Do a google search for any myriad of statements related to nurses, their bosses, coworkers, and conflict and you will be bombarded with stories.These stories are your stories. It may be a nurse manager who challenges everything you do. A coworker who seems to disappear mid-shift allowing others to pick up the slack. Or, another healthcare professional who seems to find joy in belittling you in front of others. Whatever the story may be, this happens all to often in nursing departments and agencies across the U.S.Could it be secondary to a primary female profession? Are some people just wired to be bullies, slackers, liars, and brown nosers? Is it solely due to the stressors associated with caring for sick and dying patients? Or, could it be that our healthcare systems don't provide proper training for nursing leadership?Whatever the case may be, we must learn how to handle some of these work-place conundrums. You have people to care for, you don't have time to deal with a manager who simply has to be right or have the last word.Let's explore and few scenarios and how to handle them.The Micro-Management Manager - I can't think of one nurse that loves being micromanaged! We are taught from day one of nursing school to be independent thinkers. Yet, we get hired at a new job only to find out that the manager doesn't like anyone to sneeze before asking permission. Ugh! What do you do?The solution: Being micromanaged can quickly kill your motivation. Recognize when this is happening. Most people can handle situations better when they simply state the issue. I have even written my feelings down on a piece of paper so that I can organize my thoughts.Find a trusted friend, colleague, family member, or counselor and talk it out. Getting the emotions out helps to clear your mind. Then, create a plan!If you feed confident in your ability to level-headed, talk directly to the manager about your feelings. If you can't come to a solution together, create a system that works for you. This may mean that you deliver certain tasks the manager within their request and then allow yourself some creative and autonomous freedoms with other tasks.Nurse Bully - Bullying in nursing is not a new topic. The notion of "eating our young" has been around for a very long time. Today, it is not only the tenured nurses who like to spread their wings by clipping someone else's. Even newer nurses can be guilty of bullying.Nurse bullying not only affects you as a person, but it can hinder your ability to provide high-quality care. It changes the culture on your unit and leads to turnover in the staff. Bullying is not healthy for anyone involved, including the bully.The solution: Report it. While this can be uncomfortable and you may worry about retaliation, you must report nurse bullying to your supervisor.While you are enduring the bullying, don't succumb to the efforts of the bully. Keep your head high and confront the bully by simply pointing out the behaviors that make you feel uncomfortable and ask them to stop. If you can, walk away from the bully if talking to them is not a successful tactic.Bullies like power. If you can limit your interactions with them, you limit their power.The Boss from Hell - This is a strong image and suggestion about some nurse managers. Unfortunately, it may have conjured up an image of a manager who fit the description. We have all experienced a nurse manager from the pit.I have had managers who yell for no reason, cursed at me, engaged in workplace gossip, and one who handed out insults like tic-tacs. These behaviors from the person who is supposed to rally the troops is defeating, disheartening, and infuriating. It can leave you feeling that nursing is simply not the right career choice for you.The solution - First, don't judge a whole profession on the actions of one bad nurse manager. There are good leaders out there.Second, create a plan for dealing with the hellion the best you can. This may include talking to them about their expectations and your desire to meet them. You may talk to another member of management who can offer some advice for working with your manager. Or, you can confide in a trusted friend or colleague who can offer some advice.Finally, if the culture of the unit and the actions of this nurse manager is simply not providing you with the support you need, look for new opportunities.If you are really looking for a way to help the issues with nurse leadership - become a nurse leader. Yep, solve the problem by vowing to be a nurse leader - not a nurse manager. Go into leadership and offer the understanding, acceptance, and support you looked for in those that failed you.Other Work ConundrumsTo say that Nursing is a unique profession is probably way to simplistic of a description. Nurses tend to be strong, bold people. When you have a whole unit of independent thinkers, you will have magical or explosive combustion. Hang in there and find your tribe of nurses who offer you the support you need.Have you experienced one of these workplace conundrums? Have you had a different experience you would like to share? Put your story in the comments, we would love to hear about your workplace conundrums too. 1 Down Vote Up Vote × About Melissa Mills, BSN Workforce Development Columnist Melissa Mills is a nurse who is on a journey of exploration and entrepreneurship. She is a healthcare writer who specializes in case management and leadership. When she is not in front of a computer, Melissa is busy with her husband, 3 kids, 2 dogs and a fat cat named Little Dude. 126 Articles 373 Posts Share this post Share on other sites