Just met "Ms. Know It All LPN"

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

I work at a LTC facility as a LPN and a new nurse just started the other day. She's been a LPN for about 20 years, so I was just basically orienting her to the unit. Well for starters she's doing some program to get her BSN. Because of this she thinks she already is a MD. Here are some examples of the comments she made

"I call residents, guests, because that is the appropriate PR term"

"You don't need to wipe a finger or injection site with alcohol because it doesn't do any good, it traumatizes the skin and doesn't kill bacteria"

"I know a lot because I worked as an interim ADON"

When one of my residents said "Will you open my blinds?", Her response was "Yes, I'd be glad to, and your welcome" She proceeded to say don't your guests know how to say please and thank you?

"Why do you give you cholesterol meds in the morning here? I replied, I don't know, that's just the way they are ordered. She proceeded to tell me that it doesn't matter because none of the hyperlipidemia meds work anyway.

On her first day she faxed an order to pharmacy on the wrong patient, left a T#3 and a phenobarbital in the top drawer that was to be given at 8am, the 2nd shift nurse found them.

Within in 2 minutes of meeting her, I didn't like her, and I get along with anyone, but she just rubbed me the wrong way. Come to find out she's hopped jobs for the last 20 years and been accused of wrongful death at one of her last facilities. I guess the resident was a full code and was going bad and she left the unit and the resident died and from the investigation, the resident could of been saved.

So I guess my problem is that I don't trust her, she's a know it all, with that much arrogance she is going to hurt someone and her whole attitude is I'm here for a paycheck, I know it all and I really don't care about these people or this place. I know there are nurses out there like that, but to work next to one for 8 hours about killed me. I'm doing my damndest (sp) to make my unit better and along comes "Know it all Nurse" One of the nurses that I adore worked with her years ago and she said she's always been like that and she's tried to warn upper management but the nursing shortage is so bad, they are just blowing her off. Sorry this is so long, just needed to vent. And maybe some of you won't see anything wrong with the above, but it bugs the he!! out of me. Thanks for reading, any helpful hints to deal with her and this situation would be greatly appreciated.

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There are know it all's in all areas. You can usually find them quickly as you know!

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Specializes in HCA, Physch, WC, Management.

Ahh The Know-It-All. My favorite of all the obnoxious co-workers. She sounds like a real peach. I don't have any advice on dealing with this woman because I have a hard time dealing with her sort myself. We all have co-workers who are difficult to work with no matter where we go. I just keep trying to find the best techniques for dealing with them and make sure that when they make errors or purposely don't do what they are supposed to or whatever that I am not held responsible for it.

Since you mentioned it though, why DO you give cholesterol meds at night? We just talked about cholesterol medication and why you're supposed to take it at night. Here's a link about that: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HeartDiseaseLivingWith/story?id=4223039

Sorry to hi-jack the post with that but I'm curious after reading that article.

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dang! She could have at least waited a week or two before she showed that she "knows it all." I'm assuming she is much older than you.... Her saying that the residents don't say "please" and "thank you" sounds like she is arrogant and is all about "show me some RESPECT!"

Good Luck With That!:up:

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Specializes in Medical.

Great website, lainith!

I hate working with know-nothing know-it-alls (probably because I'm a bit know-it-allish myself!). I find it very hard not to be squashing, because it doesn't make any difference - being a know-nothing know-it-all seems to go hand-in-hand with being thick skinned. That said, I'd have trouble with "guests" (is this my home? Have I invited them to visit?) and "I know a lot" (well, you certainly seem to think you do). Good luck - maybe she'll move on from this job in record time, too!

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Since you mentioned it though, why DO you give cholesterol meds at night? We just talked about cholesterol medication and why you're supposed to take it at night. Here's a link about that: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HeartDiseaseLivingWith/story?id=4223039

Sorry to hi-jack the post with that but I'm curious after reading that article.

from Abrams, Clinical Drug Therapy (dyslipidemia drugs):

"these drugs are more effective if taken in the evening or at bedtime because more cholesterol is produced by the liver at night and these drugs block cholesterol production."

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

When the know it all nurse made the comment about the cholesterol meds, I knew that they work better at night, but I also know that for some reason they are given in the morning. The thing that got me was that she brought the above up but then proceeded to say, oh well hyperlipidemia meds don't work anyway. It's almost like she looks for anything and everything to show her all mighty knowledge, even if it makes no sense. If hyperlipidemia meds don't work anyway, why would it matter what time you gave them? But I think she just likes to show off, for whatever reason. I'm a fairly new old nurse. I just graduated 18 months ago and am 36 years old. She's only 40 for the person who thought she was alot older than me. All I know is my gut tells me it's just a matter of time before she gets canned for a mistake, canned for her "Know it all attitude, or hurts one of the residents or as she says "Guests". I guess my biggest thing is most of went into nursing to take care of people, we are paid for our services, and without residents or patients we wouldn't have jobs, so for her to be so rude and demanding of respect annoys me. Noone should be mean to her, but she is there for the residents and not the other way around.

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

"i call residents, guests, because that is the appropriate pr term"

arg. i'll think i'll throw up if i have to hear any other term we are supposed to describe patients/residents by. first it was clients, then customers, now guests!?! give me a break--this is not a hotel.

"you don't need to wipe a finger or injection site with alcohol because it doesn't do any good, it traumatizes the skin and doesn't kill bacteria"

actually, that's probably true. most places now just use soap and water.

"i know a lot because i worked as an interim adon"

oh brother.

if its any comfort to you she probably won't last long at your facility. people like that tend to either quit or get fired in fairly short order.

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Specializes in Mursing.

Know-it-alls make me cringe.

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

Hey did you get my know-it-all from my last place I worked at? She to had job-hopped all over the country. The way I dealed with mine is to distance myself from her at all cost. When co-workers vented about her to me, I listened respectfully but did not fuel the fire. It kept me sane when I worked the same shift! Good luck, thats a tricky one!

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

They're are paying a pretty penny to be "guests"!!!!

She has worked in LTC for 20 years and hasn't realized that things don't go by the textbook yet?

I think that the know-it-alls that are so overt like that are compensating for their inadequacy, but I'm starting to sound like Dr. Phil, so I'll keep my thoughts to myself.

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im a student right now. and there are a few know-it-alls at school. how i deal with them is......

one day i was fed up with one of them. she made a statement about something that sounded soooo far fetched. so i told her that it was interesting and i would love to read up on it the way she did. i asked for the source of her nonsense and she stuttered and could not provide me with a single source...........hahhahahaha

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