Job bullying

[Bunny1975]

I moved to Washington in March and started a new job six months ago. There was a nurse who was assigned to be one of my preceptors. She only worked in that department less than a year and I could tell that she didn't have much knowledge and she constantly gave me wrong information and advice. If I raised my concern, she would get mad and blame me. My other preceptor was more knowledgeable, but the two are close friends.

Long story short, this nurse doesn't like me. She and her friend gave me a bad review on my evaluation. It had nothing to do with my skills, but it was all about her feelings toward me. She even admitted this to me in person. So they put me on probation.

Later she got promoted and became our assistant nurse manager. Ever since, she has used her power to put me down. In these six months working there, she constantly targets me and looks for petty excuses to criticize me or blame me for something. I've gone through one disciplinary talk and three meetings. Luckily I have the nurse union by my side, so I only received a verbal warning from the result of the disciplinary talk and she told me that my probation is over. They couldn't find anything I did wrong, but I have to go through these stressful meetings and talks.

After these events, I thought everything should be calmed down, but her radar is still on me. She found another ridiculous and non sense issue and wants to put me in another disciplinary talk. She doesn't do this with other nurses.

My coworkers are very supportive and like me. They all know she has a personality problem because she has given others problems in the past and they can see her bad intentions toward me. But they can't help me because she has the power now and she has no shame in using her power to make me miserable.

Unfortunately, my manager also covers other departments and doesn't like to be involved, so she only listens to her. I talked to my manager about my concerns but she chose to side with the ANM.

My health is getting worse from the stress. I really like my job and my co-workers. What should I do? Please give me your advice.

[Ntheboat2]

Can you transfer? That's what I would do. Once somebody has it out for you, it's not likely to change. It will only get worse. Leave.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

Put a complaint in writing that goes above the manager? Is there a formal grievance procedure at your place of employment? She shouldn't be allowed to hurt your career arbitrarily.

[Bunny1975]

Thanks so much for your advice. There were nearly 10 experienced day shift nurses who resigned in one year before I landed in this department. Most of them got bullied from the previous manager and ANM so they had to leave. One of the nurses who resigned last year said that she had worked there over 10 years and she became the target of the manager and ANM. She and her other colleagues reported it to HR but HR decided to side with the manager and ANM.

Since I've worked there, the bullying toward me hasn't stopped. I have great support from my colleagues and they told me not to quit, just hang in there. They said the the manager and ANM will be very glad if I quit and they will continue use the same way to treat the people who they don't like in the future.

I have no ways to report the bullying, definitely not HR. The union rep told me that I got attacked by the manager and the ANM, so HR will side with them no matter what.

I'm looking for other jobs now but I feel so sad and angry that they use their power to bully employees when they didn't do anything wrong.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

Thanks so much for your advice. There were nearly 10 experienced day shift nurses who resigned in one year before I landed in this department. Most of them got bullied from the previous manager and ANM so they had to leave. One of the nurses who resigned last year said that she had worked there over 10 years and she became the target of the manager and ANM. She and her other colleagues reported it to HR but HR decided to side with the manager and ANM.

Since I've worked there, the bullying toward me hasn't stopped. I have great support from my colleagues and they told me not to quit, just hang in there. They said the the manager and ANM will be very glad if I quit and they will continue use the same way to treat the people who they don't like in the future.

I have no ways to report the bullying, definitely not HR. The union rep told me that I got attacked by the manager and the ANM, so HR will side with them no matter what.

I'm looking for other jobs now but I feel so sad and angry that they use their power to bully employees when they didn't do anything wrong.

You would think a history of previous complaints would build your case. Your rapport with other staff who know firsthand what is happening is on your side as well. I would not go out without doing what is necessary to ensure your reputation and future career prospects aren't adversely affected. Sorry you are going through this.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

This is awful. Sorry this is happening to you. If you are going in once again for a "talk" I would ask specifically what it is they would like you to do. Clearly. Where they can site policy that is non reflected in your care of patients. Your union rep should be learned in taking this to her area/ state level union rep for advice. Most contracts have a "dignity and respect" clause that is grieveable, should it come to that. Most places have an ethics phone number where one can file a complaint. It is usually found on the website of the hospital you work at, or the parent company website of the facility that you work at. You need to keep track of specific examples, get a copy of your evaluations where it is based on your personality rather than your skill, get everything down on paper that you can. Do NOT let anyone railroad you into a "patient safety" disciplinary issue without concrete proof of policy breach. All verbal warnings should be signed with a clause that your union rep should be learned in regarding you do not agree with the statement, just acknowledging your receipt of same. And you have the right to add a written statement of your own to add to your personnel record. In the meanwhile, soak up all you can from this floor clinically. Get any certifications that they are willing to give you. Think about where else you would like to be, your goal, and start the process of meeting with those managers as to what you need to do to transfer to their floor. I would stick to a generic "it was not a good fit" rather than getting into details. Even if for some reason there may be some basis to what your current managers have to say, they IMHO are going about this in a less than desirable fashion. "Bunny75 is a doody-head and thinks she is all that and a bag of frito-lays" vs "Bunny75 has made 2 med errors and had a patient complaint that she did not respond to their request to be assessed for pain which resulted in xyz". They need to be specific. And unless you are bullying your co workers or being nasty to the patients, they need to site policy.