farrrrm. We practissssed givin' injectinz on hot dogs for an hour....then they cut us loose on clinicals to give 'em with our clinical instructerz." (This is all true, btw....we didn't spend but one day on giving injections...we spent a lot more time on assessments.) I tried to explain the differences in what they teach nurses...she rolls her eyes and says, "I can't believe that! I got more nursing training at "x institute".
Today I'm done with this organization. I'm the only nurse in the float pool....the MA's (not all) have literally criticized me, humiliated me, and my boss thinks I'm filthy trashy.
I quit. I'm tired of having too many panic attacks and "Loose BM's" from nerves from these people.:flamesonb
thanks for the vent....I'm so happy to have All Nurses to come to for support, advice, venting, you name it.:[anb]:
but pls be careful - she may be trying to PROVOKE you to react in such a way that you might regret later. Best stay calm and refuse to react - even in an exit interview. Seemed a red flag to me that she called you on your cell phone???
What a trashy person this MA is!!! She sounds like a real whack job. It is no one's business what your hair looks like. Does she comment on patient's hairstyles too in the same manner? Too bad she didn't leave a voice mail re. the hair, you could have reported it to HR and then passed it on to an attorney if she wasn't dealt w/ by the company. It amazes me how hateful, obnoxious, and stupid some people can be. I have an in-law relative like this who can be inappropriately critical of people. I just tell her if I weren't so flawed, she couldn't look so perfect or so mean! I am in awe of this person! I hope your next position is much better. Best of luck to you.
I think this is a perfect example of the bizarre things managers will say and do when they decide they want to be rid of you. Don't even ask yourself what the reason is that they wish to get rid of you may be because those are bizarre also.
That is a hostile work environment and that is a LABOR issue that can be fought. I don't blame you I would have gotten the hell out of there too. It would only be a matter of time until they found something ridiculous to can you for. Good Lucl!!!!
What kind of a facility was this?? My God how do they keep any nurses?
Medical Assistants - exactly what is their training? A 6 - 9 month course on a few of the technical things? Big deal - You were the licensed nurse and they were insubordinate and should have been written up and proper disciplinary action should have been taken. :angryfire
Perhaps you need to send in a compliant to which ever state agency oversees the facility, since they obviously are not following the rules and a potentially placing patients at risk.
On your exit interview DO NOT apologize for anything - they hired you with the same color hair so if it was a problem she should have said something in the very beginning.
By the way don't say anything about your physical symptoms of the stress - don't give them the satisfaction.
Go have a beer (or whatever you drink) tonight to celebrate quiting that horrible job!!! :cheers:
Specializes in Emergency Room, Cardiology, Medicine.
I'm so happy for you for having taken the step to a better place. Sometimes people perceive "Quitting" as failing, as we tell ourselves so many times. But, I can't find something more courageous then taking our lives in our own hands and changing the direction to make us happier in the end. Good job and good luck.
I'm so happy for you for having taken the step to a better place. Sometimes people perceive "Quitting" as failing, as we tell ourselves so many times. But, I can't find something more courageous then taking our lives in our own hands and changing the direction to make us happier in the end. Good job and good luck.
I'm keeping up with this thread. I just can't believe the way the OP was treated.
Kind of an alternate universe where sane people are deemed outcasts, and the insane are in charge. Like in 'Planet of the Apes', where all the humans are apelike, and the apes are in charge!
I mean, what sane person would call someone on their cellphone with whom they work, and tell them that they need to change their hairstyle? I think that woman needs a mental health eval!!!
Can anyone please tell me how to compose a letter of resignation? Do I cite the reasons (specifically the rude comment from my boss?) Is it ok to send it via certified mail?
Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.
It is good that you got out, unfortanetly they didn't mesh with you. But what is worse they way they acted. I frankly would have said to the manager when she asked about hair color "what do you mean, this is my natural color" or "I don't know why that is any concern of yours".
(This is all true, btw....we didn't spend but one day on giving injections...we spent a lot more time on assessments.) I tried to explain the differences in what they teach nurses...she rolls her eyes and says, "I can't believe that! I got more nursing training at "x institute".
Great one! 
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pedicurn, LPN, RN
696 Posts
that's awful and unprofessional.
but pls be careful - she may be trying to PROVOKE you to react in such a way that you might regret later. Best stay calm and refuse to react - even in an exit interview. Seemed a red flag to me that she called you on your cell phone???
Best wishes and good luck with job hunting