Inept Supervisors

[Plasticgloworm]

I currently work in an ALF, usually passing meds but occasionally on the floor. I am very good at my job because I care about my job. If I'm not sure about a medication, I look it up. I want to know what my patients are receiving, possible side effects, ect. The supervisor I am currently under is completely inept, rude, and unprofessional. She should not be passing medications; it is a safety issue. In the last week alone, she has made 3 med errors. We have a woman on hospice, who has most of her meds in liquid form. Well super-supervisor didn't check because she's lazy and doesn't take her time, and the patient received ativan instead of methadose two :eek:days in a row. She completely forgot to give a patient her AM meds, and she gave a medication (tylenol 3) that had been D/C'd for a week because she didn't look at the MAR before she administered the drug. She refuses to admit any time she makes a mistake, and she wrote my fellow hard worker up for not (!) pulling the tylenol 3 from the day cart as well as the afternoon cart. She also tried to pass it off as she punched the med, but did not give it because she saw that it was D/C'd. She's rude to the residents, rude to her coworkers, and it really starts to get to me sometimes. I love my job, but the workplace is becoming very hostile. I'm trying to find a new job, even though i'll hate to leave all my residents (especially when there are unlicensed individuals passing meds that have no idea what they're doing), but I need to do the best thing for myself.

Anyone else work in a hostile environment? Thanks for the chance to vent, everyone

[tablefor9, RN]

Go up the chain of command. Document incidents, in writing, including information about incident reports written about the same. Use the magic words...HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT. LATERAL VIOLENCE. If more staff are having this problem, go up the food chain together.

DO not hang with this nurse.

[Plasticgloworm]

I appreciate your input, it means a lot to me. Unfortunately, the company I work with is rotten to the core. The area supervisor hangs out with my area supervisor on a regular basis. They have created a "paper trail" on me, by writing me up for trivial things, such as not signing for one service for one patient in one day, and I feel like they are trying to get me fired. It hurts, because I am intelligent, confident, and good at my job. Do you think that making an incident report for every time my supervisor makes a harmful mistake will help? Should I send it higher up to corporate, above my area supervisor? Any input helps. I looked up lateral violence, and it really does apply to me. I might be able to use this for my advantage. Thank you.

[tablefor9, RN]

Most facilities/companies have a policy about this kind of thing that states that you do not have to go to your next in line supervisor if you have reason to believe you may be harmed by doing so. I would document EVERYTHING up to and including any frivilous targeting these people are doing. I would send it to corporate and do it PDQ. I would also be looking for another job. IF they try to fire you...DO NOT RESIGN. IF you resign, you have no ability to file a grievence with the company for wrongful termination.

I know this is stressful, and I'm sorry you're going through it. Unfortunately, I've seen similar circumstances. But, think of the patients, and the nursing staff also coming underfire in this situation.

Be the strong one.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

Your boss probably feels intimidated by you. i have worked in 2 LTCs both with totally 'inept supervisors' who think they can BS their way thru everything.... they are totally out of touch with what actually goes on. Like the PP's said - I should probably start documenting as well AND look for another job. But i am beginning to think they are all pretty much the same.

[Plasticgloworm]

Thank you all so much. As I continue to look for a new job, I will document every infraction that I see. I'm not sure going up the chain of command will help, but I will definitely try it. Thanks, you are all awesome :-).

[Batman25]

She's harming patients and someone needs to be made aware of that fact pronto. Patients should come before who is friends with who and who is feeling insecure. Let someone know about the errors and get out of there ASAP on your own terms. Find a new job because unfortunately your time here is very limited. Sad that the politics and environment will force out a good nurse.

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

we have anonymous phone lines for reporting if we fear repercussions. it doesn't mean were completely anonymous but by calling it guarantees the complaint gets evaluated by those not involved. good luck

[morte, LPN, LVN]

how could she give liquid ativan instead of methadone?? liquid ativan is kept refrigerated....

[amyrose]

I like you have safety and integrity in mind and I started a new job in Feb right after passing my boards. All the info is fresh in my head and I have retained a lot b/c I studied hard and put forth a lot of effort into my eduction. After 2 weeks into my new job I was called into the office and confronted b/c people were complaining about me being a "know it all."

One poor orientation session with someone who made it clear he was not getting the extra pay to orientate (b/c he chose not go to the class) and angrily going about his job as if I was not there for the first 30 minutes and then being rude for the remainder of the day. This person also wanted me to send a letter to a doctor with information I was not comfortable stating, thus prompting a refusal to write what he said started this downward spiral. And while personality and learning style differences (I have ADD) play a large part in this situation I was given work to do while I was orientating that was not appropriate and took away from learning time, I was also told to do things and offered no guidance.

I know that I have a lot to learn (a whole lot) but instead of being perceived as helpful I was perceived as "conceited", which I am not. I am trying my hardest to see this as a learning experience about myself but it is HARD under the circumstances and it is even harder to know that I was just not liked and talked about behind my back instead of being corrected or taught.

I am pt/resident focused and it feels as though my lack of interest in potlucks and conformity to picking up slack for the supervisor were undesired qualities in this particular environment.

To make a long story short not only did my confidence and self-esteem take a nose dive rendering me generally incapacitated and defensive, but I was let go d/t being a "poor fit".

Not exactly sure where to go from here, I am in all honesty glad I do not have to go back there, but that does not lessen the sting. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I am genuinely trying to take a good hard look at myself at the moment to see if there is any truth in their claims but that is not easy to do either. Thanks for listening.

[Plasticgloworm]

how could she give liquid ativan instead of methadone?? liquid ativan is kept refrigerated....

That's what I asked when the hospice nurse brought it, and she told us to keep it in the narc box with the rest of the narcs. I was under the impression that it had to be refrigerated as well.

[Plasticgloworm]

amyrose,

I completely understand where you're coming from. Many people are intimidated by those of us who have a solid knowledge base, and prefer to think instead of just do. Critical thinking skills are a part of every healthcare job, and if I don't feel comfortable with a certain order, I think about it, look up that patients history, and call the doctor if need be. I'm sure they think i'm a know-it-all too, but we just do the best that we can, knowing that we're doing the right thing.