Im doing my job,Im not part of your team

[optimist]

This may seem petty/silly

I work weekends doing wound care in LTC. Recently we acquired a new nurse on weekdays for wounds (2 nurses m-f, just me on the weekends). She is such a nice person and trying very hard to fit in and learn the job. Whats bothering me is she is sending correspondence between departments signed "Sincerely, your wound care team, Nurse X, Nurse Y and Nurse Z (insert my name there). Some of the correspondence include letters of praise and gratitude to physicians and PAs gushing on and on about how wonderful thier care is (signed Your Wound Care Team with names). She doesnt even know these people and has very limited knowledge of their inattention to detail, and lack of respect for nurses. Today she brought in lavish gifts for the managment from the Wound Care Team.Talk about a brown noser! How can I tactfully tell her that I would prefer she not include my name on gifts and correspondence. I go in every week to do a job, and though I do communicate with the weekday people, I prefer to not be included as a part of this "team". I dont want to be rude but this is annoying!

[netglow, ASN, RN]

She could also be trying to be the leader de facto.

Others don't have time to think about it, they'll assume the other two chose her, or that for some reason she has been hired to make a "group" out of you three, and IS your boss.

I'd nip it now.

[notjustanurse]

I agree with Chin up. Boundaries are a good thing.

And setting up boundaries and limits are not drama. It seems like so many people are afraid of creating the slightest bit of perceived "conflict."

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

i agree with chin up. boundaries are a good thing.

and setting up boundaries and limits are not drama. it seems like so many people are afraid of creating the slightest bit of perceived "conflict."

i disagree as far as floor nursing (direct patient care nursing) is concerned. conflict is the norm. unprofessional behaviors are the norm. in fact, so many people do not try to avoid conflict in direct patient care settingd that boundaries (good or bad) are non-existent between co-workers.

[notjustanurse]

i disagree as far as floor nursing (direct patient care nursing) is concerned. conflict is the norm. unprofessional behaviors are the norm. in fact, so many people do not try to avoid conflict in direct patient care settingd that boundaries (good or bad) are non-existent between co-workers.

where are you practicing? that is certainly not the norm in the facilities i have worked in. of course there is some drama and a few trouble-makers, but it is by far not a normal, everyday thing. and furthermore, the generalization that all floor nursing is like that is both incorrect and insulting.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

just my two cents..but what if there were a problem in the future that you have no knowledge of, and she addressed the problem, and signed it the "woundcare" team with your name inserted? that could be a serious problem...nix it now...nicely but nix it...no-one should sign your name..really...

Exactly what I was thinking too. If she is sending emails out with the signature line automatically filling in the names of the wound care team, she may send one some day that is off the charts looney-tunes. Aaaaannnd there your name is at the bottom of the Crazytown message. Is this a realistic scenario? Maybe not, but why take the risk?

I would approach her in a very relaxed manner and say, "Nurse X, I read an email that you sent out to Dr., Ms., Mr. Y, and couldn't help but notice my name on the email. I appreciate the extra effort that you are making in including me in the "Wound Care Team", but I am hypervigilant about emails that I send out myself. I tend to be OCD about it-you know, reading my emails 15 times before I send them out and stuff. I am SUCH a nerd sometimes! I know that you probably didn't know that about me, but since I am kinda weird about it, would you mind taking my name off of the signature line in the future? It isn't YOU, it's ME. I am glad you are working here and showing such an effort in teamwork. Thanks for understanding. I am just quirky like that." Then change the subject.

If you take the focus off of her and make it about YOUR preference mixed in with a bit of self-deprecating humor, it should diffuse any sort of conflict that may come from your approaching her about it.

[leslie :-D]

Thank you leslie. I've always wanted to be a member of a group. You have a great group. When's our next meeting and what is on the agenda?

I don't know when the next meeting is.

the agenda that I've decided, is to petition the administration about a "bite me" button, next to the "kudos" button.

I've always wanted that.

when i send it out on our behalf, y'all will get a copy.

and if you don't like it...tough toodles...

because I am the spokesperson for the an's membership, and that's all that counts.

but i agree caliotter, I do have an awesome group...

whether others agree or not.

(ok op and really, talk to her...she has too much authority)

leslie;)

[caliotter3]

I don't know when the next meeting is.

the agenda that I've decided, is to petition the administration about a "bite me" button, next to the "kudos" button.

I've always wanted that.

when i send it out on our behalf, y'all will get a copy.

and if you don't like it...tough toodles...

because I am the spokesperson for the an's membership, and that's all that counts.

but i agree caliotter, I do have an awesome group...

whether others agree or not.

(ok op and really, talk to her...she has too much authority)

leslie;)

He, he, he, he, he!

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I don't know when the next meeting is.

the agenda that I've decided, is to petition the administration about a "bite me" button, next to the "kudos" button.

I've always wanted that.

when i send it out on our behalf, y'all will get a copy.

and if you don't like it...tough toodles...

because I am the spokesperson for the an's membership, and that's all that counts.

but i agree caliotter, I do have an awesome group...

whether others agree or not.

(ok op and really, talk to her...she has too much authority)

leslie;)

Case it point...Crazytown message ^^^^^^

OK, Les. You can hit the "bite me" button now! Miss ya!

YOUR allnurses group member, Canes

[Chin up]

i disagree as far as floor nursing (direct patient care nursing) is concerned. conflict is the norm. unprofessional behaviors are the norm. in fact, so many people do not try to avoid conflict in direct patient care settingd that boundaries (good or bad) are non-existent between co-workers.

this is so sad:(

[Chin up]

Brilliant. LOL

I can be a ditz. It took reading this quite a few times, before I got it.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

i disagree as far as floor nursing (direct patient care nursing) is concerned. conflict is the norm. unprofessional behaviors are the norm. in fact, so many people do not try to avoid conflict in direct patient care settingd that boundaries (good or bad) are non-existent between co-workers.

good lord! where in the heck do you work?!?! a federal penitentiary with crystal meth piped into the ductwork? it sounds like a horrible place to work. how do you deal with it?

[optimist]

UPDATE****

So I was still torn when I came into work this morning. Part of me agreed with those who thought it was a harmless gesture of goodwill, part of me was still irritated that she was using my name. It was an awkward moment this morning that settled it. I was making my way down the hall when a Pts family member stopped me to say thank you. "For what?" I asked dumbfounded. She looked confused but replied "for the lovely Easter basket you sent my family". I was at a loss for words but smiled and said "Oh sure thing". Ummm, I had no idea I had sent them a gift, Im not even that fond of that family (they are the definition of overbearing,picky,and nosy). Its one thing to kiss but on your own terms but dont include my name when its a butt Id rather not kiss. Oh and while she was distributing these gifts she actually bought cutesy BABY BIBS for a couple of residents that have issues with drooling. That is such a dignity issue, just because my mother/father has had a stroke and dribbles does not make them an infant that needs a winnie the pooh bib. Nice intentions but how offensive. I am DEFINITLY leaving a nice but firm letter for her before I leave this weekend.

Thanks for all the responses

Oh and hey, I want to be in this AN group-lol