Long, UNDERMINDED BY SUPERIORS

NC Girl BSN · Dec 12, 2007

Sounds like you need to go head to head with the both of them. Communication is the key. Don't just accept the criticism. Go find out why their instructions and your understanding are not on the same page. Maybe they have a problem with you. Bottom line is you need to go talk to them one on one to find out what their expectations are so you can all get on the same page.

caliotter3 · Dec 12, 2007

After you do what NC girl 35 suggested, getting or attempting to get things straight with these people, if this continues, then you have to weigh whether having this job is worth the problems you will surely continue to encounter. You know one thing for certain, both of these people have no hesitation whatsoever about throwing you under the bus if something goes wrong. Not a good position to be in. And you are right, many (or most) of us have encountered management that undermines its first line supervisors. Good luck with resolving this.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2007

Time for a new job.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 13, 2007

I think it is time for a new job. It may not even be worth your time to confront these people, really. They may be against you, and it would not be to your advantage to bring out that they are in a conflict between you and the other workers. Good luck!

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2007

Amy,

I've been in a nearly identical situation. I kept talking to my manager, trying to work things out, but all it did was get me on her bad side.

Ineffective, idiot mgrs have no idea they are idiots, and they tend to not like people who point their failings out to them, no matter how tactfully it's done. They are in denial about the fact that they created and perpetuate most of the problems on their units.

They are like mushrooms; they thrive by being kept in the dark and fed @#$%.

I'd find a new job if I were you. That's the only thing that got me out of my situation.

RN BSN 2009 · Dec 13, 2007

time for a tape recorder

morte, LPN, LVN · Dec 13, 2007

Time for a new job.

yup, actually, was time for a new job after the first episode......

BuffaloNurseAmy · Dec 13, 2007

Thanks everyone for your replies! We had a staff meeting yesterday where said "sleepy head" employee showed up and gave my supervisor a beautiful candle holder with scented candles (well known expensive brand) and loudly stated to everyone "Because you're the BEST supervisor EVER." Then she stated she won't be in town for the holidays...to which my supervisor said "we'll work it out" (as all of our jaws dropped). Said employee also called in Thanksgiving leaving us short staffed.

I agree with what you all said...especially about idiots not wanting their shortcomings pointed out. I did bring issues up yesterday at the meeting, but my supervisor said all cheery "everyone's doing such a GREAT job...yada yada." I wanted to ask her what planet she was on or what drug she was taking to have such a perspective? I agree with positive motivation, but not outright LIES.

Oh well. This IS nursing after all...the name of the game is CYA. If that's how she plans on doing it is hiding her head in the sand she can be my guest. I plan on taking the best care of my residents, not coddling the employees feelings and allowing them to take naps when they are tired! This employee who sleeps at night is also in her 50's and whines to the supervisor if someone says something "mean" to her. I have never seen anyone get catered to like this woman. And she has already : Quit once, walked out in the middle of a shift, was technically FIRED but they had to re-hire her because they didn't follow their corporate paper-trail correctly & were afraid of a lawsuit. Every employee loathes the fact that she has a job. Oh I could go on and on. Sorry. Thanks for listening. Gotta get ready for work now!

NC Girl BSN · Dec 13, 2007

Just be careful. Something is wrong with this picture. I work in LTC and there are people there that get away with murder in my opinion. They call out 2x a week. Don't give their meds, take 15 smoke breaks in a shift and it appears that they never get in trouble. Our DON is the nicest lady but she leaves it up to the support staff to handle these situations and they do nothing. It pretty much brings down moral to the others that do their jobs. It appears that situation is not going to change and I fear that if things keep going the way they are, you are going to be sacrificed at some point. The manager appears to love the employee that sleeps and tells them she ain't working the holidays and chews you out when your doing your job. I hope for your sake that you don't write us back one day telling us you got fired for something stupid they did not like. My motto is get them before they get you or in your case get out before they get you. I would make a new years resolution to find a job that is a better fit for you. Good Luck in the future.

CRNA2007 · Dec 13, 2007

I'll give you the advice that was given to me when I was a nurse. You can either continue to put up with situations like this or you can leave and find another opportunity. People rarely if ever change and it really sounds like you are frustrated with the current situation.

I need to vent and get opinions from other nurses if this has happened to you (I'm sure it has!).
I'll preface this with the fact that I have 12 years experience, and have also held the position (at another facility,several years ago) of one of the people who is undermining me.
I am a LPN in an Assisted Living Facility. I "supervise" the med techs & aides on my shift, as well as work as an aide or med tech when necessary AND supervise. No big deal.
The problem is that my supervisor, the "Resident Service Director" (of which position I have held in the past and hated the salaried/on call aspect of and quit ) will tell me to do one thing with the aides/med techs (ie. enforce the rules), but when I do and they get angry, she will say to them, either RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME or behind my back "I never said that...Amy's wrong about that." :angryfire This supervisor also has allowed one aide to retain her job after being caught SLEEPING SEVERAL TIMES on the job AND refusing to do RESIDENT CARE!!! Our administrator is along the same vein...yesterday one of my residents was clearly in distress; either having TIA's or a cardiac event & I couldn't get a hold of the MD (you know, you have to call them first for the order to send out!). The prudent thing of course was to send her out...so I wasn't going to hesitate. My administrator says "Well of course, call 911 RIGHT AWAY!" So I'm thinking "911?" I should just call dispatch for the local ambulance service but I did EXACTLY WHAT MY ADMINISTRATOR SAID. Since we are a brand new facility WITHOUT A PROTOCOL IN PLACE as to what to do when you can't get a hold of the MD I did EXACTLY what Ms. Administrator said.
Needless to say the fire dept showed up first THEN the ambulance service. 911 did ask the emergency so they knew it was a 91 year old female, NOT a catastrophe. Well my administrator was upset that so many people arrived & said "I NEVER SAID TO CALL 911. Why didn't you call the DOCTOR?"
These are just 2 examples of the blatant baloney that goes on daily at my place of employment. It seems they value people who refuse to do their jobs & they want the nurses (there are only 3 of us right now) to enforce the rules but then they (management) wants to be the "good guys" and take the side of the employees who are clearly in the wrong! HOW DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE?! I thought we were here for the residents? And even if it IS all about the "bottom line" (we all know it is) , if you allow employees to neglect their duties, that will cost you !
Thank you for reading, and understanding !

caliotter3 · Dec 13, 2007

After reading your second post I have to agree with the others. Get out now. Start looking for another job seriously and go as soon as you are hired elsewhere. You have now given them the chance to address issues by speaking up during the meeting and the woman blew you off in front of the other staff. I can guarantee you from my own experiences that when managers act as biased as this in front of others, it does not bode well for the person they don't respect. And that is you. Go away, before she fires you. Good luck.