I need help dealing with a difficult nurse

[ShayRN]

This woman is out of control. She picks on LPN's and Aide's constantly. She thinks because she is in charge on nights a lot she should have an easier assignment and I have even written her up once for changing an assignment to make someone elses harder to lighten up her load. She complained to my manager that I am "picking on her" and that I give her heavier assignments that anyone else. The last one she had was a man with a pacemaker, going home in the AM, a 43 year old going for a stress the next afternoon, a 67 year old in with CHF, going to rehab the next day, and one heavy one. A woman with a peg that needed suctioned frequently. She also got an admission at 10:50, a A&Ox3, that was going to get 4 units of blood. Now, please tell me, what is so bad about that assignment? I am sure nothing is going to come of it and I really shouldn't be wasting my energy being so angry, but I gotta admit, she is getting to me. I have tried talking to her, she just starts screaming at me and walks out of the office, then goes above me and complains that I talk down to her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, because I sure as heck am not going to give her 4 or 5 "walky, talkys" every darn night she works.:angryfire

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

This is your assignment, like it or not, you're expected to take these patients. If she balks.....This is not open for discussion. Walk away.

Being in charge you can never please everyone and there seems to always be a complainer. She needs to know you are in charge and she is expected to take her assignment no ifs and or buts. Sounds like she has power struggle issues. Put her firmly, quietly in her place. I've had these same experiences. If they want to go above my head, fine, the nurse manager always sides with me.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

This woman is out of control. She picks on LPN's and Aide's constantly. She thinks because she is in charge on nights a lot she should have an easier assignment and I have even written her up once for changing an assignment to make someone elses harder to lighten up her load. She complained to my manager that I am "picking on her" and that I give her heavier assignments that anyone else. The last one she had was a man with a pacemaker, going home in the AM, a 43 year old going for a stress the next afternoon, a 67 year old in with CHF, going to rehab the next day, and one heavy one. A woman with a peg that needed suctioned frequently. She also got an admission at 10:50, a A&Ox3, that was going to get 4 units of blood. Now, please tell me, what is so bad about that assignment? I am sure nothing is going to come of it and I really shouldn't be wasting my energy being so angry, but I gotta admit, she is getting to me. I have tried talking to her, she just starts screaming at me and walks out of the office, then goes above me and complains that I talk down to her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, because I sure as heck am not going to give her 4 or 5 "walky, talkys" every darn night she works.:angryfire

Wait a minute.........this nurse had only one heavy care patient? Out of only four altogether?? On NIGHT shift?? And she complained about getting ONE admission?? If I'd had assignments like this on days, I'd have stayed in med/surg and been grateful for it.:angryfire She ought to thank her lucky stars---evidently she doesn't know how good she's got it.

OK, vent over. This nurse is out of line; even if you were a rotten charge nurse, the behavior on her part is inexcusable and totally unprofessional, and she deserves to be called on it. Don't put up with it, and don't allow her to treat the LPNs and aides badly, either---enlist the help of your house supervisor if need be, and definitely report her to someone higher up the food chain. You will lose good employees if she is permitted to run roughshod over them; hopefully your manager(s) will recognize this and put a stop to it.

Good luck to you, you will need it.

[Cute_CNA, CNA]

I am sure nothing is going to come of it and I really shouldn't be wasting my energy being so angry, but I gotta admit, she is getting to me. I have tried talking to her, she just starts screaming at me and walks out of the office, then goes above me and complains that I talk down to her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, because I sure as heck am not going to give her 4 or 5 "walky, talkys" every darn night she works.:angryfire

If she starts screaming at you every time you talk to her, that makes me think that she knows you're right and is getting defensive about you complaining about it. She wants a lighter load and also wants no one complaining about her getting a lighter load. What a brat. That's my interpretation.

[clee1]

This woman is out of control.

Just shoot her.

Just kidding (if I really needed to say that)