Pattern of colleague harassment - what to do?

[jlynn2303]

I am not sure how to describe this, and am considering what to do. There is a nurse at our hospice who has a long history of coming into conflict with coworkers, filing complaints, and what is worse, saying that patients are complaining. Various nurses have left the agency because of her, others refuse to talk to her on the phone (which is how we report) unless someone else was also on the line, she has filed complaints against management, trashes the other nurses to each other and the doctors - I have never seen anything like it in all my days. She typically has a target, a particular nurse that she is going after and trying to get into trouble. She works weekends only, and we all dread Monday morning report. I have watched it go through one nurse after another. Well, apparently, it is my turn. What is even odder is that she told one of the aides that she thinks I am out to get her!?? I am not the one filing grievances. This other employee, who used to be very close to the nurse in question, went so far as to call her paranoid. She lied and said I refused to go out (fortunately, no one believed her) when she called me for a vigil. This was not true. What I said was 'let me know what you need' since I didn't know who else she had talked to.

I don't deal well with with people who are so vindictive and malicious. It always leaves me at a loss. Can't we just work together to take good care of our patients? Isn't this job stressful enough? I don't care to live that way, so it would never occur to me to do that to someone else. But now it is affecting my employment record. My question is this - she has now done this to so many nurses, surely a pattern could be proved? Wouldn't it be weird if there is one nurse involved in almost every single grievance or complaint over multiple years? I am kicking around the idea of consulting a lawyer, but am not even sure what this would be called. Everyone is afraid of this woman (including management - she files grievances on them as well), and multiple nurses have left the agency entirely because of her.

So, what kind of lawyer might address these questions? Labor? What is this called? Any input appreciated!

Thanks!

[monkeybug]

You feel like you are now the target, as I understand it. Go to management. If she has this reputation among the other nurses, management is usually aware. You can go in very calmly and discuss your concerns.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

So, what kind of lawyer might address these questions? Labor? What is this called? Any input appreciated!

If you wish to consult with an attorney, find one that specializes in labor laws. Unfortunately the membership cannot provide legal advice per our terms of service. I wish you the best of luck with this frustrating situation.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Being a jerk unfortunately isn't against the law. If the managers are willing to put up with her behavior and she is within policy, and isn't breaking any laws other than the laws of decency.....you are stuck. You can approach management and HR and see what they say.....

I wish you the best.

[Nurse2BeInGA]

Maybe there's an attorney who could give you a free consult. Some do, and some don't. Contact your state and/or national professional organization, if you are a member, and see if they have anyone to recommend.