LPN doesn't want to work team with me- warning -new nurse vent

[Rapheal]

I worked team with an LPN whom I hadn't worked with before the day before yesterday. Last night she was assigned to work with me but changed her assignment before I arrived. This was OK with the other LPN who requests to work with me. I felt hurt.

Here are my crimes: She wanted to leave at 6:30 a.m. even though she was scheduled to 7:30. This leaves me with 12 patients and all the blood sugars, daily weights, ect. 5 of these patients are high acuity. I nicely said no. She did not have anything pressing to do in the a.m. She states "I always like to leave at 6:30". Also note that we have no aides on night shift.

Next crime: She is behind, so I do 3 patient assessments assigned to her. I check later and she has not passed meds or done any charting. I ask her why. She states "well you did the assessments so I thought you were taking them". I end up with 6 patients primary and all the Iv's med sheets, orders, ect. I tell her next time we work together we will need to communicate better. She gives me the evil eye.

I print out care plans for her and she tells me " I don't use these." Then I ask her if so and so patient has on his PAS stockings and how much are the residuals on the patients with ng tubes. No PAS stockings and the residuals are "not to bad". I ask her for an amount and she gets mad. She did not bother to see (or chart) how many cc's of residual. Then she tells me "Well I didn't know these things needed to be done'. Really? Cuz these things are printed on the PCP's I think to myself.

Next crime: She tells me patient x has an elevated blood pressure. I ask her if she took a manual. She did not. I am with a patient starting blood so I can not leave the room for 15 minutes. I ask her to take it manually. I can hear her complaining all the way down the hall. Yes-I am a monster.

Still my feelings are hurt. She was overheard telling someone " I don't like to work with her." as if I am a bad nurse or some mean evil person. I was very careful to use a nice tone of voice when speaking to her. The other 2 LPN's I work with are hard working nurses. I have learned alot from them and let them know that I respect them. I also make sure they get their breaks. The LPN who doesn't like to work with me took 5 coffee breaks and then complained she was too busy to take a lunch. Huh? Anyways, thanks for letting me vent.

[itsme]

I would inform the nurse manager. Keep track of things like this to let her know. Nursing staff of any degree can be like this. I know when I worked with a nurse that was just like this gal (perhaps they're cousins!) I decided I would no longer do things to help her. She found out in a big hurry that she had to pull her own weight and get the job done. I find that there are some people out there who if you help them a little, they will expect you to do everything for them. Good luck with her. By the way, you sound like a great nurse!!

[nursenoelle]

It sounds to me as if she is "testing " you to see exactly how much you will tolerate. I agree woth it'sme- don't do another thing for her. Surely she is aware of her responsibilites. If she chooses to continue acting this way, take it to management. Good Luck .

[JudithL_in_NH]

Sounds to me like you have appropriately high standards regarding patient care and team work! Keep up the good work!

[redshiloh]

"I like to leave at 0630" Who is she kidding! Bet your nurse manager would like to hear that one!

[ShortFuse_LPN, LPN]

I'm sorry that you felt hurt by this incredibly lazy nurse! Just look at it this way, if she doesn't want to work with you then you don't have to pick up her slack.

[Brita01]

Originally posted by BelindaLPN

I'm sorry that you felt hurt by this incredibly lazy nurse! Just look at it this way, if she doesn't want to work with you then you don't have to pick up her slack.

I agree. She also sounds dangerous. She obviously lied when she said the residuals "weren't too bad" and then turned around and said "well I didn't know these things needed to be done." What other important things are not being done for her patients?....

[igloorn93]

Hang in there. It's going to mean extra work for you, but document, document, document. Let your manager know what is going on. You may want to check certain things behind her yourself. After all, unfortuanatly you are the one ultimately responsible for the patient. How accurate are her blood pressures? I would be double checking my drains etc too. It will get better. You are my kind of nurse. One who takes her job seriously like it is suppossed to be. I used to work nights a long time ago and I seem to remember that at 0630 you were at the busiest you had been most of your shift. Must be nice to get to go home during the busiest time huh?

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

I've been in your shoes, Raphael. Holding people to an appropriate standard of care is hard sometimes, especially if others have let her get by with this nonsense, but you are doing the right thing by your patients (and for yourself - as others noted, you are the supervisor and will be help accountable for her crap is push comes to shove.) Sounds like you are better off if she doesn't want to work with you :).

I had a coworker this weekend who needed constant prodding. I know this person has worked there for some time now, and others become frustrated and do his job because of the old attitude that it's easier than riding him to do it. Fortunately, I can be wench enough for the whole unit if necessary .

Just a note - if your coworkers who gripe about this nurse's laziness but refuse to hold her accountable for her work, they have no one to blame but themselves. You did your part!

[carcha]

i know we all like to get along with everyone we work with but sometimes we cant. when this happens u just have to bite the bullet and pull rank. a friend of mine was in a similiar situation to u and let it go on. then the s$%t hit the fan when the LPN made a mistake because of the ongoing tension and lack of communication between them. the patient suffered and both nurses had the incident put in their file. my friend should have pulled rank and demanded that at least if they couldent get on the work was done and done properly, good luck.

[sara2]

As an LPN, I say don't put up with it for one more shift. Go to your nurse manager, show her this thread, and if she's a manager of any professionalism, she'll do what needs to be done. It's LPNs like this who give all of us a bad name.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

She is lazy and you have the nerve to hold her accountable for earning her paycheck and taking care of her patients. Don't personalize it and be hurt.

Don't lower your standards to hers.