What are my rights against those who eat their young?

Nurses Relations

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While I may not be young, what can I do about 2 nurses that I work with that consistently talk behind peoples backs and try to stir up trouble for people. Literally they will try to talk about nurses to other nurses to gossip and then talk to the nurse manager and say a person is having difficulties on the job or say something about their demeanor of complain about how they did something. When there are not errors being made--what gives them the right to basically make complaints based on personality, attitude and perception vs facts. The nurse manager says "yes I know and I've talked to them", but is it to the point that I have actually stopped picking up shifts (I'm perdiem) because it is so stressful to work with these 2 nurses. Literally I was called into the nurse manager to discuss my "capabilities" because of an unsubstantiated complaint that they had stirred up. When there have been MANY complaints about how these 2 nurses' negative attitudes and talking have jeopardized the working environment, when do these nurses ever get penalized? I was so insulted, hurt, overwhelmed by there "accusation" I literally could not sleep for 3 days (there was no official write up of accusation or the meeting). I talked a second time privately to my nurse manager and pointed out how these two actually added to a difficult pt case and then also then discussed the pt case factually. There was no way that those two nurses who were involved for the first 15 minutes of the case before I came on shift could make a complaint legitimately about any pt care/lack of care they were not involved in since they then went off shift. What can I do? I am actually afraid to work any shift with them because I am afraid of them making accusations or starting rumors. I already know that they talked about my situation because other nurses came up to me. That is not appropriate. What are my rights? I don't think my nurse manage really understands what to do with them and is not protecting me or her other nursing staff.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I am sorry this is happening to you. There are Lots and lots of threads on the subject. Remember, when you sign up for this site, you are told how to do a search.

NETY, (nurses eating their young) is one very hot and debated subject that has been nearly done to death here.

You can read some prior threads and get some perspective:

(look, I did the legwork for you! You are welcome!)

https://allnurses.com/nurse-colleague-patient/-quot-nurses-eating-486865.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/why-do-nurses-914591.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/nurses-eating-their-592725.html

https://allnurses.com/cna-ma-nursing/nurses-eat-their-818809.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/why-do-nurses-557247.html

https://allnurses.com/nurse-colleague-patient/do-nurses-eat-302909.html

and even a bit about bullying:

https://allnurses.com/nurse-colleague-patient/workplace-bullying-nursing-900361.html

https://allnurses.com/nurse-colleague-patient/nurse-bullying-539645.html

Check out the "search" function at the top of the page, and just look. you can literally spend HOURS reading about this very subject and how people feel about it, and what to do.

Good luck. Happy reading, too.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

And, reading your post as I did, I determined you may be in a toxic work environment; here are threads covering that, too:

https://allnurses.com/nurse-colleague-patient/leaving-a-toxic-837500.html

https://allnurses.com/hospice-nursing/hospice-hostile-and-891467.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/negative-toxic-work-413860.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/how-do-i-294767.html

Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

What you describe is a failure of management to do their jobs. The NM is the one who should be reigning in the nurses who are negative nelly's. As long as management allows this kind of behavior it will persist.

Her answer was "I talked to them", and she thinks that is it. Nope she is not doing her job. She can write them up, if they do not cease their behavior. Then take them through the step termination process.

I sit with every nurse who starts working under me and set the expectation about gossip and bullying. It is made clear that it will not be tolerated...right up front. If all managers did this we would stop this behavior.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I wish all managers did, but few do, obviously. Some environments are just toxic. Not much to be done except work with HR or leave. That is why I posted all those threads. A whole lot of people said it better than I could here, already.

You really have no rights - especially since you're per diem. I would tell the nurse manager that there are two options: she can do something about those two, or you are not working on shift with them. If they cut you loose, it doesn't sound like you're that much worse off.

Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

it is toxic because the managers allow it.

The manager has said she has spoken to the nurses and yet the behavior continues. The next step, OP, is to note the offenders actions, as it sounds like it has continued. Once noted take this written info back to the manager. She will probably say something like, I already talked to them. Then you tell her that you really like it there and working with her and want to continue with this relationship, however the nurses 'behavior' are making that difficult...and ask HER what your next steps are.

Those next steps should include a meeting with you and the NM with HR to make your complaint. Once HR has the info they can do an investigation.

Remember you are not attacking the nurses you are trying to adjust their behavior.

Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

Harassment is against the law...and when HR gets involved they will pursue.

Harassment is not created equal. Per the GOV: Petty slights, annoyances, and isolated incidents (unless extremely serious) will not rise to the level of illegality. To be unlawful, the conduct must create a work environment that would be intimidating, hostile, or offensive to reasonable people.

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Moved to colleague relationship forum

Specializes in Hospice.

You have the "right" to pursue a hostile work environment complaint.

You have the "right" to quit the job.

That's about it, as far as legal "rights" are concerned.

If you have attempted to speak with you NM, who declines to do anything about it, I would go on your parent company's website and send a complaint to HR at a corporate level.

Remember, their personal opinion of you is none of your concern--who cares, let em think you are a witch or queen of the may. What is concerning is their bogus complaints on your work. Get . Make sure all your t's are crossed and your i's dotted. Otherwise, be sure that your documentation reflects what you are doing each shift.

Be sure that you are checking in with and keeping updated your charge nurse/shift supervisor. Most want to hear updates every few hours as to keep tabs on what is happening on the unit--if someone has had acute changes, that type of thing.

It stinks, and akin to junior high lunch table junk. Let them stew in their own juices, just be sure that whatever they may think or say regarding your work, your documentation and keeping your charge informed is reflective of your actual practice.

And thank your lucky stars that you are not related, friends with, have to socialize with these 2 outside of work.....

Specializes in hospice.

You could quit and tell the NM exactly why.

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