How do you put a nurse like this in her place?

Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN · May 11, 2009

Just tell her to back off, and if she continues to ride you like that, then you will be sure to take it up the chain of command.

RNperdiem, RN · May 11, 2009

I don't mind someone pointing out that I forgot to sign off a med I gave.

I can sign that off quickly during report.

Some documentation is more crucial to patient care than others.

If I don't see that potassium signed off on the medex, I will ask so I know if I have to give the drug on my shift.

Clarification and communication are legitimate reasons for questioning charting and omissions.

I have the feeling that this nurse seems to finding the minor issues to pick on.

BeeJayCeeYa · May 11, 2009

How about telling her that, while you appreciate her efforts to help, her unsolicited critiques are making you uncomfortable. And say it with a smile. Why make an enemy when you could be building a team?

chicookie, BSN, RN · May 11, 2009

Being me I would say some underhanded comment such as, "oh I didn't know you were my preceptor today." or I would do the same thing to her. But that is my personality.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 11, 2009

The next time she does this, act interested and say something like, "Oh, did they change the policy on that? Because as of the time that I did that, the policy was X."

The policy is the law, period. Anytime she brings any of your work up as wrong, just ask her to prove it to you with the applicable policy.

Ahhphoey · May 11, 2009

Being me I would say some underhanded comment such as, "oh I didn't know you were my preceptor today." or I would do the same thing to her. But that is my personality.

We think very alike.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · May 11, 2009

i would of told her to... mind her own business. plain and simple.. who died and left her boss? she needs to watch her own work and keep her nose out of yours. i may sound harsh but i don't put up with bullies and i wouldn't of minced words, the sooner you put her in her place the less power you give her.

she's nothing but a trouble making bully !!

TessaMae · May 11, 2009

this nurse on my unit, who herself has been a nurse for probably just under a year, is a snake and tries to find fault with myself and another newer nurse. she looks at our work and charting for mistakes and inadvertant omissions and tries to correct us. (despite that one thing she saw, there was no policy or guideline that stated it must be done the way she said it should be.) i think she may be doing this because she's insecure with herself or maybe she's proud of recently becoming a mentor for the newer nurses. btw, it's not a formal mentoring program and she didn't have to interview for it either. any ideas of what i can say or do to put her in her place?

some people may call me a coward because i try to be nice even when people do not deserve it but...i would not try to put this nurse in her place. if you two are going to be working together, it will only make for a tense environment. personally, i want to enjoy going to work each day. is there a way, you could talk to this nurse privately? maybe make conversation about how different the real world is from nursing school - try to make a connection somehow positively? putting a little bit of extra effort in now can only make it easier for you in the future.

when i started nursing school there was a student in my class...she acted (in my mind) like she knew everything, had a comment about everything, constantly corrected or had an opinion about whatever other students were saying, including me - i wanted to strangle her! -who did this girl think she was, i got a's in the same classes she took! i remember one day during a discussion about np's, she announced that np's were going to need a phd, i knew this was not correct (it's a dnp) and made it a point to correct her. looking back, i made myself look bad because of the way i did this and embarrrassed someone for making an honest mistake (nobody knows everything) a year later...she is one of my closest friends and i am so glad i didn't strangle her...lol :chuckle

Whispera, MSN, RN · May 11, 2009

Is it possible that she's trying to help you get the details correct, but just goes about it in an irritating way?

ohmeowzer RN, RN · May 11, 2009

Is it possible that she's trying to help you get the details correct, but just goes about it in an irritating way?

you know this makes some sense.... i do aolopgize for being kinda mean on my post. i had a bully this weekend riding my butt, to make a long story short after friday , sat and sunday a the showdown,,,i finally let her have it,,,she never said another word to me on sunday ... lol..... i jut had it .... but i do agree with whipera giving the benefiit of a doubt,,,,

LegginMF · May 11, 2009

I would talk with her privately. I ask her if she is specifically looking for fault with me, If she felt I was unable to do my job. Basically I would ask her why she is always finding fault with me. Tell her it makes you feel uncomforatble and that you feel she is picking on you. I would also keep an eye out for small mistakes that she makes to show her that no one is perfect. No nurse is perfect. Then bring it up in the discussion. It may just be the way she talks that comes off wrong and she doesn't realize how she sounds. If she is doing it to be nasty I would take my complaint higher up the food chain. I have a nurse where I work who is just plain nasty, she is constantly in the DON's office with a complaint. But... when I get called into the DON's office I am not in trouble. She will sit me down and go through what I did step by step so that next time I get it right. No harm no foul is her motto.