I work in a really really busy high-acuity unit, very large, too (60 beds)...and for the past year has been going through some major changes. I started last Sept as an RN, previously has been working on the floor and desk as support staff for 3 years. I do love the area I am in, and the work itself. It has been co-workers who have been my biggest challenge.
Back in Jan or so, a float aide during days "went off on me" in a patient room because I'd paged her about an incont pt. I told her to leave the room- it wasnt appropriate, ect. Later she grabbed my arm and tried pulling me into an empty room. I complained about that I was SOOOO upset.
I also complained about a new aide who didn't help at all and spent her time on the internet. The aide's mgr wanted me to have a 'mtg' with her, and thought it was a 'communication' problem, I said no, it wasnt a communication problem, that I was pointing this out, but that I would approach her and say I want things to go well for her and offer my help (I did and she rebuffed me rudely), so I let that go and got off days to avoid those people. I felt the mgr didnt believe me, and wouldnt do anything. Post script on this, now they know I was telling the truth as there are many more complaints about her.
Now night shift: Lots of new staff, they get pulled to sit alot, or arent there, and we have nothing. When we do have someone, they sigh, ect if there is any work to do. Because of the complaint regarding the aide who yelled at me, she told others and some began having an attitude.
There is an aide that transeferred to night, now at the desk, sho WAS in nsg school, now isnt, and she seems to want to think she runs the show at the desk/unit. She will be really short with me, and if I need her help with something, say changing a routine lab to stat, she will be like 'whattday want' if I call to the desk and say it's me. She also came to relieve a sitter once for my pt, who had had restraints on and now didnt need them, and began ying this pt up, and I said he didnt need them, and she said, he does if i am in the room, and i said no, he dosent need them, ect ( like a power struggle, What is that about, is it because she knew me before I was an RN?)
I believe she has gossiped to others, particularily the new people about me, and if the are walking in the halls, she and them will become silent and ignore me.
So I just tried to interact as little as possible, minimal, and they made me uncomfortable, so I felt tense...
Also, a new aide came to me at 11:05 asking for 'report' interupting me, and I said I wasnt ready, she later came to me and was rudely saying 'i dont appreciate that, ect'
Then the 'ringleader' said one time, oh, can i get report? oh you are too busy, arent you.
Another aide was sitting and we didnt have a floor ade and I literally was running the entire night. At the end of the night I said to her, can you empty the foley (I could see 200 or so cc's in the bag) she said I DID AN HOUR AGO'. I said can you lease do it again? (wanting shift totals. Apparently this was too much, but she did it.
Then the past few nights that aide was rude to a patient, long story, but it was becasue of the tension, i was in the room helping a wobbly pt back to bed (roommate) and she was supposed to get a weight on the other one, becaseu the paient didnt respond to her correctly she crumpled her paper and said 'thats it' and left. Next night I approacehed her and asked if there were something i can do to ease the tension btwn us "what tension?'. i told her the same pt needed a pre-surg shower at 0430. OR called and delayed it to 0630, family was there and offered to do it, i told aide-- who was in doorway-- thats okayfamily will do it and made a waving motion with my hand, like thats ok.
She later in the hall went off on me pointing in my face a ragefully yelling at me. *****
I went to mgr in a.m. and said thats it, I have had enough. I can pass meds, assess pts, but am not believed re: aides. I worked very hard for my degree, and lived on 1100/mos for years supporting my child to do it, ect.
Mgr said I am too sensitive, and 'let it go'. I said I need teamwork to work here, that they somehow dont like me, i am being scapegoated or something, and that they want to run the show. she told me to take a little birdie on the back of my head and have it chiro every time I get too sensitive. She said they invested a lot in me, that I am supposed to be a leader, and that I am a good nurse, and to hang in there, that she would take care of that end. She said I should work through problems, and that this is a good place to do it (BTW lots of RNs quit d/t stress here).
They seem to have a high opinion of the aide who pointed her finger in my face repeatedly, ragefully yelling, but to me that type of behavior is unnacceptable.
I like the ubit, but want to concentrate on my WORK, and devloping good relationships, not on DRAMA that the support staff in their bored lives are thriving on.
Should I just trnasfer or go to a diff hospital?
Another question: should I stay at this hospital/diff unit (and learn to love that area), or go to diff hosp (like the county hosp) and go to a station in the same area (because I love it.
Or stay and "work through" the tension/stress of these part group to aides? BTW when there is a float aide (exceptt for that one) or if I float, I get treated repsectfully, and as an RN.
Thanks for listenening.
