Is it appropriate for a Supervisor to throw staffing paper in your face?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a Charge nurse on a 34 bed med/surg unit with remote tele. We also take pediatrics on our floor, and usually do not have that many. Sometimes one, on a shift then you wont have a ped for a couple months. The most we usually have is 3-4 peds at anyone given time, but usually less. It is our role as charge to be recorder. However recently I had asked the supervisor if she would make someone else recorder that night, as I did have a ped pt, he wasn't a little one, around 9-10yrs, however he and mom were heavy sleepers, and each time I'd go in to check his IV, he would be all wrapped up in it. So based on that I just asked if someone else could be recorder. The supervisor response was to call me aside and tell me that I always complain about the code team. I realized after that conversation, it is because everyone else just changes it, without asking.. I did talk to my director, and she was going to talk to our CNO. Then last week, I was sitting at a desk, doing the assignment for our shift, when this supervisor is walking towards me. She gets within 2 feet of me a flings the staffing across the desk at me. I asked her "what was that all about" her response was " I think you know what that's about" she then walked back around me, and stopped I asked her "did I deserve that", and she said "no". she then walked out side for about a few minutes then came back in a relieved the tele tech for a break. I am still trying to get the assignment finished, when she says " I am right in assuming that you will be taking the ped" I looked down at the census, and it had not yet been entered into the system from the ER. so I looked up and said " oh I did not even know we had a ped, but yes I'll take the ped. she then starts to say something else, and the day charge starts to say " (calls her by name) were you going to say something. she starts to say then stops, so now I stop what I am doing and ask if she was talking to me, she states well I am trying but cant talk to the back of your head. I just let it go, and went to see the night supervisor, after she left, I told her I wanted to write her up for throwing that paper in my face when she was less than 2 ft from me. The night supervisor tells me she is not going to take sides, I told her that it is wrong to have someone who is supposed to be a supervisor throw things in your face, And that I did not want anyone to take sides, I am just stating the facts, so she tells me, well you guys need to talk to the cno and get this sorted out. I told her I would and that I had witnesses. she tells me well if you have witnesses, than to talk to the cno. about 2130 I get a call from the supervisor that went home, smell something fishy yet, anyway she said, yeah I called (called night supervisor by name) and she told me you were really upset, I told her yes I was, she goes on to tell me "that I would be the last person she would want to upset" whatever that means, and that she had a really bad day with a patient family member and keeps calling him by his first name, like I know who that is. I told her I don't even know who this person is, but that still does not give you a right to throw the staffing in my face. she proceeds to tell me that when she went outside, after she did that, that she just went out and said f*@. she then said "I just wanted to hit the wall or something" I did not know what to say at that point. so jokingly said " I hope it wasn't me". I dont know why she called, I do not think a true apology, due to the fact, she called or maybe was called by the supervisor, because I have witnesses, to what she did and what she said and how she was acting. This supervisor told the other supervisor that I had taken what she did out of context, but with her statements, how else could it be taken, not to say she disrespected me by throwing that at me. Now I have to call my director today to tell her, so we can have some kind of meeting, to get to the bottom of this behavior. I had not seen, called or talked to this supervisor on the night that this happened she just came up. But the paper she threw at me had my name scratched off of recorder, and had another nurse, because there was a late ped admit. I take full pt load and I am charge also. just would like some thoughts..........

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

Is it appropriate for anyone to throw anything in someones face? No, its not. that being said. IMO, If you feel her apology was genuine, or this is really just not like her, consider letting it slide. BUT if this is normal behaviour on her part, i would write it up. Either way its a ridiculous way for a grown woman to act.

Hope you feel better and get things aired out @ the meeting you're going to have.

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I agree with Crux1024 - no, not appropriate for someone to throw papers in your face. However, I did stop reading midway through the post because it is always hard for me to follow a huge block of text!

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Yeah, I can see why you are upset, that was totally uncalled for. If it was just a one time thing-- I wouldn't take it to the limit. Seems like she is being all contrite about it NOW because she knows what deep doo doo she stepped in. I would just be very clear, you will not tolerate that ever again.

I had a supervisor once who stuffed my desk drawer with a bunch of un-sterilized surgical instruments in a fit of uncontrolled rage. I had a doctor's appointment that afternoon, had a super painful procedure, but decided to stop back at work to help them finish the day. That's when I found the instruments stuffed in my drawer. Let's just say I was NOT as controlled as you were when it happened to me! :eek: :eek:

Appropriate meetings were held, stood my ground, it never happened again. Hope you get it resolved soon!

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Specializes in medical.
I agree with Crux1024 - no, not appropriate for someone to throw papers in your face. However, I did stop reading midway through the post because it is always hard for me to follow a huge block of text!

Me too. Please use paragraphs next time!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I did not read all your text as it was too long, but in general, no one throws anything. Period. Otherwise, notify HR.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I made it about one sentence in, so I have not read your post, but no, it is not appropriate for anyone to throw anything in your face.

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i agree with those who say to let it slide, IF this is an isolated event.

however, keep your own personal journal, noting everything that was said and done.

of course it was unprofessional.

it's unprofessional whoever does it.

however, i did get the feeling that she regretted it immediately, aeb walking out of the room.

hope you can work this out.

leslie

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Sorry about the long paragraph, it was late and I was in a hurry. Thanks for all the advice.

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When it ever appropriate for anyone to throw paper(anything) in another's face?

You've worked with this nurse and known this individual.From reading the posts above mine, have also been given great advice. Decide on what you would do based on situation at hand while making sure she understands that such immature and disrespectful behaviour would not repeat itself again.

She's a professional, let her act like one,

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"Is it appropriate for ______ to throw________in your face?"

no.

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The story never ends.....now the supervisor that I went to that night, to report the other supervisor(that threw the staffing at my face) has given me a bad eval. Using words such as lacks ambition, staff thinks assignments are unfair, it not respected by staff. I think she is retaliating due to the other supervisor, which I never pursued.

I work hard, I don't smoke-so not a lot of breaks, like some of our smokers get. There are a few nurses that complain always about their assignment no matter what. The weird thing is that she did my eval around the same time as, the previous was happening.

Oh she also put not flexible, one night she called me 2 am, I was not on call, not schedule. She asked me if I could come in they were having a bad night, I was there in 30 minutes, how much more flexible could I be. I also come in early for day shift and work 12 hours from the time I get there.

They now tell me I have 90 days to improve, with exception the the usual complainers, the staff knows I help them. I even had them talk with another supervisor,and she told them I am a hard worker.

I am a working charge with 6-9 pts, same if not more than the other nurses on the floor. My phone rings so many times, it is hard to get my work done.

I am thinking if telling them, I will not do charge anymore, not worth working my butt off, and them telling me I don't, for 2.00 more per hour.

On a rare occasion they will put in in charge without patients, for both our medsurg floors combined. anywhere from 50-60 pts. I have to walk back and forth constantly, getting calls from all nurses, I need you to look at this, call the dr, start an iv, note orders, which is difficult for 2 floors. btw I am the only charge they put for both floors.

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