So I literally just got off orientation and I am in a new specialty, so of course I won't be perfect.
Just got an email from a nurse who cc'd part of management highlighting issues she had coming off after my shift. Nothing dangerous or life threatening. One of the mistakes I made, she made as well.
I really don't know how to respond other then, "Thanks, but no thanks for throwing me under the bus! And by the way, you made the same error!"
I was running my ass all night doing a lot that some of the other nurses even admitted that they would pass on to day shift, so I am ticked about this. I know now to avoid this girl who wants to "help" me.
How should I respond if I at all? I have taken her feedback and all, and emailing me about my errors isn't what bother me, her emailing me and adding management on is what rubs me the wrong way.
Damn. Out of orientation for a few shifts and I am already being thrown under the bus!
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
It sounds like this nurse could be a friend.
A potential 'friend' wouldn't skip the chain of command by going over my head to report some innocuous task I failed to accomplish to multiple nurse managers.
The chain of command starts with the coworker, not his/her managers. If I'm a new hire who failed to complete a task, tell me first. Don't copy the email to every Pam, Sue and Sally in management unless I've repeatedly displayed this behavior.
No real 'friend' at work would skip the chain of command.
I don't want to get too identifying, but it wasn't anything serious like giving lovenox to an actively bleeding patient!
I just feel put out. I already have a hard time asking for help because I know that this isn't the most supportive environment (this NICU has incredibly high turnover rate). This just makes me not want to ask at all. These are the type of nurses that throw you under the bus for every little thing. I wanted to stay here for a solid year, but now, I am hoping to just survive for one and leave for a better unit.
You are a new grad in a critical care environment. Just how safe would you be if you decide that you know enough and don't need to ask for help or benefit from the knowledge of other nurses with loads of experience? If you really do decide not to ask questions because you are ticked off at this nurse, you will not be delivering the best care or advancing your practice. You have a lot to learn still.
I think an acknowledgment is in order, but one that doesn't admit culpability.
Something like, "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. In the future, I hope you will bring any perceived issues directly to me so that they may be dealt with in a timely manner."
This highlights the fact that she is dodging the chain of command by not bringing it up to you first, and that emailing you afterwards is cowardly and doesn't help anybody.
I agree. It is immature as is running behind to management. I have never talked to this nurse before so I am soconfused as to what the hell her problem is...
I do want that golden year of NICU experience so I guess I will just keep my mouth shut and do the best that I can. And I will keep a diary.
Your youth is showing. That is an immature and unconstructive way of handling it.
I'm guessing that this nurse has decided she doesn't like you and is trying to chase you off, either through resignation, transfer, or firing. Otherwise, she would not have cc'ed management on that email, she would have spoken to you directly. You need to decide what YOU want to do. Do you want to be run off like the nurses before you? Then by all means, respond with immaturity and petulance. Do you want to stick it out, at least to get that golden year in the NICU? Then you need to take the high road, and respond with grace and maturity.
I get feeling put out -- her approach was highly unprofessional. I would caution you against adopting this attitude however. If you can go above and beyond (sometimes we can't -- I get that, not what I'm referring to), it's for those little babies and their families. Don't do the bare minimum simply to spite unprofessional people.
Good point. The reason I am here is for the babies and families. It just gets really easy to get caught up in drama of backstabbing coworkers.
I won't bother with an email as I don't want to engage her any further.
I really am trying so hard not to bite this girl's head off. On one hand, I do want to reply. I don't want management to think that I am making mistakes she is catching and she isn't making any. On the other hand, if I ignore it, I don't want management to think that I don't care because I do!
Her concerns are valid, but they are off putting especially since she made some of the same errors in the opposite direction.
I usually go above and beyond to try to make a shift easier, but now I think I am going to do what *needs* to be done and to hell with doing more.
Reply All, "Thanks for bringing this to my attention" this way the management know you weren't told about it before they got "CC'd" and also you've replied.
Avoid this chick at all costs going forward and if it keeps up, just ignore it when you can, she'll do it to the wrong person soon enough.
