Rude Coworkers

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Ok, so I work as a PCA. At one of my jobs, I've been having a problem with a particular nurse. At first, I thought it was just me (I can be very sensitive), but it turns out all the other night PCAs have a major issue with her. Last night, she was terribly rude, condescending, and I had just had enough.

Now normally I do not believe in "whistle blowing," but this nurse has been talked to by the other PCAs for her rude behavior. In fact, EVERY SINGLE night PCA states they don't like her or her attitude, and I have low tolerance for that behavior. In addition, an incident happened last night that I felt needed to be addressed. She was extremely disrespectful to a patient who had Alzheimer's and treated her like an insubordinate child, talking over her, and handled her very roughly. The patient was advanced in her Alzheimer's but I could converse with her and she understood somethings on certain levels. And even if she didn't, I still felt that she should be treated with respect and dignity. On top of that, she was incredibly disrespectful towards me in front of the patient. I bit my tongue, but I wanted to snap back.

At this point, I feel as though I should write an anonymous note to the nurse manager, as I am non-confrontational and don't want things between us to escalate. I think having a nurse manager sit down and talk to her about her crappy behavior might make her realize how others, particular her "subordinates", view her as a complete....yeah. Fill-in-the blank. I'm afraid that this may backfire and she will make this about the other PCAs, but she is the common denominator. EVERY SINGLE ONE of us can't stand her and the way she talks/treats her aides, but last night was the last straw for me.

Should I say something to my nurse manager? I would prefer to leave an anonymous note, but would that make me chicken/childish?

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

Anonymity will never get anything done. Time to be a big girl and go to the manager. Make sure the other PCAs are willing to back you up. Get statements in writing with their names. Start writing dates/times And actions/quotes. In addition be prepared for backlash. Stand strong. If she's in the wrong it will work out. I hate confrontation. I talk big game when I'm venting to my husband/friends but I HATE confrontation absolutely HATE it. Something I've had to learn to deal with over the years.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

[CodeteamB]

Anonymity will never get anything done. Time to be a big girl and go to the manager. Make sure the other PCAs are willing to back you up. Get statements in writing with their names. Start writing dates/times And actions/quotes. In addition be prepared for backlash. Stand strong. If she's in the wrong it will work out. I hate confrontation. I talk big game when I'm venting to my husband/friends but I HATE confrontation absolutely HATE it. Something I've had to learn to deal with over the years.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

Agree, an anonymous note is not cool, and not going to be taken seriously. If you are taking this to management you need to stand up and own the fact that you feel this co-worker needs to be reprimanded. I will go farther and say that you should really bring this up to the nurse as well, prior to speaking to management. A simple "please stop speaking to me that way" will do, but again, own your part in this conflict. It may be that this person is entirely in the wrong, but that's all the more reason to ensure that you do it right.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

anonymity is cowardly and won't get anything done. There will have to be specific scenarios esp if this nurse is smart. it might even be a he said she said. I rarely go to management because I see that often they are bff with the problem people.