Issues with a nurse who eat their young!

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2009

What's to report? That she's nasty?

You did fine. Ignore her.

NeosynephRN · Apr 4, 2009

What do you want your manager to do in regards to this situation? I would be careful with that. Just be glad you do not work a full 12+ hours with them, let what they say roll off your back and do your job.

meandragonbrett · Apr 4, 2009

I would not be explaining why or why I didn't do something. I simply pass things along. No reason for me to give them excuses. Just ignore what they say and go on about your business. Running to your manager could cause more problems in the long run.

labcat01, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2009

I've had a couple of nurses like that- some are hard on me because I know they WANT me to learn and are trying to teach me and some are just mean.

First, You will learn to get used to it and try to learn from it so you can organize yourself better next time.

Second, you will soon notice that we all have shifts like that sometimes and those night nurses will not always be perfect and ready to give report.

Third, it will only reflect badly on you if you complain to your manager- she might think you are too sensitive and can't handle the environment, word will get around that you are a "tattle-tale" (not that you are but that is how they can make you look), and finally, it is sad to say, but they might act out against you and start writing you up for every little thing.

Hopefully, your work environment isn't quite that toxic. Just try to move on- everyday gets a little bit better :) Sorry your feelings were hurt.

caitiecait · Apr 5, 2009

ok but did I do something wrong? B/C I think she is just being nitpicky. The only reason why I would go to my manager is b/c others have and these "nurses" have stopped messing with them. Alot of people on my unit are upfront with the manager about issues, and why shouldn't they if someone is being disrespectful. Nursing is way too diificult to deal with people like this. This does not help the nursing shortage either. I think before Id do something like that I'd say something to her. My problem is that things don't hit me until after the fact. But I refuse to put up with her crap. So now that I am prepared for it Ill be professional and let her know how I feel. Anyways thanks for the input, just b/c I do not have as much experience as she does, does not give her or any one else the right to disrespect me, so the next time it happens I WILL speak up.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2009

No, you didn't do anything wrong. She's not a nice person.

cloister · Apr 5, 2009

I'm with Meandragonbrett. Stop trying to explain yourself to Brunhilde and ignore the comments. Maybe she was tired. Maybe she was hormonal. Maybe she doesn't like you. It's her problem, not yours.

We've got one in our unit that blows hot and cold. Hell, I never know what kind of mood she's going to be in, and I've pretty much stopped caring. I'll make a sympathetic clucking noise or two if she's whining, but then I give her a wide berth. The same goes for the day shift chick who charges into the room before I've finished report, giving me the silent treatment. I can't fix what's ailing them.

Unfortunately, there's more than a few of those in any workplace. Makes it kind of unpleasant, but you don't have to join them in their misery. Smile sweetly, make friends with your other coworkers and move on.

caitiecait · Apr 7, 2009

Thank you. These nurses have a reputation of giving the new young nurses a hard time. My problem is I am too nice. If they give me a prob again Ill just put them in their place professionally. And you know what, it is their own fault that they are always short staffed and tripled b/c the nurses that get hired for nights either leave for day shift or leave the unit b/c of their snootiness, so they only have themselves to blame!! Anyhow thanx for the advice! :nurse:

