So on my floor, we have 2 charge nurses, are budgeted for one, and so they work three 12's a week. One works Mon-Tues-Wed, the other Wed-Thurs-Fri, and then that one comes back to work the next Mon-Tues-Wed, then has like 8 days off. Then they are only free from 7-3, then pick up patients from 3-7, causing a regular nurse to be pulled to another floor (it's miserable). I like one of the charges, but only maybe one nurse can stand to work with the other. Another nurse actually quit because this particular person got the charge nurse position. She is going back to school to get her BSN, and literally calls people on other floors the whole shift to get help with paper writing, has printed at least an entire pack of paper worth of material that is school related at work, will shove her school work in front of you while you're trying to chart to ask for help, has actually complained to patients and their families about needing to work on her papers, and has openly talked about hiring people to write a paper or two for her, and continues to claim how 'honest' she is and how hard she is working on getting her degree. She then neglects her charge duties, or does them and complains about having to get up from the computer. She also thinks it's her duty to tell other nurses all the things they do wrong, even though she is obviously not the most qualified to call them out (literally had another nurse crying to me today about her doing this). I have gone to my manager, and she talked to her, but it hasn't changed a thing. The only thing it did was she has to sort of 'sneak' to do it at work, but our manager leaves her office so infrequently she never notices any of it. I am a bit passive, and hate confrontation, so I haven't talked to the charge nurse yet. What would you do? She makes work awful.
NoADLs is a guy? I've been calling him a her this whole time.
Eta - alright, don't get your head all big over this, NoADLs, but I post stalked.
I'm going with female. Final answer.
NOADLS is a young guy who is pretty spot on and really funny. He makes no bones about his modus operandi for working nights in LTC, i.e., less work more $. He says he wears the same uniform color as housekeeping to avoid interacting with visitors.
Rumor is that I am neither. When it comes to avoiding doing any work, it is rumored that my ability is flawless and matches that of AI.
I would be glad to have the help. But I also understand your frustration. You must have attentive characteristics and high quality of care standards. I have learned that it is irrational, the expectations for another coworker to uphold the standards I do, and for the most part.. unless harm is being done, realize this person can be talked to over and over again without the capability to see outside their perception. It does not excuse, but try to remember the stress of being in school while on the job. She is likely getting little to no sleep, hence, her aggravation and reluctance to jump in and help out and no sleep= not likely her usual self. I have worked some long shifts, split shifts, on call and as much as I'd like to say I never got a little flustered or cranky, I can't. I know some can operate under the circumstances without the same behaviors, but everyone is unique. The complaining to patients thing though... needs to stop. If that is happening on a regular basis/excessively, I would be having a talk with her like... Hey "jane" I know school is rough, I've been there but I overheard you talking to "room 4" and its honestly not very good bedside manor. Patients have enough on their plate, we are here to give them relief and its just not appropriate. Tell her to get on allnurses and ask for help or vent, be direct that it is important she find an outlet for the stress shes obviously experiencing, but let her know theres a time and a place and work isnt that time or place... Unless shes in the breakroom, I've encountered many breakroom meltdowns.
Specializes in Med-Surg; Infectious Diseases; Research.
No matter where you work, I'm pretty sure she's violating policies. It was mentioned in another comment but the best thing to do is document. And I mean carefully document. "On 7/15/15 at 1921, Nurse ____ observed doing...." Without such clear documentation, you will just sound like you're whining about her. You can try to go to your Nurse Mgr again with documentation. If that makes you uncomfortable, then find a creative way to make HR aware. A lot of facilities offer anonymous reporting that doesn't necessarily have to go through the hospital intranet.
From what you've described your charge is way better than most I've had. I would leave her/him alone. With the skills you mentioned they'll be promoted to administration as soon as they graduate anyway. LOL
OP, yu gotta make a decision. Is the situation you describe more good than bad or more bad than good? What do you want? Do you want more help to keep doing a good job, or to see a person with whom you dislike working get disappeared ... or something else? If all or some of the above, which is more important?
Defining the problem usually gives you a good idea of the solution.
NOADLS
832 Posts
Rumor is that I am neither. When it comes to avoiding doing any work, it is rumored that my ability is flawless and matches that of AI.