Not fair attitude

[ALHA, BSN, MSN, CRNA]

Hello. I am new grad, finished my orientation and on my 2 month of work. Everything was good until now. One of experienced nurses tells to flow whenever she is a charge nurse. During a one week I already floated twice. She doesn't say hello. I just don't understand her attitude towards me. She talks to me as I irritated her somehow. I feel intimidated. I am a male nurse. All other nurses around told me that it is unfair to float new nurse. It should be at least 6 months of experience and then I should be floated, besides, she did not tell me that I need to sign a float book. Any thoughts? Thank you.

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

Hello. I am new grad, finished my orientation and on my 2 month of work. Everything was good until now. One of experienced nurses tells to flow whenever she is a charge nurse. During a one week I already floated twice. She doesn't say hello. I just don't understand her attitude towards me. She talks to me as I irritated her somehow. I feel intimidated. I am a male nurse. All other nurses around told me that it is unfair to float new nurse. It should be at least 6 months of experience and then I should be floated, besides, she did not tell me that I need to sign a float book. Any thoughts? Thank you.

perhaps one of the bigots that people refuse to challenge - it's still seen as unaccpetable for Men in Nursing to be there by some people ...

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Talk to your nurse manager about this. If you feel like you are not experienced enough (and I don't blame you) to feel comfortable floating. If that is not the case, and you feel that you are being floated when it is not your turn, keep track of your assignments and present that to your nurse manager. The charge nurse SHOULD be keeping a notebook of the staff that float, and if she is telling you that you don't need to sign it, she is deliberately covering her own butt because she knows this is wrong.

See what you can do with the nurse manager. Perhaps you can clear up any misunderstanding of assignments after you speak with her/him.

[ALHA, BSN, MSN, CRNA]

Thank you for the reply. I still thinking how to deal with the situation. Perhaps, I should go and talk to her straight. I really don't want to spend my work time with unanswered tension.

[coolpeach]

I started my hospital in July, and I cannot float until next month.

[ALHA, BSN, MSN, CRNA]

In the school they told us first to talk with the nurse, then with manager, so I will try to talk with that nurse first, I don't know if that is going to help and how she will react. I just found out today that there is a book to sign, and it should be by turn. I had no idea about that. Thank you Canesdukegirl for the reasonable answer.

[AnaCatRN]

I would be nervous about floating. Two hospitals I worked at wouldn't let new grads float until they had been there a year. Depending on where they float you to, it could be unsafe. I'd talk to your manager for sure. She may be violating policy.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

Unfortunately I have worked in some units where male nurses just aren't welcome. Hope you arent stuck on one. There are many places that would be happy to have you.

Always follow the chain of command and work your way up. I would take this charge nurse aside and ask her if there is a problem between the two of you. In the meantime, learn all you can and keep your head up. In time you will find the perfect job. I know I did

[ALHA, BSN, MSN, CRNA]

Thank you. It was all informative. I have no other choice but to keep my head up. I did not see her tonight and I was not floated, nobody did, we have been short staffed. I really thankful for such a website where help is available.

[JacknSweetpea]

Even though it may be out of your "comfort zone"...I think you should talk to her. When I first started working as a nurse, I had to have several talking-to's with more experienced nurses who tried to give me a hard time. Advocate for yourself.