The nurse working on the other side just doesn't like me. Yesterday and today she is like bossing me around telling me to feed my resident I told her I will when I finish my job, then she's like empty your cart and don't do that with it, or document this etc... but that is her attitude towards everyone.
Today she was real pissed. At the start of the pandemic I got temp full time with benefits. She got it too but she wanted the benefits but just part time and she will just pick up shifts as she does not want to work too much. The last few months we have had many outbreaks, so lots of overtime was available. The staffing clerks always asked me and I always said yes, I am under the impression that they will ask the staff who says yes all the time, and that no matter seniority as long as the shift is covered its fine. This nurse, today she came up to me and said "look, why are you hogging all the shifts? I've been here since you were in nursing school. You get offered all the overtime and what about me? I'm "on call" and should only pick up shifts"? I have more seniority than you. I'm going to report you to the union. This is unacceptable. They were always giving you the shifts and I never said anything, now I am speaking up". she'd also say "oh they booked me as an extra person. why am I extra? you should be the extra you have less seniority than me". I feel guilty, but I did nothing wrong here. I didn't like the way she approached it especially at the nursing station right after we got report. this person has a history of being confrontational with staff. She said she will fix it, we will still both get our 80 hours in 2 weeks, I just didn't like the way it was done. Very aggressive.
Is this somewhat bullying/harassment? whether she's in the right I don't think she approached it properly. I have no enemies at work or anything like that.
Don't get anxious about and don't take the bait. This nurse while maybe not technically bullying is complaining in an inappropriate manner and wants to get a rise out of you.
Plain and simple, you're asked to work overtime and you say yes. That's you're answer to this nurse. "I don't know what you're talking about, they ask me and I say yes and it's not up to me to control who they ask...talk to them". End of discussion.
This does not seem like bullying,I have seen best friends get into arguments over extra shifts. Why some want it all I will never understand.Keep accurate records of when you were confirmed for extra shifts,how they decide is not your problem,it is an internal problem.If her nastiness increases then by all means request a delegate and management meeting.
I think your response from the other scenario would be great here!
"Please leave me out of this, I don't want to hear about your personal problems. Go talk to someone who cares. BYE."
Yes, unless OP is a new nurse making mistakes that put residents at risk she needs to focus on her own patients. Also for the staffing issue she can tell staffing the days that she wants to pick up. OP if they offer you OT and that's what you want to do then pick up as much as you can while its available. Especially if they are offering bonuses. This Covid wave will not last forever (I hope) so I tell nurses to make as much as they can now since now places are letting nurses work as much OT as they want. Plus some places the bonus to come in is very lucrative. OP are you a new nurse for her to tell you how to do your job function? Is she a charge nurse or in any supervisor role. I would just say thanks for keeping me informed but I have my own system of working that works for me. Some people that has been at an institution for awhile are miserable but feel like they run the place and wants to take it out on everyone else.
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,253 Posts
Don't get anxious about and don't take the bait. This nurse while maybe not technically bullying is complaining in an inappropriate manner and wants to get a rise out of you.
Plain and simple, you're asked to work overtime and you say yes. That's you're answer to this nurse. "I don't know what you're talking about, they ask me and I say yes and it's not up to me to control who they ask...talk to them". End of discussion.