Please advise me...workplace bullying and gossiping

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I am a new graduated licensed practical nurse. Have been employed by the hospital in acute care since October of 2014 as a casual employee. I have been subjected to ridicule and undermined in front of other nurses by this one individual. I have over-heard RNs talking about others in a hurtful manner and I am finding the workplace very depressing. This sort of behavior has affected me in a negative way as I am scared to ask for any help because of intimidation. I recently was diagnosed with ulcer and I am thinking I may be headed for depression. She has ridiculed me for my charting skills as I am a new grad and well not up to par as she is. She is involved with a clique that only accepts and treats others with more experience than myself with dignity and respect. I am at the point of not wanting to go into work and have isolated myself from the group. Because of this negative experience I feel it has isolated me from the team. I am a night-shift LPN and she is an RN. What I do after doing my charting while patients are asleep in between hourly breathing checks, I take a bedside table and park it in the dim hallway with a good book to read and just read not socializing with the clique..I don't know what else to do...please advise me

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If I was in your position, I'd go directly to the person and ask her nicely if she has a problem with me, tell her what I think our problem is. Yes, I think what she's doing is very unprofessional, since she's an RN, you have to look up to her and she has to look out to you, like being a big sis or brother, that RN should know that.

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You defiantly need to talk with this individual and let her know how you are being affected. Hopefully she is adult enough to realize it and rectify it. We all have a job to do and it's all for the better of our patients. If that doesn't work you need to speak with your supervisor. When there is tension and stress in the workplace patient care ultimately suffers. It is hard enough to leave ones personal problems at the door, but when it's happening at work it makes it that much harder. Good luck and keep us posted!!!!

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My question I have again, I am quiet by nature, perhaps do to my upbringing. And I feel more comfortable away from the clique as its quit toxic with the gossip and the backstabbing and always hearing who's better than her or her, I have witnessed RNS calling nurses retards ect ect...I know its antisocial sitting by myself with a book I enjoy to reading, but is it causing me more harm than good, cause when i am around the toxic individuals it makes it feel as though I am there a double shift as opposed to regular 12 hrs. I literally feel as though I am walking on egg shells.

is it so wrong of me to chose to sit away from all the negativity that only robs me of my true contentment and happiness..I honestly feel if i had known that nursing had included bullies as team players, I honestly feel I would have went into social work....we are all mature adults and work in a field of caring for others and that should include co workers as well

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I just always liked PEACE, and I have never confronted anyone to avoid conflict at all cost

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

I agree with one of the above posters, an RN should be professional and not act that way! I'd approach her like the previous poster said and talk out her issues. Trust me, you'll get some points for having the guts to be mature about it. I hope you can work it out because you don't deserve that one bit!! Take care dear!

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

If you felt insulted, you should've addressed her about it as soon as it fell out of her mouth.

I'm an introvert, as well. No one's going to defend you, for you.

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What were her exact words? You call it 'ridicule'. Meh. While she could be mean and rude it's just as likely that you're overly sensitive. I don't know you. Without context, whose to say?

If she's looking at your notes and discussing it with you, in the first place, that sounds like someone trying to help.

She knows that you're not as 'up to par' as she is; she's trying to get you to that point.

So...be receptive and apply it.

Again, I see someone trying to help out a 'newbie'.

"She has ridiculed me for my charting skills."

...and, apparently, she'd had to go out of her way to counsel you on your documentation more than once. What's that about? Maybe you need to get it together. Documentation is very important. You're in "acute care", so...yeah. Even more so. The first lesson you need to learn is how to document and CYA, properly.

I've got a question: How do you know that she's all cliqued up? You're PRN or pool (a 'casual employee' in 'acute care'). You're also NOCs. What do you really see ... on night shift?

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"I am at the point of not wanting to go into work and have isolated myself from the group."

Nah. You're a new hire and a new nurse (whose reluctant to ask for assistance). You're already isolated. LOL

I wouldn't worry about the 'other nurses'. You're going to sink yourself on that floor. >shrug

Good news is, you're on the best shift to self-ostracize. You probably wouldn't last on days or evenings with that attitude.

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I can understand the reluctance to ask for help. I currently work rehab and there are things that I've never done. I ask anyway, though. I don't care. I have a job to do and I need to do it well. I don't feel insecure. I've never worked with IVs, nephro tubes and such. Now, if I ask 3 and six times how to do 'this, that and the other' after it's been explained to me - after I've been shown? That's a problem. OF COURSE, I'd be talked about. LOL.

Beyond this, I mean - I don't feel insecure about asking for help on a new skill. We don't all have the same type of experience because we don't all work the same specialties. (duh) This should be common sense to every nurse.

