No more Mr. Nice Guy (New Year Resolution)

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Yesterday morning I accepted my last sigh, complaint, or roll of the eyes from a couple of the day shift RNs I report off to. I started a year and a half ago and these two were very unhelpful and unforgiving to a new RN. They clearly still think of me as a less-than-proficient RN, which, thanks to a healthy self-esteem, I know is not the case.

I usually let it roll of my back and forget about it. It's not worth getting upset over...besides that gives them the upper hand. If I don't respond to their little jabs, then they aren't getting any satisfaction, right?

Yesterday morning I had a fairly involved admit come to the floor at 0610. Due to computer glitch, patient was not in the system to enter the admission health history when I was doing it, so I did on a paper form and when I was done with admission at 0640 patient was still not on my system. At that point I had to give 0700 meds and prepare for report. I handed her the paper form with the health history on it and mentioned she would need to enter it. She flipped out. Didn't come out and accuse me of being lazy, but her inference was clear. Refused to enter the history. I entered it after report because I did not want to risk it not being entered. In hind sight I should have handed it back to her and told her that I did what I could, and if she chooses to not enter it that it will be on her hands and then emailed the director.

This RN as well as another one are habitually dismissive and haughty to newer RNs during report and I've taken the last of it. The next time this happens, I'm stopping report and in a firm but professional voice explaining that I expect the same degree of respect and professionalism that I give to them when I receive report from them. And if they don't like it, they can take it up with the director. I'm sick of this crap and it is going to cease in 2012.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I'm with you. We have a few that come in and EVERY AM it's "Oh, I'm not taking so and so he's mean(NM that he's been perfectly pleasant to me), the family is rude(just concerned, and very understanding if you take some time), and he's a mess(due to his dressings/IV meds/or other issues....you know, actual WORK)" Make it seem like some issue is YOUR fault. Whatever. I'm done with it, if they want to try to make it a biggie, I'll be the first to tell em, "I've done what I can. I work nights. I don't call consults at midnight unless I need something." Good for you for standing up for YOU.

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I LIKE it! I'd keep the manager out of it tho. Let us know how it works.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

Good for you. Let us know how it turns out :)

My favorite one-liner for these kind of people is: "Nursing is a 24-hour job."

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
Yesterday morning I accepted my last sigh, complaint, or roll of the eyes from a couple of the day shift RNs I report off to.

These used to bother me too, but I decided these behavior say a lot more about the person doing them then anything else.

I'm lucky that my unit is staffed with excellent nurses and very few of them pull crap like this. The ones that do aren't worth my time.

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Specializes in Peds.

Reminds me of the nurses who pull the " I don't do nights or weekends".....or my all time peeve " I've paid my dues" in reference to working weekends.......ugh! If that's the attitude then maybe they should have done something else as a career......

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Don't let other people live rent free in your head. Their sighs and eye rolling are not harming you, and confronting it will not change their attitudes even if they stop sighing quite so loudly. By engaging them you give them more power and then you automatically lose. Just state your business and go on about your happy life and leave them to whatever their lives hold for them without another thought.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

There are a few things you can do:

1) Complain to your NUM. Write EVERYTHING down that has happened, times, dates, incidents etc so the NUM has a hard copy. If u just go in & make a verbal complaint, they will ask u 2 write it down anyway. I wouldn't have put up with this crap from day 1 - but that's just my Scottish nature (we are fearless and confront anything!) A hard copy also ensures you don't verbally forget anything, or that either party forgets the conversation later on (this is why I insist on emails).

2) Take them separately into a room with no cameras or outside AWAY from other people & tell them exactly what u think of their behaviour. I've had 2 do this in the past & it has always worked. They will bluster 4 a while & could possibly make ur life worse, but they will back down. Tell the straight you will have no hesitation in reporting them, and WILL make a big issue out of this & go to HR and ur harassment team with the details. Also wen confronting bullies DO NOT REACT to taunts or threats, ignore what they say & continue with your diatribe re their behavior & what u will do about it, then walk away.

3) If ANYBODY interrupts me during handover with sarcastic comments, I stop my handover & deal with it there & then. I say something like: if you have a problem with that, I need to know now. Haven't had this very often though. And most MATURE people realise handover means handing over work that has not been finished, cos the shift has actually finished.

If you don't deal with something at the time it happens (know it's hard cos u get flustered & are busy maybe), the bully thinks they can continue 2 harass you and also think they have gotten away with it.

Work sux enough without having to deal with immature, lazy, arrogant ayeholes to. And I would tell them 2 their face they were lazy, that their immature, childish behviour has been noticed & that it won't be let go.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

Going straight to the nurse manager is only going to open up the OP to having those nurses and probably the rest of the nurses on the unit writing him up for all the things he doesn't finish instead of just being sarcastic about it. At least where I am, going to the manager is extremely frowned upon and discouraged unless it is something really huge.

I think the OP is on the right track by trying to deal with them personally first before going up the chain of command.

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

The he'll with it! Nursing is 25/7! I meant it 25!!! get your stuff done and see what else can you do for the next shift to be easy! I was sick and tired of people being orifices to me! If I worked day shift, they wanted it all done by7 pm if there was a night discharge they would roll their eyes! If I worked night they would wonder why isn't a central line in, or consult with vascular for a pt whose last line blew at 5 am!!! Night shift precipitate discharges! Educate!!! Print all the paper work and leave it ready!!! Day shift would wash their hands at 5:59 pm???? I worked both shifts, conclusion, get each other's back! And make sure you are heard! Be appreciated, if not, take credit when it's due! Drama..... I hate it... What a novella! I said no more a while ago....

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

Ps... If you feel you are right... Write people up! Invite them for a clinical committee meeting, show them you know your grounds! Enough abuse!

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I think he's right to be done with it. Petulant bullies are creating a hostile work environment for him, and costing the company productivity and the patient care. People need to grow up and the rest of us who DID should not feed/encourage bullies by letting them intimidate ourselves or others.

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