Met with supervisor today....

[2shihtzus]

A little background:

I have been at the same hospital for almost 3 years. Im a full time night charge nurse, and have been in that position for almost a year. Im also considered a preceptor for new nurses.

I just had my annual review about 2 weeks ago and got high scores across the board. I was complimented on being a take charge kind of person, a team player, and someone who is an asset to the floor. There have been a few incidents when I had to call a few employees on the carpet about some issues, but they were dealt with, or so I thought. (One issue was a huge narcotic discrepancy that a nurse tried to cover up, the other involved a CNA leaving the unit and the building without clocking out or telling me that she was leaving, and another nurse covering up for her and lying about the whole issue...stupid stuff, I know.) In fact, my manager told me that she WANTED me to continue to deal with issues like that as they came up.

So I am told on Saturday that I need to meet with my manager. Great, I have 4 days to obsess and worry about it.

In a nut shell, she told me that a few people stated that I was an excellent nurse, etc....but when I am upset, "watch out." I was described as Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Also, these people apparently find me intimidating.

So I am taking an honest look at myself and my personality. Can I be intimidating? Ive been described as having a strong personality, but I would never bully or intimidate someone. When I am upset, do I show it? Of course I do. I wouldnt describe myself as a Mr Hyde though. Are these areas that I can work on? Absolutely, and I have every intention of doing so.

I am being put back on the floor so I can work on "team building.".....also, my manager feels by not acting in a supervisory position I will have more opportunity to "reconnect" with people. Great...I can handle that. As a charge nurse, we take upto 6 pts during the shift. It can be extremely stressful.

What bothers me is that no specifics were given. They were described as being "very generic" statements. She would not tell me who the people were, just that they came from people who "never complain"...which is why she had to say something.

I thanked her for bringing it to my attention, promised that she would see improvement etc....but inside I am in turmoil. For the next 6 weeks or so, Im going to be under a freaking spotlight.....my manager reassured me several times that I was not being "demoted".....but that I should look at it as a great learning opportunity blah blah blah.

In a perfect world, it WOULD be a great learning opportunity....I would love to smile and think that everything is going to work out. But right now, all I am is hurt and suspicious and bewildered about the whole thing. I mean wouldnt it have been more productive to get all of us (me and whoever it is that finds me to be such a monster) together so we could sort out any misunderstanding?

Its no wonder people are so reluctant to say anything ...... it always seems to come back and bite you in the butt.

I hate this

[webmansx, ASN, RN]

dust off your resume.......

LOOOOL:D

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

You don't reassign someone to a position of lesser responsibility if you are happy with their work. To call it a "learning opportunity" is a gross misrepresentation of their intentions, IMO. More likely, they are seeing how things run without you in charge. I would prepare to leave if I were you. I found myself in a similar situation several years ago, and I'm sure I would have been forced out had I stayed. In my case, my new nurse manager saw me as a threat to her supreme authority so she began fabricating things I was supposedly doing wrong, with the help of an LPN who didn't like the last evaluation I gave her.

As far as intimidation, unless you're yelling at people or calling them out in front of others, what you are doing goes with the job. Some employees perceive any attempt to correct them as intimidation. The situations you detailed needed to be dealt with, and I see nothing wrong with your approach.

If your employer had rather protect the employees who are screwing off than back you, you're finished anyway. I have found an amazing number of employers who choose this route, though. They are so afraid of losing the people who are slacking that they will sacrifice a good manager just to appease them.

[Katie5]

I agree...regardless of however way she cuts it. It was in fact, a demotion.

Takes away credence from what voice you had previously.

[caliotter3]

dust off your resume.......

I repeat, dust off your resume. You were in fact, demoted. We all know it and so do the complainers. The correct, up front, and adult way to deal with any issue would have been to have a meeting where you could meet your detractors. Instead, your boss chose to give the backstabbers what they wanted, full green light to continue their quest to get you under their thumb, and/or get you gone. Go, now, on your own terms. You will never be able to make up lost ground at this place of employment.

