How can my shift deal with a nurse who is always causing drama?

[vampcna]

NEED SOME ADVICE

I have been working at my facility for over two years now and my shift gets

along really well,except for one lvn. She is constantly complaining about how

she is the only nurse who does her job correctly. If another nurse doesn't chart

something she has to broadcast it to everyone within earshot. She bullies my

fellow cnas. She hasn't ever treated me that way (maybe because she knows

how outspoken I am). If she decides she wants to mess with someone she

will use evey chance she gets to say things about them. It has gotten to the

point that we try our best to avoid her. She even made a cruel comment about

a former coworker, who recently had a massive stroke. She said what goes around

comes around bcuz ”she didn't change her patients and now she has a bedsore”

We have talked to our DSD and our DON but she is still causing trouble.

One of the cnas refuses to work on nights when she is there. When she

doesn't work the work atmosphere is much happier. When she is there everyone is

tense. What can we, as a shift, do to her to stop messing with her coworkers

so we can be more harmonious group?:hdvwl:

[SydneyJo1]

Can you all have a closed door meeting together (WITH her) and address the problem directly? Not in a ganging up on her way, but just to clear the air and lay it all out on the table? Maybe she has no idea that she is causing this kind of atmosphere on the unit?

[vampcna]

I have tried to talk to her once but she just

denied that she is saying anything wrong. The

other cnas are afraid to anger her because

they think her bullying will get worse, and I

think they're right. She is vindictive and petty.

She even went so far as to scream at a cna

because she had to answer a call light. The

cna was sick and was vomiting at the time. I think if

talking to her would do any good she would have

stopped her behavior by now.

[Poi Dog]

Take her outside after and fix it 'old school'.

Oops, the evil CNA got loose for a bit.

I think management needs to intervene and tell her that her poor attitude is causing tension on the unit.

Some people just don't realize how toxic their negativity can be until it is pointed out to them. Than again, others thrive on toxicity and have no intention of changing.

What a horrible person to work with. I hope the situation gets resolved.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

You ignore her, say only what is needed for the job and NOTHING else. And do not comment on others work/life/data. No need to feed the beast.

People cannot cause drama by themselves, drama requires participation by other. If no one feeds into it, it cannot bloom and perpetuate without partipation.

If no one is feeding gossip, responding to instigation, or participating in the drama, it loses appeal.

[vampcna]

Well , I would love to show her how we

deal with chicks like her in my hood, but I need

a paycheck. J/K . The good news is she's not

working 2nite and I'm off Sunday and Monday

so no drama till Tuesday. I have been talking

with the crew about writing a memo citing

specific grievances and have the whole shift

sign it. We could give it to the DSD, the DON

and the administrator. The problem is one

cna doesn't want to bcuz she's afraid of

the posssible fallout when the nurse finds

out about the memo. I have tried to help her

understand that the reason why bullies do

what they do is becuz their victims are too

afraid to report it.

[SydneyJo1]

I have tried to talk to her once but she just

denied that she is saying anything wrong. The

other cnas are afraid to anger her because

they think her bullying will get worse, and I

think they're right. She is vindictive and petty.

She even went so far as to scream at a cna

because she had to answer a call light. The

cna was sick and was vomiting at the time. I think if

talking to her would do any good she would have

stopped her behavior by now.

If that's the case then I think you should a) meet with management and insist that she be dealt with and b) make sure that everyone (EVERYONE) who works with this woman is on the same page and will literally walk away from her the minute she starts talking crap or yelling. Just turn and walk away, seriously. Freeze her butt out until she can be taken care of by management. If management understands what a negative force she is on the unit and how she is affecting everyone else (with actual examples provided) they should have no choice but to deal with her one way or another.

[Orange Tree]

Sarcastic ridicule seems to work well with these types of people when nothing else does. Every time she complained about something stupid, I would tell her that I agreed and that she should call 911 or write a letter to the supreme head of the universe. I might even hand her the phone, or a pen and a piece of paper, then stare at her blankly.

[vampcna]

You ignore her, say only what is needed for the job and NOTHING else. And do not comment on others work/life/data. No need to feed the beast.

People cannot cause drama by themselves, drama requires participation by other. If no one feeds into it, it cannot bloom and perpetuate without partipation.

If no one is feeding gossip, responding to instigation, or participating in the drama, it loses appeal.

We try not to say anything outside of work

related topics. Alot of the bullying is her

hounding a cna about her pt care, call lights,

etc. She once checked a cnas patients briefs

every 30 minutes so she could say the cna

wasn't changing her. This cna is our best cna.

Another time she told the supervisor to write

a cna up for not being on the floor, but the

cna was toileting a patient.

[Luv2BAnurse]

Sarcastic ridicule seems to work well with these types of people when nothing else does. Every time she complained about something stupid, I would tell her that I agreed and that she should call 911 or write a letter to the supreme head of the universe. I might even hand her the phone, or a pen and a piece of paper, then stare at her blankly.

HAHAHAHAH I will have to remember this one!

[msn10]

make sure that everyone (EVERYONE) who works with this woman is on the same page and will literally walk away from her the minute she starts talking crap or yelling. Just turn and walk away, seriously. Freeze her butt out until she can be taken care of by management.

Very good advice. (If management isn't helping) When she starts badmouthing people just walk away or ignore her. If you are in a group when she starts, simply turn your backs and pretend like she is not there and change the subject.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

Sarcastic ridicule seems to work well with these types of people when nothing else does. Every time she complained about something stupid, I would tell her that I agreed and that she should call 911 or write a letter to the supreme head of the universe. I might even hand her the phone, or a pen and a piece of paper, then stare at her blankly.

:nmbrn:Yea, that!