I've been working for the same boss for about three years now, and pretty much know her M.O. She's very indirect, if she has a problem with you, she'll tell everyone else in her "clique", and not you. (We work in a very small unit, and she's not so good at talking quietly, I've overheard her many times doing this to other nurses)
The only clue you'll have that there's something wrong is she'll act rude to your face, not say "hello", ignore you when you ask her a question, that kind of immature nonsense.
Now she has a problem with me, as I have detected by the tactics mentioned above. I tried to ask her what the problem was, and she proceeded to ignore me and call the nursing supervisor about some other issue, right in front of me. I asked her in an informal way, in the break room, so maybe she didn't get the question, or maybe there's no dealing with this kind of person, and I should look for another job.
It's very uncomfortable to work in this environment, and I honestly dread going to work when I know she'll be there. I have a military background, and have no problems with people yelling at me, as long as I know what I have done, and what I can do to improve. I have no problems with hard work. But I have a lot of problems with this whole high-school mentality, and back-stabbing. I doubt if I told this manager my feelings that anything would improve. I suspect she's been dealing with life this way for a long time, and it would be hard to change her habits now.
I like my job, love the setting, and the type of patients, I like the rest of the hospital, almost everything else about it is good.
Every hospital, or job for that matter, has a chain of command. Find yours and use it. You probably will have to start with your NM first and then move up from there. Using the proper channels is your best option. I would do that first before considering something so drastic as leaving your job, especially if you love it. Good luck to you in finding resolution to this.
To the OP: I could have written your post. I live it everyday.
My experience, there really isn't anything you can do. I've gone to my bosses, boss before, and I get "lip service" - nothing get's done about it.
So, I've learned to ignore my boss, do my job, and go home. Really, what else can you do? What you are experiencing is the "nurses eating their young" that you hear so much about, and it's true. It is encouraged from the top down, so where can you go to complain??? Nowhere.
Hilinenursegrl
96 Posts
Every hospital, or job for that matter, has a chain of command. Find yours and use it. You probably will have to start with your NM first and then move up from there. Using the proper channels is your best option. I would do that first before considering something so drastic as leaving your job, especially if you love it. Good luck to you in finding resolution to this.