How to handle an overbearing coworker?

[kewi90]

I work in a small 14 bed NICU, so our staffing group is obviously also small.

There's a nurse that started not far from when I did, but she came from adult nursing and as much as we get along as people... I'm having a hard time meshing in the nursing sense.

Issues --

She likes to make things that someone else did correctly a "we", or things she did incorrectly "we".

Ie. She drew a cap cbc 3 times, they all clotted. I told her to let me do it, no clotting issue. On report she says "we had to draw it 4 times to get the sample". No. You did it three times, I did once.

Recently it had been very slow. I had a patient assignment and she did not. She tasked for me a few times during the night, but didn't do any assessments or cares for me. When the next shift came, she cut me off halfway through my report and took over giving mother's hx/reason for admit/etc. She also gave the provider a shift update on patient when I was out of the room.

How do I handle this while not creating a rift in a small unit with close knit staffing?? I don't necessarily think she does it on purpose but just think she has a very strong personality and perhaps is used to getting certain attention.

[RachealAnne]

I might just talk to her personally or maybe even your manager. If it gets to you, its okay to vent your frustrations with your manager and let him/her know what is going on. You don't want her to make a mistake and add 'we' in there, getting you in trouble as well. Hope that helps just a little.

[rnkaytee]

Can't you just tell her to shut it? From what I'm reading (obviously they may be way more annoying in real life) these wouldn't be on the top of my radar. When I get annoyed with people, I ask myself would I still be if my friend did it, too, or if you just have a side eye for this particular nurse. I totally get it -- some people you're not just going to mesh with -- but it seems like you would just ruffle more feathers if you told her or your manager (unless it's patient safety related, of course).

[Cathy E]

I recommend that you just speak to her directly. If things do not "pan out" after a direct conversation, then you can decide if it is worthwhile to involve a manager. I, personally, would have begged you to do the 4th CBC. Good luck.