NurseSnarky · Apr 11, 2009

I have been researching "Horizontal Violence" or "Lateral Violence" for a couple of years. It is a passion for me because your story is all too familiar and also it happened to me on my first job as an LPN (I lasted 6wks - I had NO IDEA that this even took place, they didn't address it in school), and on my first job as an RN on Tele. I last there almost a year, but just couldn't take it. It was sink or swim, and I was screamed at in the clean storage room on my last day of work there (after giving my two weeks notice) by the Brunhilda of the unit...she pulled me out of a cardioversion to do this as she was acting sup for that shift...oh joy! And I just stood there, took it, told her "oh yes you did do this and that"...and finally at the end I just burst out in tears. I couldn't be strong and assertive and I just reported it to my sup when she got back from her meeting. Didn't phase her...oh you know how SHE is. Great...and yes we do, but why won't anyone do anything about HER? Well because she's a dang good nurse and the docs respect her...that's all that counts. *sigh* I was a fav target of hers at times, but this time she was acting sup and didn't help me when I asked, she just turned and walked away to go to lunch without saying a word...the "lovely" unit sec ratted me out that I was mad that she took off on me...so I got chewed out because she would NEVER not help me. Oh whatever. It happened...can't change the facts. I really was on a fast moving cardiac floor and I did not have a good preceptor either...she did not want me slowing her up...she was off at 11:30p and that was that. So she didn't allow me to do the paperwork or anything on my own during the preceptorship. NOW I know to speak up and say, this is NOT working...let's try someone else. As a new nurse I didn't know I could do that.

Well anyway...many hospitals are being proactive on horizontal violence in the workplace. Funny thing is after six years I went back and applied to that first hospital (where I only lasted six weeks), and interviewed for an ER/SCU position. And I said I wanted to work towards preventing this from happening and it was a passion of mine for recruitement and retention of nurses...they just stared at me like I was crazy and didn't hire me. And now the hospital is going down the tubes fast...it's sad. Morale is down and turnover has been high for years. Oh and when I did work there another new nurse was also treated like crap and only stayed six weeks! And while I was there I would hear the older nurses plotting against a newer (1yr) nurse....they would watch and let her make mistakes then take them to the manager and she would get written up! No regard for patient safety!!!! That's why it's so important to nip this in the bud! Patient safetly. That nurse was able to make it one more year and then transferred to Home Health (her mom was a sup on nights). It was awful the things they'd say about her (she was young, blonde, pretty, smart, newly divorced, and the docs loved her). She's a great nurse.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12641816

"CONCLUSIONS: First year of practice is an important confidence-building phase for nurses and yet many new graduates are exposed to horizontal violence, which may negatively impact on this process. The findings underscore a priority for the development of effective prevention programmes. Adequate reporting mechanisms and supportive services should also be readily available for those exposed to the behaviour."

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FSL/is_6_78/ai_111895683/

http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/vol132008/No3Sept08/ArticlePreviousTopic/NursetoNurseBullying.aspx

Just Google Horizontal Violence...great info. As far as management...find out if there is a task force that is addressing this and you'd like to join or start one. It's important for R&R as I mentioned above. Take control that way. She/he may know about the issues, but doesn't have the time to address them or doesn't know how.

janis9799 · Apr 15, 2009

I graduated May 2008, work nights in the ICU. The day shift has this one horrible nurse who is completely burned out and makes everything difficult for newbies. She gave me crap one day because I did not know why a pt. was transferred into the ICU other than they kept desating badly. She said it was something I should know. We just got a new computer charting system, so sometimes finding things is hard and I couldn't find any info other than what I had got. It was a busy night, pt was stable blah blah. I asked her to suggest where I look in the chart to find the information other than in the place it was supposed to be but wasn't. She didn't have an answer. What she was really annoyed at was her assignment was heavy so she just felt like picking on someone. I had a long tiring night at 35 years old, I didn't really feel like being lectured ad nausea, so I looked up and said in a firm but not nasty voice,"I understand that you are frustrated with your assignment this morning, but there is no need to speak to me this way." She backed off, later appologized and when I FINALLY tracked down the info she wanted, she said that she was glad I found it because she couldn't either. She hasn't bothered me since. So I suggest just using my line,"There is no need to talk to me like this or treat me like this." Keep it as emotionless as possible and you can't get into trouble saying it. Stand up for yourself, bullies usually back down without being snotty.

Bella RN, BSN, MSN · Apr 20, 2009

I wouldn't run to the manager. You did the right thing. Just ignore her. She is obviously unhappy with her life. You can't help that. If it continues on then address her about it, if no resolution discuss it with your charge and go from there. Nursing is stressful as is you don't need a sore loser to add to the stress