Manager showing her true colours

[cee04]

Hello Fellow Nurses,

Im pretty new to this website. Im from the UK and Im a Adult Nurse. I have no disabilities but I have health issues and am in need to to post my current situation.

I qualified as a nurse in March 2009, but had to take a year out as I become very ill. In May 2010 i started looking for part time jobs as i didnt want to loose my nursing skills. I got offered a job in a nursing home to work with mental patients. Even though my background is Adult nursing I thought I give it a go as it hard finding jobs and It would look good on my CV.

My manager was very good, approachable, and even knew of my illness and was very unstanding.

Few months down the lane, she started to change, she would tell me for doing something wrong then stating it bad practice, infront of collegues. I wish she had taken me to aside as it is embarrasing, but i took no notice off it that day as her manager had come to see her and she seemed stressed out.

Last night when I was duty a collegue of my told me my manager had been talking about me to her behind my back.

When I asked my collegue what was said she bascially told me that my manager had asked her if she thought I was a good nurse. My collegue then told me that she then raised the question back on her saying that do you she is a good nurse. My manager replied I am a good nurse but I get nervous at times and she feels im uncertain about things at times. My collegue then said she told her that i will obviously be nervous as I had been out of practice and I had less experience than the other nurses as they been there for 15 + years.

I was queit hurt by all this and even though my manager knows about my illness and how it can make me ''nervous at times'' she still spoke about me behind my back when changing a patient WHICH IS UNPROFFESSIONAL.

What do I do? I want to confront my manager but how, as I only heard one side of the story.

I feel down at present when I feel upset my hair falls out even more thats what Iv been suffering from since the age of 18 and im now 24, and feel im not a good enough nurse even though my manager told me a few weeks back Im now picking up on mental nursing but to say what she said as made me feel like im a nobody.

Thanks for listening.

[Guest717236]

It was nice of your friend to let you know, but I would not confront the

manager. Instead, try to take some continuing education courses

to grow your knowledge and skills. Focus on your growth as a nurse,

and perhaps your friend can help mentor you as you continue to learn

about this new field mental health. Sounds like you are enjoying

learning this new specialty, and your manager recognized that to you.

Please do not be down on yourself, you have a lot to give.

Your manager was unprofessional to talk about you to a colleague and

in front of a patient.

Show yourself as the professional nurse that you are. Continue your

learning and your confidence will increase as you go. In nursing,

no matter where we are in our journey, it is helpful to increase

our knowledge through classes online or in person.

Who knows, in time you may be interested in a management position.

Your sensitivity and care to others, along with an excellent knowledge

base would help you become a leader in any nursing specialty you are

interested in ...

Best wishes to you!