Opinion, WWYD?

[beeker]

I am a fairly new nurse, but can't help but want to speak up when I see something unfair. I am rather annoyed with something that goes on regularly on my floor. We have one nurse, lets call her Nurse K. She has worked on the floor for 3 years. She refuses to float. They tell her it is her turn, she throws a tantrum, they move on to the next person and that person gets stuck with the float. Why Nurse K doesn't get in trouble or stay at the top of the list, I have no clue. Nurse K also refuses admissions regularly. Some nights we will all have 5 or 6 patients, and get a 7 when she still has 4. She refuses to take an admission, they move on to the next person in line. No way in heck am I taking 6 or 7 while she has 4. Why does she always get a walk in the park? Bad behavior should not be rewarded. Last night this is what happened. She started with 4, we all started with 5. She gets an admission, refuses, they try to give it to me. I said no. They moved on and gave it to the next person. Eventually we all had an admission and I did accept one and go up to 6 and people started getting 7, while she had 4 and was sitting around. I spoke with the charge nurse and she explained that they are all sick of fighting with her, she has been reported for all of her refusals and behavior but if our manager chooses not to do anything, it is out of their hands. This is obviously a non union facility. But she always has the nice easy small assignment while we run around like fools with a higher patient load. No one wants to work with her. People talk, and people notice. But she has been doing this for 3 years, obviously it is not going to stop.

Would you speak up? Or would you just start refusing to float and take admissions while working with her? Unless we all do it, it is not going to accomplish anything.

[missladyrn]

Ok that is infuriating!!!!!! That being said, since you are new, I would lay low and keep under the radar. I know I would want to speak up, but if the newbie is the one to do it, they often don't last long. Protect yourself, if this has been going on that long, it is doubtful anything will come of complaining. Strength in numbers. Unless everyone sticks to their guns and refuses, you will accomplish little other than identifying yourself as a troublemaker.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Don't be so hard on her. She's probably very tired from all the sexual favors she's been doing to keep her lazy butt employed!

[WildOne]

Don't be so hard on her. She's probably very tired from all the sexual favors she's been doing to keep her lazy butt employed!

Hahahahahahaha!

[RockinChick66]

Maybe during her peer review something can be said. I'd be very hissed off too! Wow. Wish I could refuse admissions on my floor. That will be when pigs can fly.

[Nursetastic]

Refuse to float? Go home as a call-in, it's against your record and you can't use PTO. Eventually you will refuse your way out the door permanently. The occasional refused admission due to safety is understandable. Continued refusal? You better bring a medical excuse as to why you can't tolerate more than 4 patients. If it is not medical, suck it up or find another job due to inability to meet job requirements.

[chihuahuaman]

Your co-worker has a really sweet deal there! She's got the power!

[MunoRN, RN]

...This is obviously a non union facility...

Actually up until you said this I would have assumed this was a union facility, in my experience one the downsides to unions is they protect Nurses like this at the expense of everyone else (including patients).

[missladyrn]

Actually up until you said this I would have assumed this was a union facility, in my experience one the downsides to unions is they protect Nurses like this at the expense of everyone else (including patients).

And I read it to mean, there is no obvious system of "fairness" set up, or ability to grieve.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

I agree to take this on as a new employee is not what I would do. Obviously, the problem was occurring long before you got there. I would definitely bring it up in a staff meeting and try to get some support from the other RNs..sometimes others are afraid to speak up..but then..someone finally does and others chime in too. When many complain about the same problem that s when a manager will finally be forced to look at a problem.

This nurse is such a manipulator and complainer its just easier to be controlled by her..that's really unfair to all the others working their butts off so she can be on easy street all the time.

A more covert way to deal with it..is to fill out an occurrence report anomalously EVEY TIME something like this happens...the manger will eventually have to explain why his occurring and will have to fix it less they look like a BAD manager. I have learned that if you fill out an occurrence report about the same topic....something always gets done.

[beeker]

Actually up until you said this I would have assumed this was a union facility, in my experience one the downsides to unions is they protect Nurses like this at the expense of everyone else (including patients).

Did I miss your advice, or did you somehow wish to my question into your own union/nonunion debate? There is a forum for that if you feel the need.

[beeker]

It is just going to be really hard to keep quiet knowing the ridiculousness of it. I think for now, when working with this other person, I will continue to refuse an admit until they have a fair patient load. If I am called to the office, which seems unlikely from what I have seen on my floor, I will explain my stance. I simply do not think I can ignore it. Floating terrifies me still, no way am I going if this nurse doesn't have to. I think my manager has a " as long as it doesn't bother me" policy, she ignores all the problems. That is what I have seen so far. It is hard to be taken advantage of and watch others be taken advantage of. I can't help but wonder who Nurse K must be related to in order to get away with this garbage.

I like the idea of occurrence reports. Of course with 7 patients Ill have no time for those, but some things we make time for.