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Discussion

Need advice...retaliation?

A little background... I am a new grad in a tiny hospital...2 nurses per night shift. I love my coworkers at night with the exception of one. I have been very fortunate to have preceptors who treat me with respect and who I genuinely get along with. Now this particular nurse happened to fall asleep the last shift I worked with her. I kept asking her if she was okay she kept saying she was fine. When I noticed she was nodding off while drawing up a med, helping me with an IV start on a baby and we couldn't find her for over an hour because she was asleep in an empty room I decided it was time to call the doctor in to help me with the baby and our boss in to come relieve this obviously exhausted nurse. I honestly should have called sooner than I did.

When relaying this to the nurse in charge of scheduling I got a shocked response as she had never done anything like that before. I didn't feel comfortable working with this nurse again because that was the first time I had worked with her so needless to say I was apprehensive about her either doing it again or retaliating against me.

Fast forward to tonight...guess what I'm working with her. Not only is she giving me and the CNA the cold shoulder she's trying to find things to get me in trouble for. Not saying I'm not making mistakes or that I'm on allnurses when it is absolutely quiet and everyone is asleep but I'm taking care of my patients, and am aware of what is going on with them. I know she's acting like a bossy B because I'm the one who had to call boss lady that night. She certainly doesn't treat the other new nurse this way. I know I should talk to her about the situation but I don't want to do it one on one as there would be no witness to the conversation and things could get misconstrued.

I guess this was mostly a vent but I could use some advice on how to deal with situation. My anxiety level is through the roof right now and I have to work with her again in 2 weeks.

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    • Expert

    You've already heard the old chestnut: "No good deed goes unpunished."

    You did a good thing by finding some relief for a coworker who was obviously too sleepy to safely handle her patient load. However, she now views you as a snitch and I wouldn't be surprised if she wants you gone.

    Your coworker is projecting her frustrations on you. It's not about you; it's about her. She should bear full responsibility for nodding off and being too sleepy to render care. However, due to an external locus of control and possibly distorted thinking patterns, she feels it is your fault for reporting her.

    Sometimes we cannot win for losing. My advice is to approach her privately and express concern for her. Reassure her that you were never out to get her. Tell her that you value her years of experience and would like to learn from her. Reaffirm that you wish to have a good working relationship with her. Remind her that we all show up to work for the benefit of our patients.

    You might still have the bulls-eye on your back after speaking to her, but it is worth a shot. Good luck to you!

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    • Author

    Well thank goodness I have the best boss in the world...already talked to her about it and nothing will come back to bite me in the butt.

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    • Expert

    I was going to suggest you talk to your boss ...Glad to see you did that and it went well for you.

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    Do you have a copy of the Scope and Standards for Professional Nursing Practice? You probably had to get it for school...flip through it, when you get a chance, and it will totally reassure you that you did the right thing. It sounds like your manager is on your side too, so glad to hear that.

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    • Expert

    If you had been able to find the nurse in question when you needed her, I am certain you would not have gone above her head and showed her up. If she would do some clear thinking on the matter, she would realize this and keep it in mind. Just be careful around her anyway. You do not want to let your guard down around her.

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    • Author

    Fortunately the rest of the nurses I work with are amazing and I was able to trade shifts with one of them so I wouldn't have to work with the nurse in question. I think what bothers me the most is that she isn't taking responsibility for her screw up and is acting like a child in response to it.

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    ruralnurse84, this nurse in question needs to be reported to the board of nursing. sleeping on the job or be falling asleep while preparing medications?? you were right to call for your support systems. i wouldn't switch any more shifts to avoid the nurse. face him/her head on and don't take any of his/her sh*t. blatantly incompetent nurses should be called out and shown the door - to the BON investigator's office.

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    Oh my gosh. That would not fly where I am at. Sleeping on the job?! Wowza

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    You should count your blessings that you have a level-headed manager in your corner. It can otherwise be very difficult, especially in a small, rural hospital where there is less job-mobility. Sometimes you deal with very entrenched personalities, who have been there forever, grew up in the town, and their daughter is married to the manager's son.

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    • Author

    Well the nurse in question and really a lot of us working there are not from the area...our SO's jobs landed us in that area so I was never worried about that and really all my other coworkers are behind me as well so I am fortunate.

    In regards to switching my schedule it actually works out for the two of us switching. It means I get weekends off for a month and it helps my coworker.

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