I can't give report to this nurse anymore !!

Nurses Relations

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Hi everyone ! So this may come across as ranting but I am fed up with a nurse I have had to give report to recently and I need some advice! So I work in an icu and I have been off orientation for about a month now so I am still very new , but I know report is one thing I have down pat . But when I give report to this nurse , I know I will be there at least an hour past my shift and I can't take it anymore . Everybody fights over who has to give report to her and I always lose because I'm new . She will just not let you begin report until she's gone through the entire room and inspected it with a magnifying glass and normally she will start her patient assessment while you're standing there waiting to start as well. She will then open the computer and go through every single order and question me on it , then scroll through my assessment and tell me things she doesn't agree with in it. She also asks very irrelevant questions at times. I understand she is trying to be thorough but literally nobody else does this and it takes a full hour to give her report . Since I'm new and kind of naturally quiet I don't know how to speak up, or if I'm wrong and this is acceptable practice . I also don't want to cause any kind of problem or make her think I'm incompetent or be talking about me badly but I cannot stay an hour late every time I have to give her report . Is there something I can do? If you have been in this situation what did you do? Sorry for the long rant I'm just very frustrated ! Thank you !:)

Environmental safety check!! That's hilarious! :D :D :D

And when you do receive report from her, make a sacrifice for a day and do the exact same thing back to her x 10. Test every button, valve, or adjustable piece of equipment in that room and tell her its an "environmental safety check". As shes giving you report, ask her to wait as you test if the pt's bed can slowly raise all the way up...... then all the way down. Then one up her by opening up the computer, telling her about all the things you disagree with on her assessment, but also mention how you can see why she can have those opinions, making sure to explain all of the reasoning for both points of view.

LOL. I'm not really recommending you do this, although I would.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Set your boundaries " I'm giving you my report, now!"

So sorry you are going thru this

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This is one of the rare cases where I'm all for going to the manager. Her habits are costing them $$$. Is she this way with everyone or just new nurses? I can't stand it when the oncoming nurse wants to do an assessment or have a twenty minute conversation at the bedside, especially if I have to be back in the morning.

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"Everybody fights over who has to give report to her and I always lose because I'm new . "

You have to give report on the nurse that follows you. Are you saying the assignment is manipulated?

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Get together and go to have a breakfast or coffee right after your shift. The more nurses join, the better. Then the "slow report taker" will get a lesson or two from her own circle.

I did it that way when I was in agency. Instant solution of the problem for the price of 6 coffees and a plate of pastries ;) , plus I got a few new pals as well and we all had a great time!

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

Given that nobody approves of her style... I recommend that you make this thoroughly entertaining for yourself.

Rule #1 Be ready to overcome any objection, deflection, interruption, or other attempt to shut you down. You are in the right so she has no power except what you grant when she tries to dominate.

1. When she arrives start giving your report. If she says wait or no, explain time s valuable, she can do what she wants, but you are giving the report. And keep talking.

2. If she walks into the room, say "oh at the bedside is fine! Follow and keep talking.

3. If she tries to interrupt, say anything say all question can wait until he end and keep talking over her even if she continues to talk.

4. When she totally loses her cool, ask her if she would like to bring the manager into this... I guarantee she won't, so when she pauses, KEEP TALKING. She has to know she'll get shot down, or if she doesn't... let her discover... more entertainment.

5. If she tries to distract with room details or chart details keep repeating "that can wait until the the end."

6. When you reach the end, answer any legitimate questions, but ignore sniping and nitpicking. Say "my report is complete, and that discussion is unnecessary."

7. If she will not leave your first patient's room in order to prevent you from reporting on the second patient, in front of the patient (in a calm professional tone), progressively press her:

*"I am ready to report on the next patient"

*"Any of your shift activities can wait until after report."

*"Are you refusing to accept report?"

*"I do not have to wait... you can do your regular job during your shift not during report.

*"Would you like me to bring the manager into this?"

8. Give your second report

9. Turn on your heels, and leave... grinning.

Easier said than done, but totally accomplishable. Practice it in your head a few times.

You'll have tamed the shrew, and you'll be a hero among your colleagues.

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People like that have probably got dinged for something in the past. I wouldn't be surprise if a disciplinary action is on her on her license.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I agree with the poster who said that she couldn't be like this if the other nurses didn't enable her to do so. In addition to being a lot more assertive in how you give report (and not allowing her to interrupt) I would also talk to your manager about this.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Oh heck no...and why in the world has this been allowed to continue?? Does the hospital enjoy paying incremental OT? And why does everyone else agree to extend their shift by an HOUR??

As others have said, begin report early enough to clock out on time. Don't ask her permission -- TELL her that your shift ends in x minutes, and that is how many minutes she has. If she chooses to argue, remind her that her protests are eating into her x minutes.

Then, begin report.

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I have to play devil's advocate for a second. When something goes wrong mgt will be first ask "well did you check it during your report?" So perhaps that happened to her? She may be overdoing it, but there has to be reason why.

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I have to play devil's advocate for a second. When something goes wrong mgt will be first ask "well did you check it during your report?" So perhaps that happened to her? She may be overdoing it, but there has to be reason why.

If she is so traumatized by being scolded or disciplined for some such incident in the past that she needs to conduct report in this manner, she needs to speak to her manager and undertake efforts to get past it. This is widely out of the norm for even the more particular nurses out there.

This is a control behavior, and also possibly a matter of self esteem (people who only feel decent about themselves by picking apart what they see as others' shortcomings).

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You

True, but you know she is following a "good in theory, not in practice policy" that mgt has. So how is she going to say "I'm traumatized that I'm zeaolously following a rule that that you set and want everyone to follow"?

Hey OP? How is the mgt at your job? Do the CN and DON foster a negative atmosphere between nurses and shifts?

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