Hospice nurse and bullying manager

[hospicern030363]

Hi, I have been a hospice nurse since 2003. I am a good nurse and have always been treated with respect for my knowledge base and critical thinking ability etc. I love my job and caring for patients at the end of life. We currently have a manager that has put me on her 'hit list' basically. She is a Physical Therapist and thinks she knows what nurses do but has never made a visit with a nurse while acting as the manager. Since last year, she has constantly been on my case about everything. She harasses me about things that other nurses do on a daily basis. She has me in her office on a weekly basis about something or another. Last week she was yelling and screaming and cursing at me because she disagreed with my assessment of a situation (she has never seen the patient and my assessment was spot on) Tomorrow, I am going to be disciplined (and she has likely turned me in to the board of nursing) because I ordered a fleet enema for a patient who was constipated and had no bm x 6 days. Our medical director is the patients doctor and in the past he has told me that I don't have to call him to get orders before using a fleet enema or a suppository. Based on those experiences, I ordered the enema. Now he is saying he never has said that. So - I am going to get in trouble for medicating without an order. The patient had a bm and had no side effects from the enema.

What are your agencies policies on enema's and this kind of situation?

Have any of you had issues with bullying managers? What did you do? What would you do?

[tewdles, RN]

Turn in your resignation and walk away...

[PurpleViolet]

Wow! I am sorry you are encountering this. At my job (hospice inpatient unit) We have standard orders and a fleets enema is one of them. Meaning we don't call the DR to get orders every pt has standard ones that can be used for situations like constipation, heartburn, nausea, seizures etc. Is there anyone you could talk to above this manager. I have known people who have had success going over the managers head. In the meantime get your resume together and begin applying elsewhere if all else fails. Protect yourself.

[Ginapixi, BSN, RN]

seriously what ever happened to nursing care? does an enema in the case you state not fall under basic nursing care? what in the enema is medication?

I got out of hospice care because we could never care properly for patients after hours (had orders but no meds and so on) and I cannot work with human beings who suffer based on all protocol and no compassion! How can you stand working under those conditions???? tewdles makes a good point!

[EquestrianRN]

Honestly? Once you get to that "place" with a manager for whatever reason, sometimes it is truly just best to walk away...As Tewdels said, there can be a million reasons that a manager chooses to treat you that way and rarely does it have anything to do with you. I recently left a job I loved and had been at for five years due to a similar manager coming in and destroying everything. She was abusive verbally, not just to me, but to my coworkers whom I respected and valued highly.

My thoughts were that if she couldn't get me to leave of my own volition, she would try to find something to come after me with, or come after my license with. About two weeks after I had put in my resignation and left the position, she turned two other nurses in to the board for something that was completely asenine. I just kept thinking "that could have been me, and very likely would have been if I had stuck around long enough! Thankfully, after an investigation, both nurses were rapidly cleared of any wrong-doing, but I had felt that the job was DANGEROUS for some time; basically to all of the nurses working under her, and no job is worth me risking my license due to some psychotic individual with an axe to grind.

Get out...there are lots of other jobs for nurses thankfully, and you deserve to feel safe, and to have a manager who works with you, and for you, as hard as you are working with and for them!

Very best of luck to you!!

[AnnemRN]

I completely agree with tewdles and EquestrianRN. You need to get out right now, I think you've already stayed too long. Manager's like you describe not only are detrimental to your career, but also to your self esteem. It's impossible to project self confidence and competence while being emotionally beat down on a daily basis. Cut your losses and move on.

You will be able to find a better job and you'll probably wonder why you waited so long.

Good luck!!

[hospicern030363]

Thank you all for the advise. I am currently looking for other work. I live in a rural area that has few nursing jobs available. I am the primary bread winner since my husband lost his job last year, so simply leaving is not an option.

[kittie2kats]

I emphasize with you 100% I was in a similar situation with a bullying manager at the Hospice agency I was employed at. So yes definitely get out and get out quickly. I am a 30 year experienced ER nurse and nurse educator and I have never seen anyone like this nurse bully in my entire career. I wish you well

[hospicern030363]

Wow! I am sorry you are encountering this. At my job (hospice inpatient unit) We have standard orders and a fleets enema is one of them. Meaning we don't call the DR to get orders every pt has standard ones that can be used for situations like constipation, heartburn, nausea, seizures etc. Is there anyone you could talk to above this manager. I have known people who have had success going over the managers head. In the meantime get your resume together and begin applying elsewhere if all else fails. Protect yourself.

I did go and speak to the CCO of our hospital. Not sure what will come of that. She has no understanding of hospice care and working in the field. I used the words harassment and bullying this time. If I am not satisfied with the results, I will see the CEO and then file a BOLI complaint and a complaint with our union.