New part time grad treated without respect from DON

[leeposh]

Ok, I could really use some responses fast on this one. I am new grad that has been away from the medical field for well over a year due to a difficult pregnancy. I work in a small LTC facility with 30 residents total, this is my very first job as an LPN. I work an average of 50 hrs. in a 2 week period part-time. After 1 week of orientation, (or should I say 3 days) of working on a shift I didn't even apply for they scheduled me as a charge nurse all alone. I was not comfortable with this situation and notified the DON of my concerns. She said I would be fine. My orientation was absolutely no help, besides the fact I never had even orientated on 2nd shift that I applied for which was completely different. I had to figure things out on my own, which left me far behind on med pass and other things. Anyways I have been there time wise almost 2 months now, but I am part time. I am finally getting a hold of things. Anyways After having 4 days off I am sitting at the desk getting report from the 1st shift nurse. The DON comes from her office and points harshly at this chart sitting there and says you will get this done tonight, (with a super bad attitude.) I looked at the nurse and said was she talking to me? I didn't even know what she was pointing at, she started walking away. Then she turned around and yelled you have been here long enough to know what you're doing. I said "are you talking to me?" and she completely ignored me and walked out the front door to go home. Well evidently it was a chart of a new admit. The nurse whom admitted the resident did not finish the paper work. Well I took that command rather personal and felt very embarrassed from the people around me. I had no idea we even had a new admit let alone the fact that she critisized my work, when I wasn't even the one who had any part of the new admit. I was blown away. I feel that if she had something to say to me about my work she should have handled that privately. Maybe addressing the fact that it was not done properly from the nurse who admitted the resident and if I could finish what hadn't been done. I don't think anyone should be treated that way. Anyways it really bothered me the whole day and even affected the way I worked because I couldn't stop feeling shut down when I feel I have been doing my best. I want to write a letter addressing this so it doesn't happen again to me or anyone else, but have no idea what to even say without her defending herself. Doing it in person is not something I think would work out, my mouth sometimes works faster than my mind. Any suggestions would be so appreciated!!

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

I have a feeling this was a case of something rolling downhill. Maybe she got whacked by someone about the chart not being completed after she thought it was. Unfortunatly, when people get chewed on they in turn chew on others.

I dont know why it should have been you to deal with the chart, since you didnt do the admission in the first place but apparently the DON didnt know how to handle it either and was acting out of anger herself.

I dont know that what she said was intended to mean that it was your fault. I think she said it feeling that you may be very able to handle the problem someone handed her and she delegated that to you (although in a horrible way). Finish what she asked, take the chart to her in the morning when she comes in, close her office door and simply ask her if she was upset about the chart or about something you did. Let her know you felt very upset about the way she approached you and then left so quickly. Maybe she will think again next time about how she approaches things.