Staff nurses and their bad attitudes

Published

Specializes in Ortho/Med-surg.

Hi everyone. I have been a nurse a little over a year. My first hospital RN job had me commuting 60 miles one way, 3 times a week because I was determined to get the coveted hospital experience. I loved the hospital, the people, the unit and the hours but the commute was exhausting and the salary was less to be desired. After I hit the one year mark, I began to apply to hospitals closer to home. I was hired as a staff RN at a community hospital (similar to my first hospital) that was 20 minutes away and a significant salary increase.

I work full time nights and my co-workers are pleasant enough. My problem starts once the day shift rolls around. Keep in mind, my first RN job was a day position so I understand the dynamics of the shift. These nurses are the most rude and arrogant women I have dealt with. When giving report, they sigh and roll their eyes at you. They purposely question the most minuet information to try to trip you up. They love to write people up and they flat out gossip about you. I always leave in a bad mood because the last 30 minutes of my shift is just hell. It's been 2 months. The manager says, "Don't take it personally, that's how they are." It's my understanding that this type of attitude is the norm at the hospital. I want to stick it out as I am getting married and buying a house next fall. In addition to the great pay, I do not want to job hop as it will reflect negatively once I begin to look for a mortgage.

Any advice or suggestions on how to deal with this? At least for the next year.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Enjoy the first 12 hours, ignore the last 30 minutes until they actually start. Write out the things you want to say, refuse to be interrupted, just keep talking and giving report. If they interrupt, hold up your hand and keep talking. At the end, ask for questions with a smile. For questions, repeat, "I told you that..." and repeat exactly what you said to begin with unless its a legit question. For eye rolling and sighs, ask if they are feeling faint and need to stop? or shall we go on with report? Then keep talking.

If they can be "that's how they are", so can you: concise, calm, unflappable, solicitous and thorough.:yeah:

Sounds to me like your manager needs to sit in on report and control some of those behaviors herself, IMO.

Have a great time in that new house of yours!:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Spine, Neuro, Thoracic's, LTC.

Whoa! I had to read this twice to make sure that I hadn't written it myself!! I honestly thought this might have been an old post that I wrote a year ago! I have been in this EXACT situation, and I still don't have an answer. I have no idea why people have to act like this. Why make work miserable for themselves and everyone? Why can't people try to work together and make work an enjoyable place to be?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg.

When they interrupt, say "Excuse me for talking while you are interupting." Get a bottle of eyes drops and when they roll their eyes, hand them the bottle and say "Here, I think you need these." When they ask about something you already covered, say "If you had been listening instead of interrupting you would have heard me the first time." When the manager says "That just how they are" say "I'm not going to take it, thats just how I am."

Okay, the suggestions above are a trifle blunt. Unfortunately, the only thing that gets some people's attention is a big stick. One of the dayshifts that relieves us used to do this stuff. Now they get report, do the narc count, and we get out of there. It doesn't take long once they realize there is a limit to what you will put up with.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The type of behavior you have described has no place in a professional environment. I am in absolute agreement with some of the suggestions already provided for setting limits regarding how much of their foolishness you will allow. Once you take away their fun by consistently not providing the reaction they are seeking, they will, hopefully, decide that it isn't worth the effort.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......

ANY Manager that explains away her Nursing Staff's lack of professionalism, concern for the patients and just plain rude, crude and socially unaceptable behavior, is a sorry Manager at that. Seems to me you are trying to sitck it out so you can buy a home and not look like a job-hopper. Would it be worth feeling the dread and misery you are going through now? Belgarion's suggestions are worth giving a try: they stimulate my sense of smart-assedness. You also might try asking the bored/interupter/rude, "I'm sorry, am I boring you?" No one likes getting one between the eyes and after a very few uses, they aren't going to interrupt much anymore! You may pick up a new (secret) Nick Name or few, but NO ONE is going to mess with you, and your job gets easier.

Just my $.02

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So sorry you're going through this! I'm in nursing school, and I see how nasty these nurses can be! My friend was asking a question on how to feed an aspiration precaution... The nurse got super nasty, and as she was walking out, said, "I'm sure you know how to feed your bf though, right?". Totally uncalled for! Ignore, be grateful you're not on their shift, and make that money!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gastro, ICU - US nurse moved to UK.

These are examples of lateral violence. This is a link to a really good discussion and article had on this forum previously:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/lateral-violence-how-232873.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd say just about everybody that works with the public develops a bad attitude. I know I did, lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

As said previous enjoy the first part of you shift and ignore the latter with report. There's noting you can do because it sounds like their behavior is being backed up by management (how disgusting).

I had a similar experience at one job I had and I just ignored the ***** and was a literal robot during report. You can't play into their insecurities; it only fuels the fire. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in TELEMETRY.

My advice since I have worked days and nights and YES Day shift nurses have a MEAN streak. They will ususally treat Night shift bad becasue they think nights does nothing all night. I personally think night shift is harder because of the not sleeping and trying to stay awake. The workload is much easier. Anyway, the best way to deal with this is REALLY know your stuff and when then day shift make a mistake bring it up. Day shift will back down once they know you won't back down either.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

As someone who has worked both days and nights, I understand what you're going through. Sometimes night nurses can be just as mean as day nurses asking how come you didn't get the one stool when you got the urine and everything else for the patient. All I can say is don't play into their little game. I agree with the poster who said to be a total robot during report. They interrupt...I'd keep on talking just like I didn't hear them. When you're done talking, you can ask them if they have any questions. Or maybe before you give report announce that you give report by exception..so if it's normal you're not mentioning it...or write report before they come in...give them verbal report and tell them to look on the kardex to answer any questions and walk out. Either way, don't put up with their nonsense. Stand up for yourself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion