How to deal with cliques at work?

[Destin293]

I recently switched jobs and I am not really loving my new place of employment. I worked for 2 years on a med/surg floor at another hospital, but I was getting bored with the same routine and wanted to challenge myself a little more. I decided to accept a position at a busy trauma center working in the Emergency Department. I have only been there for a month (but only on the floor for 1.5 weeks) and I already don't like it.

I really enjoyed the hospital I worked at before, but it was a long 45 minute commute each way and paid $7 less an hour. The new hospital is only 15 minutes away. Aside from having to adjust to the overall pace of the ER, and adjust to the different drips, meds, and interventions I have never done before, I am also trying to adjust to a new charting system (my old hospital was Epic, this new one is Paragon) and all the different policies. All of that is stressful enough, but then add in my coworkers.

A lot of the other nurses on days are not very approachable or supportive. I don't have a set preceptor, I am just put with anyone that is available that day...and everyone has their own way of doing things. One nurse I was put with is usually a charge nurse and before she even introduced herself, she asked me where I was in orientation because she always gets "stuck" with people halfway through and she's "rarely on the floor anymore" and didn't feel like she should have to precept. This was the same nurse who made a comment to another nurse about how I "Shouldn't expect (her) to do everything" for me and that she was going to "Push (me) out on my own and expect me to handle it" when she found out she had to precept. I found these comments to be very rude and off putting. And this comes on the heels of the same clique basically making fun of another new hire who only has 1 year experience in home healthcare and is taking a bit more time to catch on.

When I am there, no one (other than the unit educator, ANM, or 2 other nurses I used to work with at my hospital) takes the time to talk to me or ask me if I need anything...not even a "hello" just to make me feel included. I'm generally a very social person and find it easy to start talking to people, but there is such a tight clique that I just feel intimated and uneasy...and I never feel like I can't just jump in and start talking to people (I was in a sorority in college, being social is a requirement!). I have charge nurse experience from my old hospital, and whenever there were new nurses or new staff, I made it a point to introduce myself and talk to them, ask them if they needed anything, and let them know I was there to help...and that I would check on them throughout the shift to see if they needed anything, or they could vent if they felt overwhelmed. At this new place, I waited to ask the charge nurse a question while she proceeded to glance at me, then carry on a conversation with her friend about a new dress she bought. Apparently the issue is so bad on days, they're making everyone attending classes to build teamwork and "the clique" (as they call it) is a common topic of conversation.

I have not yet brought my concerns up to the manager, but will next week. I am also going to attempt to switch to nights and see if that helps (everyone has said the teamwork is rock solid at night). The shift I work now spans both day and night shift (10:30am - 11pm) and after only 2 days of that shift, I have had countless people from night shift introduce themselves to me and made me feel like I really could ask them for help. It's only a month in and I already feel like calling HR at my old hospital (where I am still per diem) and asking to sign on full time to their ED instead.

Does anyone else have any advice on what to do to get through? Has anyone else been in this type of position? Should I go back to my old hospital (where the ED is smaller, so I probably won't learn as much) or try to tough it out where I am now, get my 1 year experience, and move on somewhere else? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

If it's to the point that there are teambuilding classes, then I'm guessing these problems have been building up for a long time. This means...it's not just you having these issues and the problems could be why there are even jobs available at what, on the surface, sounds like a desirable department.

Is there anyone else who isn't in "the clique"? Possibly you could befriend those people to have the social interaction at work.

I think trying to switch to a different shift would be a great idea, if possible. I would err on the side of sticking it out for a year, but if you do feel that your best solution is go to back to your old place of appointment, do it sooner rather than later.

[Destin293]

Thank you for your reply! There are a couple people who aren't in the clique that I have managed to become acquainted with and they validated what I was feeling/seeing. They told me the clique isn't as strong as it used to be because some of them are starting to leave, but it is still very strong and has driven many people to quit, transfer departments, or switch shifts. I don't think it would have been such a problem for me if I wasn't always paired with a clique member as a preceptor, but I also know how important it is to feel comfortable with your coworkers so you can ask for help when needed, and I know I won't have that level of comfort on days.

I also spoke with another nurse I used to work with at my old hospital (she started at this new hospital 2 weeks after I started, and will be working nights). She echoed your sentiment and said sticking it out for a year is the better option than leaving. So, I will give it one last ditch effort and see if night shift is better. I hope it all works out!