Reported to Manager; What do I do

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My nurse manager asked me to come into her office after my shift was done. She told me that I was reported by another staff member for not being a team player. She said that I'm not answering other nurses' call bell when I'm not busy. I work with some nurses that have horrible time management skills and they expect me to be their assistant because they are not caught up with charting. I do answer the bells, but I do not let myself get taken advantage of. I'm the youngest nurse, so the other nurses come to me to help bc "I should should enough energy." I didn't defend myself to my manager because I was too angry and I didn't want to be emotional. I just listened to her. Now I'm upset because the nurses on my shift are like a family. I work night shift and there is not many of us. I have confronted a few of them and I plan on talking to the rest of them. I feel that if someone has a problem with me, they should come to me and not go running to the boss. Am I doing the right thing?

Batman gave you good advice. The trick is to look busy, and most of the time it can be done. I am sorry for the age comment.

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Originally Posted by kharing

I wouldn't confront the other nurses since it most likely will create more tension and won't change anything for the better. When you are feeling up to it, write down your side of the story pointing out what really has been going on (keep it professional and positive) then schedule a meeting with the manager.

That is not confrontation it is communication and communication is what teams are built on, not sitting quietly and being passive aggressive about things and running back to the manager expecting them to fix the problem in some sort of a constructive manner (that won't happen).

I think it's a little hard not to come across as confrontational and even accusatory when you are basically asking a co-worker if they spoke to the manager and complained about you. Unless one has a real gift with words, that's how it comes across. I've been in situations where co-workers have gone around essentially asking if they were the one who "reported," "wrote up," "spoke to" the manager about them. Regardless of having not done anything, it does leave one feeling like they've been accused and defensive, wondering if they've been labeled guilty. It's aggressive and may come across as hostile. Chances are this complaint started with one person. Chances also are that one person who complained isn't going to admit it when confronted. Why alienate everyone on the off chance that one person will actually admit it. I think in this instance what kharing suggested about writing down a written response to the manager about this meeting is a much better course of action.

You know these little trips to the manager's office always left me speechless also. I think the boss always takes your silence for guilt but the thing is usually so much of a suprise. Like you say you are angry and it also makes you speechless. What I did learn to do since similar thing happened several times is have a prereheorificed speech for these instances. You are not alone. Here is my story that I have experienced. A certain nurse would take 3 smoke breaks in morning again in afternoon. Spent a good part of day yacking to friends and docs and fellow employees. All of a sudden she is running late at 3pm. Me who works ahead on everything and stays on top of everything is a bum because I won't stay and bail her out. I got called on carpet a couple of times about it. By the third time I had my speech all written and reheorificed. Manager got an ear full.

As oramar noted, most of us when confronted by managers by these situations are unprepared for it. I like how in the end she handled it.

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I'm of two minds on this. While I do think it's petty to run to the manager when they could simply ask for help instead, I do think that if you're not busy, as you say, you should help the other nurses out. If that means answering call lights, then so be it.

The really lousy thing about this is that sometimes it is the other staff's fault that they are running behind or are busier at certain times. I don't like the idea of a patient having to wait for something when I could answer their light and take care of it, but I really don't like being taken advantage of either. I have been pulled off my break to help give a bath for anither nurse and when I come out of the room from giving the bath, I see the nurse who I am helping come in from a smoke break. I've also been give an extra patient assignment becasue other nurses are behind when they have taken three smoke breaks and a meal break even though I haven't even had time to go to the bathroom. Yes, we need to work as a team. No, the patietns shouldn't have to suffer because their nurse is charting and another nurse won't answer their light, but nurses who are more efficient and use their time wisely shouldn't end with with a bigger load while other nurses don't pull their weight.

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Specializes in Rehab, Neuro, Travel Nurse, Home Care.

I want to thank everybody for their advice. I'm going to speak to my manger, now that I have cooled down. I will start to look busy, but I will help at times. Basically I will not be at the nursing station much during my downtime. It's such a shame that I thought everybody on my shift was kind of cool. Lesson learned that work is work and everybody isn't your friend just because they are real friendly to you.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Could it be that the person who reported you was being counseled for not doing their own work and their defense was that you don't help them? It would always be interesting to know "the rest of the story" when we are blindsided by a supervisor, yet most of the time we never do.

I've encountered co-workers in various careers whose strategy has been to make another person look bad to make themselves look better. Or if you are doing your job well and utilizing good time management skills, maybe someone is jealous.

You mentioned you thought your co-workers were kind of cool. Maybe it is just one person who has the issue - don't let one bad apple ruin the whole bushel and affect the team atmosphere.

