I will go ahead and state that this may be a sensitive topic, so please forgive me ahead of time if I offend anyone, it is not my intention. I just need some advice from people who may have experienced the same thing I am. This may get a little long-winded.
I am a new grad nurse who just took a position as a charge nurse on a post-acute unit. I absolutely LOVE my job from a clinical standpoint. I love my patients, and the environment is ever changing so it keeps me on my toes. I learned more the first day on the floor than any clinical rotation during school...which is awesome! That being said, my work environment is hostile.
I'm the new kid on the block, and I get that there will be people who don't like me no matter where I work, but this feels like more than that. I am Caucasian, one of only two Caucasians who work on this unit. There is one particular tech who has been here since Jesus was a baby, and she makes my life hell. No matter how politely I ask her to do something, she refuses if it's not something she wants to do right then. Ugh. I've offered to help her in completing certain tasks in an effort to establish that I am not "that nurse" who feels that I am above the work that techs do...still didn't matter. She gives me an attitude, raises her voice above mine every time I speak and just flat out disrespects me any opportunity she gets.
She and I had a disagreement about the way she spoke to a patients family. The family came for a compassionate care visit to see their loved one who was dying from covid complications. This tech was rude, disrespectful and basically made a heartbreaking situation more difficult for this family. I pulled the tech aside and asked her to let me handle the family from that point forward. After the family left she proceeded to attack me and claimed that I think I'm better than her because I am white. Wait, what?!! How did this become a race issue?
Since then there is tension with everyone I work with. I've had several other nurses and techs approach me and ask me if I really did call her the "N" word (which is a term that I have never and will never use or be OK with). The nurse who is on the same rotation as me for night shift is close with this tech. Since the disagreement, the night nurse has gone above and beyond to make it known she does not like me. She leaves nasty notes instructing me to do things, she will chart pertinent information about patients and claim she gave report to day nurse, but actually doesn't tell me about it. She throws me under the bus any chance she can.
There's much more, but that's the gist of it, and it is making the stress of being a new nurse so much worse. I've attempted to speak to both the tech and the night nurse, and that made things so much worse. I went to management and nothing changed. I actually had one manager tell me it's best if I just keep my head down and mouth shut to avoid conflict. Seriously?!!
I'm to the point where I would almost rather play in traffic blindfolded than to come to work. Here in lies the issue... I signed a 2 year contract with a sign-on bonus (which I cannot afford to pay back right now). What else can I do? Has anyone else been in a similar situation where you feel like your voice isn't being heard because of your race, religion, gender etc.?
Interesting. Any other race would be urged to file a complaint of racial discrimination and decry racism in this situation. But instead, you're expected to walk on eggshells in various ways or leave. The choice is yours. Personally, I've dealt with people like this, and grew up with people with her mindset, and you'll never discourage their behavior by trying to reason with them. Some people are just hateful, racist, and nasty and they won't shut up until they're held accountable, I.e. by management in this situation. I'd report it, anticipate the report to go nowhere sadly, and line up another job. It shouldn't be that way but it is in modern times.
I will go ahead and state that this may be a sensitive topic, so please forgive me ahead of time if I offend anyone, it is not my intention. I just need some advice from people who may have experienced the same thing I am. This may get a little long-winded.
I am a new grad nurse who just took a position as a charge nurse on a post-acute unit. I absolutely LOVE my job from a clinical standpoint. I love my patients, and the environment is ever changing so it keeps me on my toes. I learned more the first day on the floor than any clinical rotation during school...which is awesome! That being said, my work environment is hostile.
I’m the new kid on the block, and I get that there will be people who don’t like me no matter where I work, but this feels like more than that. I am Caucasian, one of only two Caucasians who work on this unit. There is one particular tech who has been here since Jesus was a baby, and she makes my life hell. No matter how politely I ask her to do something, she refuses if it’s not something she wants to do right then. Ugh. I’ve offered to help her in completing certain tasks in an effort to establish that I am not “that nurse” who feels that I am above the work that techs do...still didn’t matter. She gives me an attitude, raises her voice above mine every time I speak and just flat out disrespects me any opportunity she gets.
She and I had a disagreement about the way she spoke to a patients family. The family came for a compassionate care visit to see their loved one who was dying from covid complications. This tech was rude, disrespectful and basically made a heartbreaking situation more difficult for this family. I pulled the tech aside and asked her to let me handle the family from that point forward. After the family left she proceeded to attack me and claimed that I think I’m better than her because I am white. Wait, what?!! How did this become a race issue?