...and it is, I think. No one's been "ugly" to me. The floor has a strange dynamic, all that I'll say about that. It can be an uneasy thing walking into a unit where everyone's rolling eyes and badmouthing one or two people. Thing is, the situation going around on the floor personal beefs existed far longer than I've been working there. I don't know the whole story so I'm not going to get all bothered about it.

I just put my head down and do my work. I offer to help when it's slow for me. If you behave like this on the floor, you won't have issues.

Anyway, people are going to gossip. Sometimes, there's a reason to badmouth another; sometimes, there isn't. I've talked about a nurse. Why? He routinely threw work back AND tried to hide falls. Tried to hide work. Once worked behind him and he threw an entire new admit back for me to do. He didn't touch it! I didn't know we had an admit until I was looking through the system and found it. So,next time that I worked behind him? I jumped him about it before I even rec'vd report. ...the hell with his feelings. He sucked on the floor. He was on my poop list from that day on.

Maybe whatever nurse they're talking about is a 'retard'. LOL Who said that a nurse couldn't be stupid... incompetent? LOL

There's one at the rehab facility where I work, right now! My first two days of orientation were delayed by an hour because she lost the keys. Yeah, both days. Second day, she got into with the unit manager (my preceptor) during report, arguing, because she slapped a dressing on a suture - then, she tried to blame it on the doctor for doing it! LOL

So, the unit manager was like, "How long have you been a nurse?"

This woman's been a nurse for 20 damned years. She's a RN, too!

The funniest thing about this entire exchange were the reactions of everyone else.

She said, "...20 years."

I cocked my head to the side to peer at her. The nurse who worked with her was standing across the nurse's station was looking at her with a furrowed brow. Another nurse in there for whatever reason cast a rather spectacular side-eye in her direction...and we were all giving each other the look. Unit manager was just looking at her, "C'mon on - let's finish this. No. No...who is on ABT? What's going on with Mr __. I'm not gonna let you vex me, today! Not today, Satan!"

LOL

Now, I don't talk about her. I don't talk about anyone. I stay silent when others do. When people ask me about her, I either shrug or try to take up for her, eg., "Well, maybe, she...'yknow --"

...and people flat out tell me to 'shut up trying to be nice'. LOL Whenever I work with her (I'm prn), I help her because we're both new hires (though she's been there a week longer) and she asks questions and whatnot because everyone else bites her head off. I don't make her feel stupid when she asks questions or 'doesn't know'.

...doesn't mean that I'm not thinking it. LOL Oh, I am.

Why lie? This is the internet. Truth is, she's a dingbat. She's about as 'dizzy' (black southern colloquialism) as the workday is long. Whenever I round that corner and see her face light up because she's happy to see that I'm working with her? I smile, masking curse words under my breath. Don't get me wrong - she's nice and likeable. I just want to be nice to her. But, whenever I have to work with her? I know that it's about to be a l...o...n...g *expletive* shift!

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Find something that you have a question about and approach her for help. Use this as a way to open up the lines of communication. You will be validating her "knowledge", and taking a step to breaking down the barrier. Even the nastiest of personalities can be positively affected by a well-intentioned 'thank you' for advice given.

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I really don't understand why people are so intimidated and afraid to defend themselves. You don't have to be confrontational, but if someone is attacking or demeaning you, speak up. Do so loudly and in a professional manner and let it be known that you will not tolerate the behavior and find it unacceptable. "Excuse me, you do not have the right to talk to me or about me this way, it's inappropriate. If you have a problem with my work let's discuss it with the Head Nurse."

That is typically all that needs to be said, to get folks attention and snap them out of unprofessional mode. People pick on those that they deem weaker and believe will not defend themselves. Prove them wrong.

If all else fails go to HR and file a complaint.

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Maybe whatever nurse they're talking about is a 'retard'. LOL Who said that a nurse couldn't be stupid... incompetent? LOL

Really? Don't cosign bad behavior. Last I checked, calling someone a "retard" is discrimination against special needs individuals. At any rate, it's unprofessional.

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Unfortunately, bullying in the workplace is with any profession . I think it's perfectly acceptable and great that you have found some solice in a book away from everybody. However, you can't go to work with distress and expect to be the best nurse you can be. Either address the issue head on or transfer to another department. Personally, it sounds like you would be doing all future employees a great service by putting an end to it. Maybe this person does this to all new employees or new grads!!!!!! Good luck

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Really? Don't cosign bad behavior. Last I checked, calling someone a "retard" is discrimination against special needs individuals. At any rate, it's unprofessional.

Its VERY unprofessional!

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