New nurse: I get no respect

[Nurse326]

Hi all.

I recently started as a new grad in the ED, and as I've already expected and heard prior to going into that hospital-- there will be some nurse bullying and sure enough, there is.

I've been there for about a month now and I'm still precepting. So far I haven't had too many issues with the RN staff. I know there's a lot of cattyness and complaints about new grads but I've just ignored them. Aside from the RN staff, I feel like I'm getting most of the attitude from the ED techs. On several occasions, I felt like I was being pushed around because I'm so new.

I have always made an effort to be nice and say hello to anyone I'm around but I've been consistently ignored and treated as if I'm not there. On several occasions when I was watching a trauma come in, the techs would tell me to get this and that for them in a dismissive tone and not talk to me after that. I really don't mind getting equipment and helping out, but I felt like they were treating me as if I was beneath them. In that situation, I didn't feel like I had the choice to refuse or stand up for myself because I was just standing there observing.

On another occasion when I was giving an IV medication, the MD corrected me about something, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the ED techs shaking their heads at each other and rolling their eyes. I could go on about other micro-aggressions, but most of it is going out of their way to ignore me and excluding me (ie, updating my preceptor on my patient's status even though I was assuming most of the care and I was right there, and still refusing to talk to me).

I feel like the obvious answer to this situation is to talk it out with them, but I feel like snapping back is also something I need to do for myself. I don't want to use the "I'm the RN and you're the tech and you need to respect me" argument because I feel like they should treat me with respect regardless of the position I'm in.

It's hard enough learning as a new grad in the ED. It's even harder when people around you are beating you down.

*Sigh* Has anyone had experience with this? How did you deal with it?

[Guest957596]

I would say that the previous posts that said to get assertive are correct. If you don't do something now, it will continue and get worse as time goes on. Don't continue to be a pushover. The majority of communication is non-verbal as you have experienced with the eye rolls, etc. Go and talk to the techs; be polite, but firm. Acknowledge your newness but also ask them for their help as a team mate and remind them that you should be getting report before they go to your preceptor. And since your preceptor keeps changing, you are the consistent link between the techs and whomever your preceptor will finally be. As for earning PERSONAL respect, that is true anywhere. However, respecting your POSITION should not need to be earned. You are an RN. For example, you might not respect a charge nurse or nurse manager personally, but I bet you respect their position.

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

I have had several experiences where the techs would seek to take over, if they could. They sometimes seek to intimidate or downplay a new employees role, no matter what his/her title. Some can be ignored and sometimes a new RN employee will have to be assertive. I am currently in a work situation where techs are trying to make the rules, at times. We have some exhausted techs (due to many things like home situations, etc) and they try to bank their energy and have RN's do more.

[Bellaisla]

Be the adult in the room. When they roll their eyes or act stupid, be the consummate professional. I agree, don't put up with the crap. Assert yourself girl. They are testing you and in a weird sense, helping you deal for your future.

[lupedlupe]

You really haven't defined any behaviour by the nurses that is bullying. The techs, maybe a bit unprofessional, but not bullying. Then there's the fact that a doctor had to correct you on a medication. You're one month in, so where was your preceptor for that? Were you asking the appropriate questions or researching your med before he had to correct you?

Respect to a human being is basic. Nobody will respect you as a nurse until you prove yourself. Respect as a nurse is earned. That's ER culture.

As for watching trauma, if you have nothing better to do with your time, I dont blame the techs for asking you to grab equipment. You're standing there doing nothing. Nobody in the department needed a single thing? Put your head down, get to work. You will be oriented to trauma in due time. Then, you will see what you need. Offer to start IV's, draw blood, splint, make a bed, grab vitals, do an EKG on that new chest pain. Just don't get caught standing around watching. It makes you look lazy.

This process will not be fun, but don't give up before a year. Never be afraid to ask questions or ask if you can jump in and help with something you've not done before. This, too, shall pass.

[admc4444]

"[COLOR=#000000]On another occasion when I was giving an IV medication, the MD corrected me about something".Based on that statement I think you have more to worry about than getting respect.Instead of worrying about what others are thinking you should spend your energy learning how to be a safe and effective ED nurse. When you clean up a suture tray do you practice how to use the equipment? After a code do you restock your room so you know exactly were all your supplies are located? When you know all your tools ,their function s and purpose,you won't make a mistake in the chaos of a code .Have you joined the ENA and started studying to be come certified ED nurse? There are psychomotor skills and specific academic knowledge [/COLOR]to master in ED nursing .There is also the finesse of working with folks in the pressure cooker environment of an ED

[khinlicky]

Agreed. This isn't the military. Respect is earned, but decent people will also give respect because it's the proper thing to do.

[Green_Grass]

It's easier said than done, but try to go to work each day with the singular goal of learning new procedures, improving existing skills, and simply getting more familiar with the layout and flow of the new setting. These colleagues who sneer or make snide remarks were all in your shoes at one time. Try not to let this distract you from the overall picture which is of course presumably to become an experienced nurse and to savour the opportunity to learn as much as possible from this fast-paced setting. Remind yourself that you were hired because your CV and interview stood out from the competition and those in charge of personnel saw fit to invite you to contribute to this unit. Perhaps when you receive feedback from a physician, you could see it as a valuable contribution to helping you grow as a clinician. The next time one of the ED techs asks you to collect items from the clean hold, perhaps you could reply that you are happy to do that and additionally are available to assist with whatever they are doing. This would build some solidarity, invite them to share their expertise with you, and also establish a different sort of rapport, one in which you are taking ownership of the experience and demonstrating initiative. Lastly, consider keeping a log of new skills, pathologies, patient cases for which you are becoming more competent in managing. This will give you a new focus and an objective way to calibrate your experience. When you see the list expanding as you progress, you will see merit in your position in this ED.

