firefly49RN

I recently found out that a co-worker that i felt that i got along with,listened to her problems, helped her out at work as she easily gets upset with tense situations(we work a busy OR)made a petty complaint against me to our charge nurse that caused me some slight grief at work(it was just so petty).She does not know at present that I know it was her.I can't tell her about my different attitude towards her(I no longer "help her out") as i don't want to reveal who told me(don't want to get this person in trouble).She now constantly acts like a wounded puppy and gets "huffed" when i don't make things "easy" for her. My husband thinks she is jealous of me because i will be retiring in 2 yrs. She is much older than me and won't be able to retire until she is about 100yrs. old.How do i deal with this woman and keep it professional?

you are not alone, i have been a nures for 22 yrs and still have shifts like that.please get some counseling. no one at work has to know, that is your private business. take care of yourself, not just emotionally but physically.i was always one of those that thought i don't need no stinking counseling, i'm tough.well,live and learn,"to your ownself be true." if you don't take care of yourself ,how can you help anyone else. it's not selfish to take good care of yourself.i really emphasize the counseling.see if your hospital has a counseling service for employees. my hospital does and it was free.it felt good to yell,cuss, scream for a whole hour and it was all private,: i have a very brave and patient counselor(also a nurse).again it is your private business,not even your head nurse has any right to know.if you do have some type of panic disorder, again see your doctor, there is treatment for this.let me know how it's going.

you are singing to the choir. it's called manipulation.by nature i am not confrontational and would put up with"oh, you can do it."i finally got tired of knowing any patient greater thant 250lbs would automatically be my patient ,not to mention the physical strain.so i took a class on assertiveness and it changed my life.when i put into practice some of the things i learned in my workplace it was like majic,and i mean assertiveness not aggressiveness,no verbal sarcasm no matter how much they have it coming.the confused looks and open mouths on some of the more frequent manipulators was priceless.the mouse had roared-assertively speaking that is.my job got a lot better after that,less stress on myself because i finally stood up for myself and the sky didn't fall.assertiveness rules!:xmas_smilies_daz:

get your own lawyer!!!!! no lawyer can serve 2 masters.don't utter one word until you talk to your own attorney.any hospital management will sell out a nurse to save themselves.it 's cheaper to do this,.if they make a case that you did not follow hospital policy,they don't have to protect you with their lawyer.

the best advice i can give when you are told you will be written up,you are your best defense.don't get defensive, put the burden of proof on the accuser.make sure they are able to supply objective data on the infraction and also exactly what part of the policy and procedures manual you have not followed.be assertive, not aggressive, there is a difference.also no verbal sarcasm(this is considered verbal aggression)no matter how incredible stupid the accusation is;.be more professional than your accuser,don't cry, you can do that later.

unfortunately,i am the average age of the nurse in the us today--49,. the year 2010 will see a lot of changes in health care due to a mass exodus of nurses due to retirement alone.i worked the floors about 5 yrs. , the next 16 in critical care.at present i work in the or and have i found i sweet spot. after all those years in icu, this place is a piece of cake.for the first time i am working with nurses that have never worked anywhere but in the or.they think they have it bad,ha,ha,ha,etc.i don't even have to have acls anymore,anesthesia runs the codes.i highly recommend the or,had to learn a lot of new things but still not as stressful as icu, and as for the surgeons,simple, show no fear.most of them are full of it anyway,and i am usually taller than them anyway which helps from a psychological standpoint.just remember, any day is a great day when you aren't at work!

i am so burned out ,i'm toast.my retirement date is dec.1,2010.can't wait.right now i'm trying to save all my sick time so i can retire even earlier.anyone else outthere "toasted".would like to hear from you,nice to know i'm not the only one out there.how are you dealing with it?