Basically my shift had ended at 5pm and I was ready to go home. Awkwardly a staff member who is also a Nurse was in the elevator with me she was going on her break. Greeted her and then she began sobbing, and I really was trying to avoid this situation. She began telling me how she is a single mother of 2, and that she had recently gone through a divorce 2 months ago and she didn't know what to do. I'm a very confidential person, I don't like gossip and such. I told her I was sorry she was going through this situation, but I told her to stop telling me more information, and divulging myself into her personal life. I said sorry I do not want to get involved, its not my business. She kept asking me for advice, I said look it has nothing to do with me please stop asking, and I referred her to our facilities Director of care and social worker. The next day I was called into the Directors office and that Nurse had reported me to what I said to her and they made a case that I was bullying her?
Nothing wrong with what I did, I don't put my problems at work. The boss said well you are a Nurse and you should figure out how to help someone. I told them...
1) my shift was over.
2) It had nothing to do with me in the first place.
None of this was in the job description when I applied. I of course did not sign the letter and will fight it, I did not feel like I was bullying her.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
On 12/7/2021 at 8:42 AM, Wuzzie said:
True but excoriating the OP isn't any better. Neither is telling people they shouldn't be a nurse. We already know he struggles with interpersonal relationships and let's face it, he's a he.Most men panic in the presence of a crying woman especially when backed into a corner. He never should have been professionally disciplined for this. Personally, I think the OP is trying to figure things out otherwise he wouldn't keep posting his trip ups and getting snarked at by strangers on the net.
Kinda of sexist don't you think? Why do so many become therapists if this is the case? My husband is wonderful w/crying women (my daughter and myself and his mom). So I don't agree with this necessarily.
But being trapped in an elevator with someone falling apart is uncomfortable for anyone, myself included. I guess I would just want that person to know I heard them and express this. that's about all the time we would have before parting ways.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
On 12/16/2021 at 7:27 PM, Kooky Korky said:
OP was not wrong. It was the other person who needs a Psych consult.
For his own benefit, OP could try to be a little more friendly. But only a little. If he is too friendly, the other party will just want more and more from him.
Kind of like OP can't win.
And it is NOT OK in the US for a man to touch a woman's shoulder except MAYBE in plain view of at least a couple of observers. Such gestures are so easily misinterpreted.
This might be TLT's first post but she might have been reading AN for a long time.
I agree. It was no win. But a letter of counseling? WAY out of line!
Jedrnurse, BSN, RN
2,776 Posts
Well, it sure has nothing to do with nursing practice and is quite inflammatory for a lot of people, so...