"Thank you so much for your input on what was a very busy shift!! I was fortunate to have learned in my recent orientation what to prioritize, and that nursing is a 24 hour occupation. Never the less, I appreciate your time in detailing where I can improve in practice, and shall take it under advisement."
You get more bees with honey, blah, blah. Could be this nurse was speeding up the bus for you. Could be the way of detailing what is not covered well in orientation. Could be that it is a political rant about understaffing/patient ratio at your expense. If management takes this seriously (and that could be doubtful) I would again stress that your documentation is such that you prioritized accordingly due to acuity and patient need.
Make sure you do document everything you do. Sometimes parents need longer more detailed education. Sometimes in NICU babies crump and have to be almost a 1:1 for a time. Lots of things that make critical care, well, critical and needs immediate. Do have your charge nurse in the loop as well. Because if you have an acute need and there's a "bed to be changed" thing, then you can formulate a plan together.
I hear you! Have had this sort of thing happen to me as well. Some nurses are like that for any number of reasons....Insecure, covering their bases, tattle tales who aren't mature enough to approach you directly, in person, without documenting every little thing. Being new to the specialty and unit should give you some time to learn and adjust before reporting every little thing. Just watch yourself around her. Also, if she would do that to you, it's quite possible she does it to others and the manager, if she/he has any smarts, is likely aware of her and possibly groans when she sees another report from her.
Documenting is ALWAYS a good thing. On a few occasions over the years, I have been questioned about something that happened awhile back and I wasn't sure of a detail or two. It was a good thing that I had a reference to look back on. Whenever I had a "questionable" experience at work, I would make my own record that I kept in a personal journal. You must be very careful with this with regards to HIPPA and make sure no one has access to it, but it was extremely helpful to me a few times. There can always be "holes" in charting depending on the system used and sometimes we don't think to chart certain details. I looked back on notes I had and was able to give the information that was needed and protected myself.
And by all means, take the advice of some who have said to respond professionally and with dignity. its natural to be angry or offended, but you must use self control at work and behave professionally at all times (even if others are not).
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
So I literally just got off orientation and I am in a new specialty, so of course I won't be perfect.
Just got an email from a nurse who cc'd part of management highlighting issues she had coming off after my shift. Nothing dangerous or life threatening. One of the mistakes I made, she made as well.
I really don't know how to respond other then, "Thanks, but no thanks for throwing me under the bus! And by the way, you made the same error!"
I was running my ass all night doing a lot that some of the other nurses even admitted that they would pass on to day shift, so I am ticked about this. I know now to avoid this girl who wants to "help" me.
How should I respond if I at all? I have taken her feedback and all, and emailing me about my errors isn't what bother me, her emailing me and adding management on is what rubs me the wrong way.
Damn. Out of orientation for a few shifts and I am already being thrown under the bus!
I'd talk to this person. Talking to you about your errors rather than running to management is indicative of someone who wants to help you. Emailing you rather than talking to you may mean that you are difficult to approach with feedback . . . or it may mean that she lacks confidence with feedback, or that she's unwilling to spend the time seeking you out to give feedback in person. Copying management with the email, though, is something else. It IS running to management AND it's creating a paper trail. I'd be concerned about that. Is it possible that there is a pattern of errors in your practice? Before you conclude that someone is out to get you or to throw you under the bus, please try to absorb the message in the emails.
By the way -- I've been guilty of emailing someone with a mistake they've made that I made too, and I've been the recipient of such emails. After doing it wrong for a couple of shifts, someone found out the RIGHT way to do it and is sharing it with their friends who made the same mistake. I've been grateful for the information.
TheCommuter, BSN, RN
102 Articles; 27,612 Posts
The chain of command starts with the coworker, not his/her managers. If I'm a new hire who failed to complete a task, tell me first. Don't copy the email to every Pam, Sue and Sally in management unless I've repeatedly displayed this behavior.
No real 'friend' at work would skip the chain of command.