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Something similar has just happened to me. I orientated an agency nurse to nights, she had already worked one shift by herself without being orientated, huge liability if you ask me, and then I came along, wondering why I hadn't been asked, and was told to come in and work the second and fourth nights with her. I showed her how to set up her cart for am rounds, what cleaning and organizing had to be done, which tube feeds to change and how much to add, what needed to faxed etc. and then I let her do her thing, was there for her if she had questions. The second night was pill night, when we receive our order from pharmacy and it must be checked against the MAR before being put in the cart. I did the majority of it, as they did not want a brand new casual to be responsible for it, but showed her how to do it, meanwhile she did the rest of the job. I thought everything went well.

Next thing you know, I was reported because she had told her supervisor with the agency that she was unsure what she was supposed to do, etc. ??????

Then I find out that some of the CNAs had reported me for not answering bells, which I find really odd, since the others that I work with always tell me that I do more with them than the other nurses. I used to be a CNA so I know how hard their job is.

Now they are trying to force me to come to a lynch meeting and get me to quit, so I've had to get the union involved and am so hurt and confused as to why this would happen after working 13 years in the same place. I always thought they liked working with me. They are also calling it "neglect" and threatening my license, and again, I can't believe it. I always thought of this workplace as a second home, and thought I would be there forever, or at least until I moved from this community.... now this.... :cry:

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We all need to think up stategies to deal with slacker co-workers whose idea of 'teamwork' is for others on the team to pick up their slack.

Ugh, so annoying. I finally learned to deal with it by taking my breaks. I got tired of not going on break because I would get myself behind helping others, who then got to go on their breaks. So I've learned, unless it's an emergency, I do MY work first, then take my break, then help others. Now of course if a buddy that's not a slacker is drowning for some reason, then I'll deviate to help them, but I now refuse to work my butt off so someone else can take their break.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

I had a nurse at peds clinical Thursday who, when I walked past the Nurses Station, said "Where have you been for the last half hour?? I *thought* you were supposed to be helping me with my patients!!"

Uh, hi. I'm the fella that just spent 60 minutes in your patient's room, bathing that 3 year old child who hadn't been offered a bath or a hairwash/comb in the 4 days she's been here. And sitting with her while her exhausted mother stepped into the shower. And assessing and restarting her occluded IV, so that the swelling might go down. And removing the filthy dressing from the IV. And changing those 4 day old tubings.

We've been here for an hour this morning...where have YOU been? OIC, find anything interesting there on Yahoo.com? Mind if I just go ahead and assess the other patients you have assigned to you this morning?

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Now they are trying to force me to come to a lynch meeting and get me to quit, so I've had to get the union involved and am so hurt and confused as to why this would happen after working 13 years in the same place. I always thought they liked working with me. They are also calling it "neglect" and threatening my license, and again, I can't believe it. I always thought of this workplace as a second home, and thought I would be there forever, or at least until I moved from this community.... now this.... :cry:

If you have been there 13 years without incidence something is definitely fishy here. I wonder if they are trying to get you out of there to replace you with cheaper nurses. Wouldn't be the first time.

I would RUN not walk out of there if they are threatening your license. While I think you are being totally railroaded and did nothing wrong if they want you out they will find a way to do it. Better to keep your license safe and move on to a new employer that will appreciate your professionalism and work ethic.

They want you to quit because they know you have done nothing wrong to fire you for. Sad thing is if they are desperate enough to get you out of there they just might set you up. I'm sorry this happened to you. Move on. You deserve better.

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I don't know what it could be, I don't think it's cheaper for them to get the agency nurse, as she is contracted with the agency and then gets a portion of the amt. She said she makes more for a night shift than I do. I DO think they had already committed to the agency, so may be out their $$ if I take the shifts back.

I still don't see the need for them to be so nasty. They know that I have taken another job anyway, so can do what they like with the shifts, I only wanted to stay on the casual list, as I have every other winter. I normally work there the most during the summer months.

I guess there is no nice way to get rid of someone, but they don't have to make things up and run my good name into the ground. The new manager is a former Jail employee, not sure what her role there was, but she is a social worker, and has absolutely no tact, is very in your face and bullying. I don't think she liked it that I refused to come to the first meeting that they lined up.

They have done this to a few CNAs recently too, for various reasons, and it's always the same, quit or we'll fire you and accuse you of xyz.

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Sorry this happened to you. Sounds like this place is attempting to get all new staff for a new manager. Never a good idea but it happens frequently. I would just hand in my notice. Down the road you will glad you did.

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I guess I am not understanding this because I don't feel I have done anything wrong, and for sure not anything that the other RNs haven't done or been worse about. I also don't understand how everyone just jumps on the bandwagon with management, I guess as long as it is not happening to them.....

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