Stop calling me kid...

[SweetLemon]

I am to my knowledge the youngest nurse currently within my hospital, but went through all the same steps just like everyone else to become an RN. My dilemma: I currently work with another nurse who loves to go around calling me kid and giving me "learning experiences" ie. paperwork that he does not want to do. I am off orientation status and am currently supposedly to be working on my own. I love to learn new things and in feel very grateful to the nurses willing to share some of the things they have learned over the years. But this guy is driving me nuts, I find it submissive and rude!!! Am I out of line to call him on it. He is probably 40years older then I am with 10 more years nursing experience but I find his approach to be very dismissive and nasty and simply obnoxious. I have never had any of my supervisors treat me this way, why should I put up with it from a co-worker Am I overreacting,??I rarely have to work with this individual but ever time I do feel compelled to call him on being unprofessional.

[Jules A, MSN]

Hopefully he means well but I can understand why its annoying. If it is just his idea of sharing "pearls of wisdom" I'd listen because you never know when something valuable might come out. If however he is trying to get you to do work that is his I'd simply say, "thanks for thinking of me but I'm busy with my work right now" or "I have done XYZ several times and feel comfortable with it but thanks for thinking of me". Hopefully if he is trying to get you to do his work he will get the idea that it isn't going to fly and leave you alone. Good luck.

[SweetLemon]

In all honestly I think it is a bit of a combination of both. I think he does find it nice to hand over the stack of paperwork to me (that he does not want to do) as well as feels a need to share his words of wisdom. I know this is going to come off as terrible but I don't think he is the kind of nurse I want too much wisdom from. He is angry and cynical and nothing is ever done right unless it is done like he wants. I do not like how he treats his patients and find he has little patience for patient centered care. I am sure with his 10+ years of experience I could learn quite a bit from him but with his dismissive approach I find myself having a hard time simply being around him. Am I overacting??

[Jules A, MSN]

No you aren't over reacting! Its also to your credit that you are giving him the benefit of the doubt in that he might be trying to help in addition to getting some cheap labor. My thoughts would be to keep an open mind. As much as I hate to admit it there have been times when I have learned something valuable from someone who I thought was a total dope. With all his years of experience I'd guarantee there is something you can learn from him. Hang in there!

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

Jules gave you some good advice.

Why not turn it around on him? "Oh, thanks, I was hoping to get some more practice with that paperwork. But I'm totally comfortable passing meds, so why don't you pass mine while I work on this?" I can almost guarantee that will be the end of him wanting to "delegate" that stuff to you.

[StrwbryblndRN]

Tell him what you think in an appropriate and professional manner. I had to do the same and the nurse has more respect for me now. He would not give me "words of wisdom" but would ignore request for assistance and give half butt answers to my questions. Plus he would casually put his paperwork in front of me to see if I would be nice and do it for him.

Well the resolution was to call him on it everytime. Light hearted but sincere.

It worked.

This nurse is military male with 20 years experience to my 2 years. I do learn alot from him but now he give info willingly and completely.

[icyounurse, BSN, RN]

If you are off orientation with your own work load just like him, be frank and tell him that you are too busy to do his paperwork right now, but when you get caught up you'd be happy to help him if he's too behind. I would keep it short and sweet and leave it at that. When I was new I barely had time to get my own work done, much less someone else's. If you do his work for him and neglect your own you are setting a dangerous precedent.

[nikki.p]

If you haven't told him that you do not like to be called kid you need to. Just explain that you feel disrespected and hopefully it stops. If it doesn't stop kindly remind him again. I do mean kindly, you don't want to make any waves in the workplace. If it still doesn't stop, and it really bothers you that bad, talk to a supervisor. Also, I know that it is frustrating, but you should give him a little bit of time to get out of the habbit. Not months, but maybe a week or two. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[frellyou]

If he's calling you 'kid' I think that you're completely justified in calling him 'old man'. As in 'thanks old man, but I think I'll get enough practice with paperwork before my time's through!' If he can't take it, then he shouldn't give it.

[oramar]

If this person had called you "the kid" once or twice I would think perhaps you were over reacting. However, since it is persistent and is going on the same time as some other unacceptable behaviors I think it crosses over the line into harrassment and bullying. You can tell him to stop and refuse to be in the same room with him. If it does not die down you can go over his head.

[NurseCard, ADN]

Oh geez, I noticed you are in psych.... LOTS of paperwork there!!!! =)

I concur with other posters, just tell him "no thanks, I think I've got the hang of it, I don't need the extra practice!!!!!"

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

The way I would handle it would be by taking the bull by the horns: "Hey, tell me something, why do you call me 'kid' all the time?" I'd do it in a casual way so that it starts an unconfrontational conversation, he may even ask why you ask and whether it bothers you.

As for me, I would not mind it at all and probably would appreciate it, but I'm a male so maybe that's why I am different. I have my own issues about being called "sir" but that's a whole other story