[tim101]

Takes a lot to be charge I hate to say this, but words like strong personality and showing when you are mad are not what I would want as a charge nurse. How often do we complain about doctors being this and that. Heck I have doctors and nurses complaining about nurses that are not accustomed to u.s. norms like saying thank you etc... At the end of the day you are expected to be a professional that means that you got to keep your temper in check and for the strong personality the same thing goes for that. Charge requires depth of knowledge skillful with people basically grace under pressure. Think of good politicians you can say whatever you want etc... but rule number one is not to show you are upset. Just my two cents

[koi310]

Takes a lot to be charge I hate to say this, but words like strong personality and showing when you are mad are not what I would want as a charge nurse. How often do we complain about doctors being this and that. Heck I have doctors and nurses complaining about nurses that are not accustomed to u.s. norms like saying thank you etc... At the end of the day you are expected to be a professional that means that you got to keep your temper in check and for the strong personality the same thing goes for that. Charge requires depth of knowledge skillful with people basically grace under pressure. Think of good politicians you can say whatever you want etc... but rule number one is not to show you are upset. Just my two cents

Demeanor is important. Yet a poor demeanor or interpersonal skills weren't reflected in her performance evaluation. At least according to the OP.

[tim101]

she stated that she showed when she was mad... and she stated that she had a strong personality... when people say that she has split personality even if there a grain of truth to it there a grain of truth.

[koi310]

she stated that she showed when she was mad... and she stated that she had a strong personality... when people say that she has split personality even if there a grain of truth to it there a grain of truth.

I agree. Yet it is interesting that her demeanor becomes an issue 2 weeks AFTER her performance review. It should have been brought up BEFORE or DURING her review, if her demeanor has been an ongoing issue. Demotion and other actions (probably termination) shortly after a uniformly positive performance evaluation is unprofessional and suspicious. The timing also demonstrates that her boss is pretty foolish. If the OP is terminated over this, she might have grounds for a wrongful termination lawsuit. Any supervisor/manager considering terminating an employee should consult with HR first.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

I was a charge nurse once, and for a while I believe I was a good charge nurse. Complaints came in and I was spoken to. I cried for 3 days, felt betrayed by my co-workers (the complaints were not anonymous, but they didn't feel comfortable confronting me in person). I was not demoted, however, I felt unappreciated and 'dissed. I gave 2 weeks notice and took off traveling. Left a decent job 6 weeks before I would have been vested in their retirement program.

A couple of years later (and no further charge positions), I couuld look back and see how difficult I had become and that something needed to be said to me. Sometimes it takes time and distance. This is my personal story, I'm not saying it's yours. It took me a couple of years to calm down and look at that situation and see my poor behaviors.

It might be better for you to move on. I can't say. My reasons for leaving that position were to mess with the hospital and leave abruptly right before the holidays, basically revenge. In the long run though, it did me good to see other places, work in different fields, get new perspectives. I have never worked as a charge nurse since. If I ever do again, I know myself much better now.

[Katie5]

Kudos TiffyRN, it takes honesty and deep soul-searching to be that truthful and non-jaded about oneself. I always pray to be that way...good or bad.

[cookienay]

OK- so fast forward about 10 weeks or so. you are once again the charge nurse and you once again need to correct a co-worker? They know that all they have to do is tattle. Because management has set the precedent that all one has to do is complain about a charge nurse and boom! no more charge. Even if you were a beast and needed correction in your demeanor, this "tattling" needed to be addressed.

Sorry, but all I think this does is undermine your authority when (and if) you resume your charge role. It also encourages a playground retaliation mentality. Shame on your manager for not handling this better.

[2shihtzus]

I thought I was a good charge nurse too. In fact, for a while, our hospital was closed and we were all moved to a sister hospial. The sister hospital asked me to stay on as charge nurse for a 41 bed unit. My manager got wind of this, asked me too return when our original hospital opened, promoted me to full time charge nurse, and gave me a substantial raise. All of this happened with no formal charge nurse training provided to me, even though I asked for it. 2 months later, I got a card in the mail stating how delighted she was that I stayed with them, that I was an excellent leader, and an asset to our unit.

As far as desirable qualities to be found in a charge nurse go? Well, when Im on the floor, I want a charge nurse who is a resource person, someone who is available to help, and someone who is going to take care of any issues that come up: all things that I have tried to do. I cant sit here and defend my "strong personality" or tendancy to "show" when Im upset.....how those phrases are interpreted are going to depend on the personality of the person who reads this.

Ive been around hospitals long enough to know that if one person doesnt like you, watch your back. If a clique of people dont, its time to prepare to move on especially if your manager doesnt have your back.