My bad attitude

Nurses Relations

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This might get a little long, and windy. I am sorry. I'm going to start off by explaining last Sunday that I worked, as I feel this is the main problem. It was the 4 or 5 really bad shift for me. We started with 8 patients/nurse (very very extreme for our floor). And ER started calling for admits. The oncall MD was rounding, and I made the offhand comment to him that it was too much to deal with, and I didn't feel it was safe for the patients. This put him in an uproar. Next thing I knew he called the ER doc, informed him he would not except any more admits to our floor, and he also called the admin on call, who he demanded come help us. She had worked the previous night due to call-ins.

Now, the friday before was my yearly eval. I was graded as a "role-model" employee, and my manager offered no compliants at all about my performance. I was also given a 5% raise due to my high quality work. I was also told my co-workers enjoyed working with me, and patients had good things to say about my care.

Now, let's fast forward to Tuesday, my first day at work since "black Sunday" as we are calling it. It is a much better day. Four patients that I can pet and pamper all I want. And I'm happy. At 4pm I was called to the DON's office. There sits the DON, and both assistant managers, including the one that just praised me Friday. These are the things I was told

  • "A large majority" of my co-workers on my floor complain about my poor attitude, and state I always complian
  • "All of the ICU nurse" hate to have to call me about a patient, because I never take care of the situation, and I am rude.
  • I had received numerous complaints from patients. When I pushed further, they were only able to name one patient's WIFE, who was only in room with the patient for twenty minutes after his admit. She informed me when I first entered the room that we were terrible nurses, and she would be talking to the DON--all before I ever opened my mouth. I immediatly informed management.
  • I was told the MD from weekend had informed them I was rude, and constantly complianed about the worked load. Well, maybe I was a little ill, and maybe I did complian. So did the other two nurses and everyone else on shift. Who wouldn't complain with 8 patients, 4 total cares, and not a tech in sight to assist?
  • Also, was informed I had no right to complain about "bad shifts" that were shortstaffed because its wasn't the norm. Those days were to be expected.
  • Made the comment that "some people will complain if you give them two patients. We think you might be one of those people, and it will not be tolerated".
  • Also stated "all the unit sec" said I was "snappy" when they called to report patient needs". We only have two sec, and one is my mom. The other says she has never complianed about anyone, much less me.

Now, since then I have spoken to many of my co-workers, including 5 ICU nurses. They have all been shocked by what was said, and stated they have never had a problem with me, and never heard anyone else complain about me. The MD stated he informed them I was "nervous and frazzled" which "wasn't my usual", and he was concerned about the staffing level, and he expressed that he was not happy with them leaving us like that.

Also, I have complained very rarely to management. The only other time I have complianed about staffing was a couple of weeks ago when we had 7 patients with no tech, and the supervisor had not attempted to find any help. Our manager helped us, and I thanked her--we even give them a thank you card for their help.

This just really upsets me. I have always been more then willing to help when I could. I have worked my tail off to be the best I could be, even when shorthanded. And I get along with everyone; I have talked to some about leaving, and they have begged me to stay. I just don't understand why this happened. I felt attacked, and I felt like my character was picked apart. It was very degrading. I have worked there 4 years without a single problem. I'm just a little lost right now.

Sorry this happened to you. This is poor management at its best, they use the poor attitude towards unsafe working conditions to attempt to brand you as a poor nurse, rather than a patient advocate for safe nursing care. Do your job, be good to your patients, but STOP being there for administration everyt ime they "need" you. No more staying late to "help out." Do the job, but do not overdo. Now that you have had this experience, I know in my gut you will become dissatisfied and move to another job within 18 months.

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I would insist on seeing the "paper trail" so to speak. If these people are complaining to your manager than why are they not insisting on a written account of what happened from those they claim have complained about you? I would have questioned them during that attack under guise of a "meeting". For example question them: "I would assume that you have written documentation regarding these complaints since these are serious allegations against my professionalism and integrity as a nurse."

This is definitely a good idea. I don't think they'll be able to come up with a specific thing to back what they said up.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
Sorry this happened to you. This is poor management at its best, they use the poor attitude towards unsafe working conditions to attempt to brand you as a poor nurse, rather than a patient advocate for safe nursing care. Do your job, be good to your patients, but STOP being there for administration everyt ime they "need" you. No more staying late to "help out." Do the job, but do not overdo. Now that you have had this experience, I know in my gut you will become dissatisfied and move to another job within 18 months.

I agree. Don't stay late. Don't work an extra shift when they ask. If you want to work extra you do it for you, not them. I made the same mistake at my last job. They keep asking and asking for more and then walk all over you.

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Bottom line is they are livid you took action and got a doctor involved in safe patient practice. You were TOTALLY right here as was the doctor. They now want to push it all on you as the scapegoat to make excuses for their poor staffing. I would sign nothing if they asked me to in regards to this event. NOTHING.

