leaving my first job after 3 months due to bullying

[tinker.72]

Hi all,

I am a new grad-passed nclex one month ago, graduated in December. The job market here is tight, so I took a job in LTC. I had heard positive things about the position, and thought it would be a good start for me considering I didn't have any prior experience. I am 39 and had been out of the workplace for 5 years to raise my children.

One week after I started, the agency had a HUGE medication diversion. Since then, the culture where I work is very dysfunctional. There is alot of blame, backstabbing, and I have witnessed bullying among the nurses-both old and young. Then I became a target..

I was put on the floor with 48 pts with varying acuities after just 3 weeks of orientation. Because of the huge med pass, I rarely have time for assessments, treatments, and taking care of my residents. Often I do not have enough supplies (such as a working BP machine) to do my job. My 8 hour shifts become 11 hour shifts, 12 hours shifts become 15-often without a break. I had spoke to my clinical nurse mgr that I was feeling overwhlemed, underprepared and needed help, to which I was told that I could not be "supernurse" and that some things would simply have to be ignored and overlooked. I have been discouraged from calling the physician for important things (such as s/sx of TIA, pneumonia) yet there is no one willing to offer assistance or feedback when I have a question or ask for help.

I have been yelled at in front of other staff and residents on the floor. I noticed yesterday that my clinical nurse mgr had made a med error, which I asked another nurse about. My manager called me today and yelled at me, stating that I was trying to write her up. I have been told that I act like I am superior because I have a BSN and alot of the nurses are LPN's. I certainly hope not-I don't want to give off that vibe at all.

Often I am running around overwhlemed and the other nurse will be reading a magazine and not offer to help me. The management does not pay much attention to my pt care but rather calls me daily statng that I signed in the wrong place for a narc (I am working on this). I also got written up for messy handwriting. My clinical nurse manager snickers at me, rolls her eyes and does not address me in a polite manner. She yells at me daily.

I was planning on leaving when I found a new job but the stress is getting to be too much. I am having nightmares, I can't eat, I have headaches alot. My personal relationships are suffering. I feel like i have no one to turn to to rememedy the situation. I need guidance and teaching this first year-and I am not getting it.

I know the first year of nursing is supposed to be difficult. I am appying what I learned in school to real-life work situations. I know this-yet honestly I am so scared of setting foot on another floor, so afraid what they will find next that is wrong with me.

I did not go into work tonight-I told them I was sick, because I am so stressed out, I do not think I could safely function.

Experienced nurses, clinical nurse managers, anyone-please tell me it gets better. I am so ashamed at having to leave-but at this point I do not know what else to do.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

This is beyond bullying... although that plays a part.

The staff is so over-worked, stressed out and demeaned by the working conditions ... they are turning on each other.

I cannot fathom why you have been told not to report serious signs and symptoms such as TIA and pneumonia. How would one be able to sleep at night?

Go... don't look back, there is no where to go but up!

(please consider reporting this facility)

[mikeicurn, ASN, RN]

Ah, I was wondering who got my old job. :-)

I worked there as an LPN before getting my RN and moving onto the hospital. It was good experience, but I was so glad to get out of there. The med passes took forever. I would come in and immediately fly through my assessments and charting, because the second half of the shift was all about getting morning meds out. I would start pulling my meds shortly after midnight, and start my pass hours early. All the time praying I didn't have to send out a resident, or have one confused that I had to spend much time with. I worked with a bunch of LPN's that had big chips on their shoulders and would lament to me about how lazy and overpaid the RN's were, until I became an RN, then they just stopped talking to me at all. So, I had to leave there. And it sounds like you do to. I know the job market is tight, but there are jobs out there. Just network, pursue every opportunity, and hopefully something better will open up. Not all LTC's are like the one you described, but many are. Now this experience will better prepare you for next time, and you will know what questions to ask, and when to run away after the interview, and when to stay.

Good luck and God bless.

[Allie911]

I agree to leave and not risk your license. It definately gets a lot better than that!! Please consider reporting the facility. As a compliance officer, it sure sounds like they are far out of compliance and putting their residents at risk. There are whistleblower laws that would protect you if you report them in good faith.

[Rohan8]

The unfortunate fact about most LTCs is that they exist for 1 reason. To make money. To them if they can get by with one less nurse then that is one less salary that they have to pay, and more profit for the company. If there is a lawsuit then the nurse is probably the easiest person to replace and the one with the most liability. As long as you have a license you can work. As long as you work in a dysfunctional enviorment you are at risk for losing your license. Thats kind of the way I see it. I loved the interaction with residents in LTC, but I wouldn't work in one unless I was desperate. The liability is just to great.

[pat8585]

I am sad to read this thread but not surprised. I worked as a CNA in a LTC

and it was horrible! I was new , the old timers found fault with EVERYTHING i did and

I was getting called in by the DON for this that and the other. NOTHING i did was right!

I don't know why my snotty coworkers expected me to have the same speed as someone who had

worked there over 20 years.

I moved on and have never once missed the place, but I have place in my heart for the elderly!

I sometimes think of changing jobs to work in LTC or assisted living, But quite frankly, fear the crappy work environment.

[zorabanks]

OP I am so sorry that you are experiencing this type of behavior, esp as a new nurse. I recently left a job in SNF because of crazy nurse managers. It is not uncommon esp. SNF and LTC. Get out of there as soon as you can! Your health and sanity is more important. I hope that you don't give up on nursing all together. Try to find a job in a hospital, rehab hospital, home health, somewhere that you will gain skills. However, no matter where you go in nursing you may find that 1 person who is a total butt. So, grow thick skin and try not to let the idiots get to you. God Bless!

[kenyanese]

Run, run, as fast as you can

you worked too hard

for your license to be done!

[irish6363]

This is a sad example of the pathetic situation of our profession and the daily encounters we all to some degree have to live with. There is no real solution until there is a "zero Tolerance for intimidation/bullying" attitude from all management in place. You have to first assess your financial situation and decide if you can go without that income until something else comes along or live within this situation, which is real bad. The scary part is this is rampant and you may encounter it elsewhere too, so perhaps you should try to think that "it is better the devil you know than the one you don't" The worst part is alot of these people that bully would never do this in any other situation its as if they feel powerful/safety in the arena of the unit they are in. I am so sorry, but maybe you can move on and really focus on just leaving. I know it is so easy to give advice unless you are living this.

[alwayslookingnp]

Has anyone not experienced lateral violence? This is so sad and pathetic that our profession does this. I'm so sorry it has happened to you.

[mdflores234]

Wow! That sounds like a horrible environment for a experienced nurse but even worse for a new grad. I would say get out before your risk losing your license. There are great places to work but sometimes you just have to find the right fit. Good luck!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Ditto - as per advice from PP's.

Just wanted to add something. The OP seemed apologetic about the fact that she was perceived as "superior" to the LPNs and NAs and didn't want this to happen. Hmmm. A BSN provides 2 more years of education & should translate to better assessment skills & critical thinking even for a new grad.... it takes time to develop technical skills. It is inappropriate to apologize for functioning at a higher level than lesser educated co-workers. Just sayin' . . .

[Elle_Guerira]

Run and don't look back. Protect your license, protect your sanity, and protect your health. Big hugs for you. I do hope things turn out for the better.