RN bullying in the long term care setting

[lgail]

I've been a proud LPN for 15 years with most of that time being in long term care. I've worked with just about every type of nurse there is-the good, bad and lazy(you know the kind-who are only in it for the money). At my current job, we have mostly LPN's on staff-typical for long term care. Most of the RN's that are co-workers are excellent nurses and people who truly believe that it takes everyone in the health care setting to make sure that the elders we are trusted to take care of get the best quality care they possibly can. Unfortunately, we have one RN who has been 'weekend supervisor' for years who has a toxic attitude towards everyone who doesn't have a title of RN behind their name. She belittles everybody and everything they do if it doesn't measure up to her 'standards'. She never shows this side to management of course, but formal complaints have been filed against her.

She has recently actually accused a fellow nurse of stealing narcotics simply because they were placed in the wrong cart. (They were found and placed in the proper place.)

I know personally she has spoken to me like a dog to the point I was ready to walk out and tell her to shove it. I've heard horror stories from other staff she does the same to them. She honestly believes that EVERYONE without those two little letters behind their name is uneducated and unworthy of listening to, particularly when any aspect of patient care is concerned.

She bothers me in general, but what really sticks in my craw is the fact that she herself was an LPN prior to obtaining her RN, so she knows where we are coming from.

Has anybody else had a situation like this, and if so-how did you handle it? If she keeps it up, I have a feeling it will get physical and I won't be able to do anything about it except watch it and laugh at the fact that she is getting her just deserts.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

She is the one with the problem, not you. BUT you can control your response. If you are willing to be spoken to in such a manner that behavior will continue. It's one thing when an RN supervisor does not understand the scope of practice for the LPN's he/she is supervising, it's another when he/she actually speaks in a disrespectful manner. Everyone is worthy of respectful and polite interaction from their peers and supervisors , from the guy that empties the trash on up to the DON. The next time she speaks to you that way you take a deep breath and in your most even toned and professional voice inform her that her speaking to you in that manner is not appropriate, your goal is a good working relationship with her which will enhance your ability to provide the best care possible to the residents. Start documenting these interactions and report them up your chain of command.You don't raise your voice or walk out. You maintain a professional demeanor and attempt to problem solve. A person like this will eventually dig her own grave. In my experience this kind of nurse is so unsure of her own skills in her new role that she resorts to this bullying behavior to make herself feel better.Good luck

[lgail]

She and I have already had our go around and I replied just as you suggested...now it seems she is going for the ones she sees as "weak" and with no backbone, which leaves me as the go to person to deal with her. I've been in this field for 15 years and have never seen anyone as angry or bitter about life in general to the point it effects her work relations. She is obviously miserable in her life outside of work, and it is spilling over to her professional life. I have to work with her for the next two days starting tomorrow and am already cringing at the thought.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

That's exactly what a bully does-prey upon the weak. It's only my opinion but don't let her ruin your day and don't let your co-workers put you in the position of being the one to deal with her because they don't have the backbone to stand up to her in an adult professional manner. Don't take that responsibility-you have to worry about your self.

A company can not ignore an employee who creates a hostile work environment by bullying or horizontal violence. I've seen this so many times in LTC and if a few more employees stand up to this miserable person and complete the appropriate documentation and procede up the chain of command to report her something WILL change...It's karma...