I don't think the nurses complained about you at all. One wife complaining about with a bug already up her butt is irrelevent as well. The ER doc probably threw a tizzy. He must have been good and ticked a nurse actually took action. Tough crap. You are a patient advocate and did your job and well at that.

Do you fear any lawsuits from patients during the rough shifts?! I was wondering if they were setting you up long term. I might think about finding another job here. It might be best for your mental health and your license.

In the interim lay low. Work only your shifts, keep a personal log of this event and anything else that transpires, don't offer O/T, extra days, etc. I'm sorry.

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I would insist on seeing the "paper trail" so to speak. If these people are complaining to your manager than why are they not insisting on a written account of what happened from those they claim have complained about you? I would have questioned them during that attack under guise of a "meeting". For example question them: "I would assume that you have written documentation regarding these complaints since these are serious allegations against my professionalism and integrity as a nurse."

I like that idea. Funny thing is YOU have the paper trail in the form of a great evaluation with a 5% raise days before.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
This might get a little long, and windy. I am sorry. I'm going to start off by explaining last Sunday that I worked, as I feel this is the main problem. It was the 4 or 5 really bad shift for me. We started with 8 patients/nurse (very very extreme for our floor). And ER started calling for admits. The oncall MD was rounding, and I made the offhand comment to him that it was too much to deal with, and I didn't feel it was safe for the patients. This put him in an uproar. Next thing I knew he called the ER doc, informed him he would not except any more admits to our floor, and he also called the admin on call, who he demanded come help us. She had worked the previous night due to call-ins.

Now, the friday before was my yearly eval. I was graded as a "role-model" employee, and my manager offered no compliants at all about my performance. I was also given a 5% raise due to my high quality work. I was also told my co-workers enjoyed working with me, and patients had good things to say about my care.

Now, let's fast forward to Tuesday, my first day at work since "black Sunday" as we are calling it. It is a much better day. Four patients that I can pet and pamper all I want. And I'm happy. At 4pm I was called to the DON's office. There sits the DON, and both assistant managers, including the one that just praised me Friday. These are the things I was told

  • "A large majority" of my co-workers on my floor complain about my poor attitude, and state I always complian
  • "All of the ICU nurse" hate to have to call me about a patient, because I never take care of the situation, and I am rude.
  • I had received numerous complaints from patients. When I pushed further, they were only able to name one patient's WIFE, who was only in room with the patient for twenty minutes after his admit. She informed me when I first entered the room that we were terrible nurses, and she would be talking to the DON--all before I ever opened my mouth. I immediatly informed management.
  • I was told the MD from weekend had informed them I was rude, and constantly complianed about the worked load. Well, maybe I was a little ill, and maybe I did complian. So did the other two nurses and everyone else on shift. Who wouldn't complain with 8 patients, 4 total cares, and not a tech in sight to assist?
  • Also, was informed I had no right to complain about "bad shifts" that were shortstaffed because its wasn't the norm. Those days were to be expected.
  • Made the comment that "some people will complain if you give them two patients. We think you might be one of those people, and it will not be tolerated".
  • Also stated "all the unit sec" said I was "snappy" when they called to report patient needs". We only have two sec, and one is my mom. The other says she has never complianed about anyone, much less me.

Now, since then I have spoken to many of my co-workers, including 5 ICU nurses. They have all been shocked by what was said, and stated they have never had a problem with me, and never heard anyone else complain about me. The MD stated he informed them I was "nervous and frazzled" which "wasn't my usual", and he was concerned about the staffing level, and he expressed that he was not happy with them leaving us like that.

Also, I have complained very rarely to management. The only other time I have complianed about staffing was a couple of weeks ago when we had 7 patients with no tech, and the supervisor had not attempted to find any help. Our manager helped us, and I thanked her--we even give them a thank you card for their help.

This just really upsets me. I have always been more then willing to help when I could. I have worked my tail off to be the best I could be, even when shorthanded. And I get along with everyone; I have talked to some about leaving, and they have begged me to stay. I just don't understand why this happened. I felt attacked, and I felt like my character was picked apart. It was very degrading. I have worked there 4 years without a single problem. I'm just a little lost right now.

Jessie, you must work at the same hospital I used to.

I've been through a VERY similar experience; in the old days it was called "gaslighting". It's where people play head games with you and systematically break you down to the point where you seriously question your own sanity. In hospitals, it starts with the glowing employee evaluation and progresses through the "meetings" with management in which every word of complaint you might have uttered in passing, every bad day, every negative emotion you might have verbalized is brought up to you and thrown in your face. That's when they start in on you with "your co-workers have expressed concern" (with your attitude, your work ethic, your emotional state, etc. etc. as nauseam). And then there are the variations on the same theme: patients/families have complained about you, doctors don't like working with you, aides are afraid of you, other departments hate to see you float there.