Since then there is tension with everyone I work with. I’ve had several other nurses and techs approach me and ask me if I really did call her the “N” word (which is a term that I have never and will never use or be OK with). The nurse who is on the same rotation as me for night shift is close with this tech. Since the disagreement, the night nurse has gone above and beyond to make it known she does not like me. She leaves nasty notes instructing me to do things, she will chart pertinent information about patients and claim she gave report to day nurse, but actually doesn’t tell me about it. She throws me under the bus any chance she can.
There’s much more, but that’s the gist of it, and it is making the stress of being a new nurse so much worse. I’ve attempted to speak to both the tech and the night nurse, and that made things so much worse. I went to management and nothing changed. I actually had one manager tell me it’s best if I just keep my head down and mouth shut to avoid conflict. Seriously?!!
I’m to the point where I would almost rather play in traffic blindfolded than to come to work. Here in lies the issue... I signed a 2 year contract with a sign-on bonus (which I cannot afford to pay back right now). What else can I do? Has anyone else been in a similar situation where you feel like your voice isn’t being heard because of your race, religion, gender etc.?
You may have to take disciplinary action, being the charge nurse. business has to be done. If this tech can't comply with the standards by refusing to do her job, being insubordinate, she may have to find elsewhere to work. Take her aside, have a witness, have her sign the form if she/he signs and give your form the upper management.
I sometimes travel nurse and generally you pretty much end up in places where there's trouble. I like my license and for some reason I frequently end up being in charge. I will not allow anyone to jeopardize my license by their incompetence, stupidity or laziness. I take patient care very seriously.
My formula is to immediately identify the people who are competent regardless of age, experience or whatever. These are the people I rely on exclusively when I make out assignments and place them in charge. During handing out assignments I let everyone know how I feel about my license and that I will not tolerate anyone shirking their duties and I will immediately report them to the management and write them up. I'm not there to make friends. This is work!
I usually work psych if I travel nurse by the way. And part of my contract is to always be able to obtain an email source from the facility to communicate difficulties. I liase with my supervisor beforehand and in writing or during orientation with witnesses, let them know that this is my plan if I am placed in charge. I lay out the fact that this is a difficult unit and if they have an alternative solution to let us know. I also alert my travel company (BCC) if I send an email.
I also keep an attorney on retainer and they receive updates taking into account confidentiality. This formula hasn't failed me yet. Even when I am working my regular job. You also have the added bonus, that the friends that you do make are genuine people who value competence and are less likely to be superficial. It helps that I am not even remotely interested in being liked and fortunately possess withering wit, which helps to keep people at bay.
You are there for the patients. They are compromised and your care and concern whether medical or Psych make a difference. By the way, I handle difficult Drs exactly the same way. I chart everything or always have a witness if possible. I have found that almost always, whenever a unit is difficult, it's because management is incompetent and very likely to throw you under the bus given the opportunity.
Re your situation, I would make assignments and be extremely clear as to what you expect. Any deviations get written up. I would also mention to management after consulting a lawyer, that I intend to sue for slander! Draw a line and don't let them cross it!
I am very quickly developing the same attitude toward the people I work with. I don’t need them to like me, I just need them to do their job. I fed my concerns up the chain of command. We now have a meeting set with the DON and the administrator; Hopefully something will come out of it.
You may have to take disciplinary action, being the charge nurse. business has to be done. If this tech can't comply with the standards by refusing to do her job, being insubordinate, she may have to find elsewhere to work. Take her aside, have a witness, have her sign the form if she/he signs and give your form the upper management.
I finally had to write her up when she decided that she would take an hour and a half lunch. After another tech came and told me that she was boasting “yeah, I was supposed to be back 30 minutes ago, but let the poor girl suffer for a while without me.” I knew I had to stop tiptoeing around her. She went ballistic and walked out mid-shift after I asked her to sign the disciplinary form. She has now been assigned to another unit, but I have a feeling the backlash is still to come.
Interesting. Any other race would be urged to file a complaint of racial discrimination and decry racism in this situation. But instead, you're expected to walk on eggshells in various ways or leave. The choice is yours. Personally, I've dealt with people like this, and grew up with people with her mindset, and you'll never discourage their behavior by trying to reason with them. Some people are just hateful, racist, and nasty and they won't shut up until they're held accountable, I.e. by management in this situation. I'd report it, anticipate the report to go nowhere sadly, and line up another job. It shouldn't be that way but it is in modern times.
I hate that this is even an issue. I don’t see color, I don’t judge people by the tone of their skin. I draw my conclusions from their level of integrity, their work ethic and the way they treat others. Unfortunately, this is the time in which we live. If this were another white person I would not hesitate to write them up, or file a complaint, but because racial inequality is still so prevalent in society today, I proceed with extreme caution anytime I am at a crossroads with someone of a different race. I just wish that she had taken the time to get to know me before assuming that I was just another white person looking to “put her in her place” as she bluntly stated when I wrote her up. If she knew my views and that I whole-heartedly agree with the unfairness of the world we live in, she and I might have been able to have a decent working relationship. If the meeting set with the DON doesn’t produce any results, I already have feelers out there for other hospitals, but hopefully some resolution will come out of it.
