How do I ignore the higH tension level at work?

[harley007]

This is my first post and I am sorry it so long. I love my job in the cath. lab.:heartbeat But I am having two issues I need advise on. First I am the person with the least experience - 2+1/2 years in the lab and 37 as a RN. The staff is a mix of mostly RN's, 3 LPN's and 6 AD Paramedics. We are a large lab and usually run 25 to 30 cases a day. The gossiping and back stabbing levels can many times go through the roof. The PM's are not happy because they do not earn as much as the nurses and are not allowed to administer any medications. Well, that is the job they applied for. In hospital care involves whole patient evaluation not just emergent care. I respect their knowledge but the wide range of serious meds. we give requires a nurse. That is what our hospital and the nursing board has decided. Our daily "schedule' of patients is triaged according to the time needed for a case or taking a room for a acute MI, etc. So schedule is a very loose term. Some people will get a copy of the schedule and if they are lucky enough to have cases that do not go to angioplasty or they do not get an acute patient then they consider themselves "finished on time" and do not really want to help the other teams finish out the day. Mind you they are still on their scheduled hours - this is not overtime. There have been arguments about this WITH A PATIENT ON THE TABLE - BEFORE SEDATION WAS GIVEN!:angryfire The last time it happened I went directly to my manager and told her I was going to HR and write a report on the person if something was not done - so the person was given a verbal warning. Our patients are anxious as can be and that is such unprofessional behavior. The mind games they play are so tiresome. There are enough decent staff that you usally have one other person on your team that is human ... or the Gods smile on you and you have a great team. Believe it or not 98% of the time wonderful, highly complex and comforting care is given in our labs. My second problem is I am a perfectionist and am very,very hard on myself when judging my performance. It is mostly the paramedics that jump on me for the most minor mistakes and make sure all within earshot know what happened. Example: I accidently threw away a package we need to save for inventory. Now this would have been quickly discovered and it was but I was treated like I made a serious mistake. During the next case another a nurse with much more experience did the same exact thing and not a word was said. Everyday I go into work with the attitude of ignoring the insanity. I also give myself a list of things about my performance I would like to improve on and a list of procedures I have not assisted with enough. Even after all the time I have worked there I know I can continue to try to do a better job.

But I cannot seem to ignore the negative comments - they really bother me. They even give me garbage about the perfect neatness of my draped table - but the MD's love it. I have received very good evaluations that have gotten better each time. I have even gone as far as to ask a respected nurse, that has always been fair and honest with me, if I was a good match for this department. She told to stop beating myself up that I do a great job and she even noticed how I try to continue to improve. I feel like this is a case of bullying that has me in tears by the end of the day. How have other people handle this type of situation? HELP!

[momthenRN]

Hi,

I stumble across your post looking for something here,...it caught my eye due to the fact that, I too have experienced things similar in my ICU. The only difference is that I am experiencing it with other RN's. Let me first say that most of the people pointing out yours and everyone else's deficits or mistakes are insecure. The PM's could go further their education if they would like to advance their careers. Perhaps they are a bit unsure if they can do that so they sit there and home in on things to make themselves feel better. I have realized that there are people who are team players and people who are not. I am big on setting examples of what that team concept is. When someone points out a mistake or if I don't know something, that is NOT weakness nor imcompetence. I too can be hard on myself. But these are things that enable us to learn. When someone makes a rude comment or points out a mistake, I usually tell them, and you have never made a mistake have you? Shuts them right up or they stammer and say,....Not one like that! And I say,...there will be a day when you do if you think you know everything,....

It's sounds like you are doing fine. Anytime you get a group of people together, there will be drama. The hope is to come together for the patient. When that compromises pt. care, it needs to be reported (as you did.) Hang in there, and continue being the example.....

[harley007]

Thank you for your support. I am trying to ignore the negative comments but it is difficult. I just keep telling myself that my boss says I am doing well and the patients love me. I am not letting others people's insanity and their problems take me from a job I love.

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I agree with Momthenrn. Sounds as though they have insecurities and bully to feel better. Have you stood up to these people or do you completely ignore them? Bullies normally prey upon who they feel is the easiest target.

If you've found a job that you love, then congratulations - it doesn't happen that often.

I'd fight for it and not let them make me miserable!!

Good luck to you, let us know how it turns out for you.

[harley007]

It has been a long rough road with this situation. Because I myself would not treat another person like they do me, initially I didn't respond. Also to work in my department it takes a while to really know what you are doing. In episodes happening recently I reply that it must be difficult to work in a world that is not just perfect and walk away. I know I have been an easy target. But, there are some of them that are not worth the effort of replying, those I just ignore. The other thing that helped is I have found situations were a notable mistake has been made on their part - nothing that would harm a patient. I "mention" this to the person involved but do not make it into a sideshow as they do. Saving these unhappy campers from everybody else knowing about their mistake has helped quite bit in decreasing the verbal abuse situation.