[Aromatic]

as an np i had a few techs who were older ladies that tried to do that type of stuff to me. never had a prob with the male techs. But I made friends with the rest of the nursing staff and soon they felt left out and came around. Not sure if it would work as good as an RN though.

They have to do what you tell them to do so as long as they do that who cares what they think or so. Bad feelings don't change the number on your pay check. toughen up.

[Banana nut, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

as an np i had a few techs who were older ladies that tried to do that type of stuff to me. never had a prob with the male techs. But I made friends with the rest of the nursing staff and soon they felt left out and came around. Not sure if it would work as good as an RN though.

They have to do what you tell them to do so as long as they do that who cares what they think or so. Bad feelings don't change the number on your pay check. toughen up.

I definitely agree with this. I am a tech and I have dealt with these kinds of issues as well. You need thick skin and a bad memory. Forget about the last time you worked together give everyone a new slate every day you go to work. Understand who is on your team and who is not. If a tech is going to give you a hard time just adapt. If they are openly disrespectful you can address it but if its all back handed just ignore it. It should not affect your communication with them. You can be verbally humble and still be in charge its totally possible, I do it all the time. Just have a thick skin and don't let anything shake you. Be a team player and treat everyone equally no matter how they treat you. If you do this everyday you will gain a solid reputation and be looked at as trustworthy and competent.

Best of luck to you

[AutumnApple]

Funny part is: Once this is all "said and done" and you're past it, you'll realize it had very little to do with being a new nurse. That is a part of it, but its not the only thing motivating the problem and, it's not even the primary cause.

Some things to consider:

1. Once you're feet are planted, I'm willing to bet you're going to learn that most of these techs are hanging by a thread job wise. The behavior they are displaying is that of people who have either given up on being a part of the team or are on their way out the door. They want to milk their opportunity/time to stomp on you while they can before you find out................hmph...........they're not very respected themselves. Because, once you find that out, you'll be doing the same things to them (this is what they are anticipating).

So, don't be another cog in the wheel. When the tables do turn, just drop the nonsense and lead by example.......make the work, not the social standing, your focus.

2. Keep in mind that not being well liked is not being bullied. Ok, they use a tone with you that you don't appreciate, but that sort of thing can't be policed (hence they do it). In the end, you have to assess whether there is real damage from the behavior or not. A bruised ego is not damage by the way. If that's the only outcome from the behavior........yes.........ignore it.

When there is real damage resulting from the behavior, address THAT part. For example, was the tone used in front of a patient? Then this could be sited as damaging. Too many instances of that sort of behavior in front of patients can cause you to lose the confidence of said patients. So, THAT part of it can be addressed. But, when you do so, you can't lead with "I think you should show me more respect..................". They have no reason to. They (obviously) don't think respecting you is a high priority. Instead lead with "The patient's care is compromised when you act this way.............".

They may or may not be receptive to it. In the end though, if they are not, you have a legitimate complaint. If you have to go to your higher ups about it, they're more likely to respond to a write up about the tech doing things that sabotage care than "Oh, they don't like me and I don't think it's fair.........". Speak to proper lingo is at it is. Don't make it about you.

3. You're going to be ultra sensitive to this stuff because you're a new nurse. This is the "little bit" being a new nurse has to do with it all. Truth is, you've not go your feet under yourself yet so you have time to notice/catch these things. As you grow as a nurse, you're going to be noticing entirely different things (things that have to do with patient care and fostering better outcomes). For example, you may know without being told to get the equipment.

You do have to be assertive here. But be selectively assertive. Address things when they interfere with patient care, don't turn it into something about whether you are liked or not. Following that path will lead to earning the respect you crave.

Also, start to develop a circle of support for yourself. Determine who is helping with constructive criticism and who is just being a twit. Take everything you can from those who are above that sort of thing.

[NuGuyNurse2b]

years ago I worked as a unit secretary prior to going to nursing school, we had this nasty tech who eons ago failed nursing school. She was bitter with a capital B. Needless to say, everyone on the unit was afraid of her because she made your life a living hell for the 8 or 12 hours you were there if she didn't get her way. She had her network of close friends over the years who tolerated her and you were always the odd man out. Well being a tech doesn't pay much and one day she forgot to punch in. the manager paid her at the starting time that was she was supposed to start even though we're allowed to clock in 15 mins earlier and get paid for half an hour. this didn't sit well with her as she in fact did clock in 15 mins earlier every day and everyone there knew she arrived a good 30 mins prior to her shift every day to "make the assignments". she wasn't very tech savvy and had no way to prove that she in fact worked the 15 mins prior to her start time. But I knew you could look into the system and see the date and time the vitals were charted, which she didn't know how to do. so I showed her, she showed the manager, she got paid the 30 mins. and from that day on, we got along fine. moral of the story is you just have to give someone a chance and they can change. had she gone back to her old ways after that, the next time she needed my help, I would've paid her dust.

[CeciBean, ASN, RN]

This is nursing; the exception to the rule.

Bull pucky. There is no exception. People with your attitude are the PROBLEM in nursing.