I am a newly licensed LVN/LPN. My cousin is an RN and she says sometimes people will try to blame things on you that you didn't do just to protect themselves. They will lie right in front of you in front of a boss to protect themselves and so many of these stories.
I have always been a nice guy and I don't even remember the last time I got in an argument. I am a very calm guy and rather shy.
I would like to know of any tips or how to protect myself from mean nurses or coworkers. I don't even have a job yet but I would like to be ready.
Don't stress about this. Everybody in nursing school I knew did. "Nurses eat their young," blah blah blah. You'll find the same percentage of jerks in nursing that you'll find in any other job setting. Sometimes there are people who try to throw you under the bus - even if you're a journalist, an astronaut, a cop, a teacher, a customer service representative, or a drug dealer. The reality is, most people are NOT like that. Dens of vipers do exist, a workplace where everyone is hostile to new people, but they are few and far between.
I would be more concerned with managers telling you to do stupid stuff and patients who think you're a servant.
How do you protect yourself from mean nurses? By being a good nurse!
Good nurses document and document well. This will protect you from most of the serious accusation that could be thrown your way. Good nurses practice honesty and integrity. When they make a mistake, they come clean. If someone accuses a good nurse of lying, falsifying documents etc., they will be laughed of the floor. Good nurses are assertive; they stick up for themselves and their pts in a civil and professional manner.
Also keep in mind that it is widely known who the bullys and troublemakers are and they are rarely if ever taken seriously. My sis actually works with a nurse that photocopies any and all mistakes she notices and puts it under the door of the DON every morning (a good nurse would just fix it and move on, or tell the offending nurse so that they could fix it as long as it was something minor). Most things are minor and easily fixed and have no business going under the DONs door, but I digress. I think you get the point.
Says you made a serious error that both you and her know is not true. Since she is higher ranking they will believe her and not you. How would I protect myself?
I can take her! I'll lay down a twinkie and as soon as she reaches for it, hit her in the head
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I am a newly licensed LVN/LPN. My cousin is an RN and she says sometimes people will try to blame things on you that you didn't do just to protect themselves. They will lie right in front of you in front of a boss to protect themselves and so many of these stories.
I have always been a nice guy and I don't even remember the last time I got in an argument. I am a very calm guy and rather shy.
I would like to know of any tips or how to protect myself from mean nurses or coworkers. I don't even have a job yet but I would like to be ready.
If you go in looking for trouble, you'll find it. And it sounds as if you're looking for trouble.
Assume that everyone means well, and you'll most likely find that most folks do.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
No? OK, counterproductive. I would strongly suggest, as others have, that you not go into this with preconceived notions like the one you got from your cousin. Take each person, and each personality as they come. The fact that you are conjuring possible scenarios based on her warning indicates you might be overestimating the likelihood that the mean nurse will make a med error and accuse you of doing it. You may end up working with supportive nurses. I did. Or at least if they were trying to eat their young I didn't notice because I was blessedly unaware of that phrase until I saw it here.
Get out while you can....oh ya your not there yet.....lol---don't worry about it and don't get trapped in all the gossip and negativety-just stay neutral, ask questions and listen to those who do have experience but sometimes you may not and then might find out, "I told you so," It's all a learning experience and like I said, stay away from the negativity an focus on what's most important your patients....hey if you are a male BEWARE--what your butt it might get pinched by all those little ol' ladies...
NurseDirtyBird
425 Posts
Don't stress about this. Everybody in nursing school I knew did. "Nurses eat their young," blah blah blah. You'll find the same percentage of jerks in nursing that you'll find in any other job setting. Sometimes there are people who try to throw you under the bus - even if you're a journalist, an astronaut, a cop, a teacher, a customer service representative, or a drug dealer. The reality is, most people are NOT like that. Dens of vipers do exist, a workplace where everyone is hostile to new people, but they are few and far between.
I would be more concerned with managers telling you to do stupid stuff and patients who think you're a servant.