How can I handle this

Published

Hi I had this little problem last night. I was in charge allocating patients to two other nurses. This nurse jumped ahead of me to choose her patients before I could allocate. She wanted xyz that from a few days prior. I said yes. The acuity for her patients was low. However after choosing her patients that she moaned about her heavy work load but would not change them . I offered to do that for her and so did another nurse. Also to make things better I did all the new admissions. However from that point on when the shift started she had hostile body language and did not speak to me for 8 hours. Then she goes off at the end of the shift to talk to the charge nurse. She tells her that I gave her my previous patients from the night shift. But she chose them herself. The charge nurse asks me to go into her office, she states so and so was upset. I tell her that this nurse basically ignored me the whole shift and I allocated properly. The charge nurse then tells me that she's heard a few whispers but then names one of the people that I allocate unfairly. I tell her that I don't want to be in charge. Her response how dare I as a senior nurse refuse to be in charge. I've had enough I feel targeted . What would you do. I want to leave but am concerned that this event will spoil my chances of getting another job. I've lost my confidence in being in charge, I was quite good at it. Actually when I walked out of her office she laughed.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Once make others' petty little whims and whines unimportant and just do our job to the best of our ability, we can be more at peace and happier with where we are and who we are.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Been there , done that. It is far from a little problem.

"Then she goes off at the end of the shift to talk to the charge nurse" Were YOU in charge or not?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi I had this little problem last night. I was in charge allocating patients to two other nurses. This nurse jumped ahead of me to choose her patients before I could allocate. She wanted xyz that from a few days prior. I said yes. The acuity for her patients was low. However after choosing her patients that she moaned about her heavy work load but would not change them . I offered to do that for her and so did another nurse. Also to make things better I did all the new admissions. However from that point on when the shift started she had hostile body language and did not speak to me for 8 hours. Then she goes off at the end of the shift to talk to the charge nurse. She tells her that I gave her my previous patients from the night shift. But she chose them herself. The charge nurse asks me to go into her office, she states so and so was upset. I tell her that this nurse basically ignored me the whole shift and I allocated properly. The charge nurse then tells me that she's heard a few whispers but then names one of the people that I allocate unfairly. I tell her that I don't want to be in charge. Her response how dare I as a senior nurse refuse to be in charge. I've had enough I feel targeted . What would you do. I want to leave but am concerned that this event will spoil my chances of getting another job. I've lost my confidence in being in charge, I was quite good at it. Actually when I walked out of her office she laughed.

It seems like some details are missing. This doesn't make sense and makes me feel like I just walked around in a big circle. You're charge, but you're not charge. You made the assignment, but you didn't make the assignment. The nurse asked for specific patients, but complained that you gave her exactly what she asked for. Then everyone talked bad about you and laughed.

What was the other nurse's exact complaint?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm also quite confused by this post. OP, you need to be clearer and add a few more details.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hated doing assignments as charge. No one liked their groups. Everyone felt targeted with an admission. Sounds like you have an especially crappy team to work with. I too would gladly relinquish assignments. But if I had to do them, I would insist on doing them my way. Too many cooks in the kitchen and you won't know the recipe they're going to blame you for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

You start off by saying "I was in charge" then you say that one of your colleagues went to complain to "the charge nurse." Who was in charge? You or someone else? Add me to the list of people who needs clarification before rendering an opinion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

no I was coordinator in charge for the shift only. Then we have a charge nurse who runs the ward.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The other nurse wanted to select her patients the easy ones. There is a charge for the shift and a charge nurse who runs the ward. So my boss Monday to Friday. As for who laughed my charge nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was incharge. The sad thing was my boss didn't think her behaviour , the other nurses towards me was inappropriate. She blamed me that maybe I had given her a high acuity load but in fact it was the lightest load on the ward. This person is very dominant and trust to push her views onto others.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I was incharge. The sad thing was my boss didn't think her behaviour , the other nurses towards me was inappropriate. She blamed me that maybe I had given her a high acuity load but in fact it was the lightest load on the ward. This person is very dominant and trust to push her views onto others.

Be very careful here. Your "boss" has assigned you as charge, yet questions your judgement. She bows to the loud one.Trust me on this .. decline charge. It is a no win situation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm going to leave. I think it's best.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion