Sick of getting treated like I can't do anything right!

DragonPurr · Mar 1, 2014

You have to step up for yourself. Just tell whoever is trying to intervene, "I've got this" in a confident manner and keep doing what you are doing. If people are running over you, you are letting them. It can be hard when you are new, but people will treat you how you let them treat you. Eventually, it will click.

vicky3131 · Mar 1, 2014

you are right! but I just hate confrontation but I guess I need to start speaking out for myself..

nursefrances, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2014

One of my favorite Eleanor Roosevelt quotes:

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

I was 19 when I first entered the medical field, in medical records. There was an older women in the department who was the same way with me. Later, I transferred to another department (not because of her) and was met by another coworker who was the same way. As I worked with her for some time I learned to speak up for myself.

One day I said something and she shook her head and snickered and said softly to herself, "That's stupid." I immediately came back (in a firm voice) with "I am NOT stupid." She apologized. I feel like my back bone finally developed at that moment.

To stand up for yourself you don't have to be rude (like them) or play their games. You can be kind and professional. You need to be sure of who you are.

You know who you are. :yes:

Don't let anyone tell you (or make you think) otherwise.

vicky3131 · Mar 1, 2014

Thank you very much for your advise nursefrances :)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2014

In nursing, as well as in other occupations, people tend to pick on the coworker who seems like an easy target (read: the person who will not stand up to others or defend oneself from being picked at).

Some coworkers are never picked on because they've made themselves too difficult of a target by reacting unpleasantly when anyone tries to patronize or mistreat them. You must stand up for yourself or people will continue to walk all over you. Good luck!

nynursey_ · Mar 1, 2014

You could also just ignore it and let her stew in her own misery. People like that love the attention of agitating people. Beat her at her own game and simply don't engage.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2014

If you want to make them really crazy, smile sweetly and say, "You may be right," or, "Thank you," and keep on doing exactly what you were doing.

vicky3131 · Mar 1, 2014

Thank you all!!!

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2014

If someone wanted to intervene on my conversation, I would just hand them the phone. I'm always busy anyway and have lots of other things to do.

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2014

Are you in an office/clinic setting?

MatrixRn · Mar 2, 2014

The trick is to make them own it.....

You said, "Anytime I am doing something even the simplest things such as sorting through faxes on of the nurses come and takes them off my hand and do it herself looking at me like I am doing it too slow.."When a job is taken from you, ask, "I see that you feel this can be done better, can you show me how?" She will probably say something snarkey about slow...blah, blah. Say 'Yes I understand, but can you show me YOUR way?'

Then later you modify and enhance....but that is later.

You said, "I cannot even make a phone call to a patient without having one of them trying to intervene on my conversation or making fun of my" Use the same as above, but for this I would say, "thank you for your feedback, and how do you complete this task."