Naturally, there is NEVER any documentation on any of these charges, and when you ask a co-worker about it, they look at you like you've just sprouted three heads.

All of this is management-speak for "We don't like you, but we can't fire you, so we're going to make you completely paranoid and so miserable that you'll be begging us for your final paycheck". The ones who are smart get out while the getting's good. The rest of us stick it out for a while and beat our heads against the wall trying to rebuild both our reputation and our trust in our co-workers, or we keep our faces shut and our noses to the grindstone in hopes that it will all go away. Maybe, in some instances, it does..........but for those of us who can't simply ignore bad staffing and unsafe practice, the undermining continues as doubts grow about our competence, even in our own minds. And sooner or later, we quit.

I think this is why patient safety and staffing issues continue to be problematic; only the strongest personalities can endure the subtle (and not-so-subtle) abuse that occurs whenever one acquires a reputation as a troublemaker. And as you've guessed by now, it doesn't take much for that label to stick to a nurse like poop sticks to a blanket.

As much as I'd like to say "Stay strong, hang in there, we need patient advocates like you", having been through this sort of torment I would recommend that you polish up your resume and get out of Dodge before they crush your spirit entirely. I've seen careers ruined and nurses chased out of the field by management such as yours; they've already proven that they're capable of just about anything in order to squash even the hint of rebellion. Get out while you can......it's only going to get worse.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Oh good grief, Viva you described everything I experienced at my last job. I was so stressed out, ready to have myself a well deserved nervous breakdown/anxiety attack. When I in the process of resigning I had wanted to get something out of my file, the department secretary gave it to me not knowing she wasn't suppose to. I came upon everything that I "experienced" in orientation...What I mean is, some of the stuff in my file that the manager and my preceptor said about me was totally false. For instance, a doctor said I had no compassion. Ok. but it failed to specify the event that caused the doctor to think I had no compassion.

My dear, just get out now. Don't try to stay and fight it. Just leave.

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I like that idea. Funny thing is YOU have the paper trail in the form of a great evaluation with a 5% raise days before.

Exactly. They've written a glowing evaluation and than a week later try and brand you a problem employee. How could they not look like they are retaliating towards Jessie for prompting the doctor to take action against unsafe working conditions.

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Exactly. They've written a glowing evaluation and than a week later try and brand you a problem employee. How could they not look like they are retaliating towards Jessie for prompting the doctor to take action against unsafe working conditions.

I'm a new nurse but I always wondered if in a case like this who do you go to for protection. Can you call the BON and make them aware so they can put a not in your file about the situation in the event your employer tries to retaliate and vengefully go after your license?! Is there anyone this nurse can go to internally such as Legal/HR with her concerns or is that a losing battle and adding more fuel to the fire?! This seems like such an injustice that I hate to see a great nurse and patient advocate treated this way and I see it happen again and again here.

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Specializes in ICU, oncology, home health, hospice.

hey, i have been there and done that. i actually had someone accuse me of playing "games" on my pda (i was looking up drug reactions on a 3rd party program) and then go to my manager. i was actually written up for it. when i showed them my pda, i asked them to go to the games section and to find a game. at that time, i didn't know how to download them, so there were none on my pda. my point: i wrote a rebuttal to address the accusation and made sure to keep a copy, had my manager sign and date it, and place it in my personnel file. i kept the copy in the event it "got lost." i also keep copies of all of my evaluations, all letters of commendations written by patients or staff and all awards received. i have been burned enough times to know-no one is going to stand up for you except you. this is the nature of nursing; we say we support one another, yet you get stabbed in the back. you took an oath to provide your patients with the best care within your ability and in the safest environment possible. you were the patient's advocate-just what you are supposed to be. you should be commended, not reprimanded. let me commend on a job well done in horrible circumstances. shame on management for what they have done.!!! good luck to you in the future and keep up the good work!!!:yeah:

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Also wanted to add, when managers like this tell you that you have a "bad attitude", I think you should wear it as a badge of pride. it means you aren't afraid to advocate for your patients or yourself.:yeah:

Amen to that! They will also lie & do anything to make themselves look good & avoid accepting responsibility for short-staffing. Too often the name of the game is "put up & shut up"- & they look for someone to blame. I have been in your situation before. I have learned to ALWAYS ask for a copy of my evaluations too. The irony is that if something DOES go wrong or there is a poor patient outcome, then you are blamed for not asking for help- as if they can suddenly find the help they couldn't find when staffing the unit! :banghead:

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Viva- you described one of my old jobs to the hilt - what's up with these mind games???

Jessie - I would write a rebuttal and a resume ASAP!!

Good luck to you and don't let them drive you crazy - Don't give anything more than you have to..

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