Is it normal for a new grad to be a charge nurse? I can understand why your black co-workers might be resentful having a brand new white nurse as their supervisor. This doesn't, however, justify lying about you.
It sounds really hard and stressful. I hope you can find some resolution.
I’m not sure if it is “normal”, but it is the job I was hired to do, and one which, according to my DON, I am doing exceptionally well at. As far as my co-workers go, I am not the direct supervisor for any other nurse, all nurses report directly to the ADON, I simply make the daily assignments, and determine who gets which patients/admissions for each shift. I’m more than fair about it, and usually end up assigning the more difficult cases to myself in an effort to show that I’m not above getting my hands dirty. I am only directly supervising PCT’s and CNA’s. I never had any issue with techs or nurses until the tension arose between myself and the tech mentioned in my original post. Prior to that, we all worked together quite well.
I am very quickly developing the same attitude toward the people I work with. I don’t need them to like me, I just need them to do their job. I fed my concerns up the chain of command. We now have a meeting set with the DON and the administrator; Hopefully something will come out of it.
Make sure you have a witness or advocate with you if possible. If not, immediately after the meeting email yourself with as much detail as possible the discussion re tone, questions, replies, people present etc and also discuss the meeting with a trusted, professional confidante.
Do not EVER TRUST MANAGEMENT. They are rarely there for you just to assign blame and cover their asse*
Unfortunately some people will use the race card rather then trying to find the real reason. Without knowing who you work for and their history I can not say if there is a history of racism at that facility.
If race has nothing to do with what is going on where you work the person claiming racism is taking away from real racial issues.
I wish I could, but I paid a good portion of my student loans off with it. Sigh.
They can't get blood from a rock. If they demand their money back, so what? Will they pillory you for all the staff to throw tomatoes at? They can wait for as long as it takes.
I doubt they'll be so anxious to recover their investment in you if you let them know they should be hearing from the Department of Labor shortly about their toxic work environment and management's lack of response. And if they push the issue, gather your documentation and go see them (the Dept. of Labor).
Someone else already mentioned this but what were you doing accepting a charge position as a new grad? That's a position for an experienced nurse; not a newbie. You were thrown to the lions.
I would just reiterate and emphasize the truth each time this is thrown in your face. 'The patients are important', We're here for the patients.' Then take disciplinary action if needed. That way your defending your job and not looking like a racist the way they want you to look..that just causes a hostile environment for you.
The advice given by Curious 1997, BSN is exactly what you need to do now and for the rest of your nursing career!! I was in exactly your situation at a large teaching medical center. I tried being sugar sweet, polite, ignoring her, anything to have peace, as any southern lady would do. Nothing worked! She followed me around to find anything at all she could identify as a reason to criticize me, was rude, "forgot"to follow up on any requests I made. Did everything she could to undermine me. I was the IV nurse for the floor so I truly depended on colleagues to let me know of any problems. Then a really good hard nosed manager came on board. She saw immediately what was happening. She met with this horrid person and told her exactly what she was observing. Gave her an ultimatum, did not listen to any of her excuses or accusations. Under this excellent leadership, this distasteful and just plain mean nurse was transferred to another floor in another role. Looking back now, I should have confronted her and should have had Curious1997 plan on my clip board and followed it precisely. These people have been used to ruling the roost, they will not stop, they will abuse anyone until they are confronted and given the legal consequences of their actions. As well as the administration also. There is entirely too much of this in nursing and it has been ignored. On the very floor I worked, two new grads of under 6-9 months left nursing for new careers in real estate and law because of this kind of crap. I am now in another role in nursing now and would never in a million years go back to floor nursing or allow anyone I cared about to pursue that path either. My daughter is an RN, had the very same experience with someone exactly as you describe. Everyone in the unit saw the abuse, administration closed their eyes. That person went on to physically attack someone violently and served time in prison. This interpersonal abuse/bullying is prevalent in nursing. When will it be taken seriously???
Serhilda, ADN, RN
290 Posts
Interesting. Any other race would be urged to file a complaint of racial discrimination and decry racism in this situation. But instead, you're expected to walk on eggshells in various ways or leave. The choice is yours. Personally, I've dealt with people like this, and grew up with people with her mindset, and you'll never discourage their behavior by trying to reason with them. Some people are just hateful, racist, and nasty and they won't shut up until they're held accountable, I.e. by management in this situation. I'd report it, anticipate the report to go nowhere sadly, and line up another job. It shouldn't be that way but it is in modern times.