Succeeding but feel kind of alone

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Specializes in Flight Nursing, Emergency, Forensics, SANE, Trauma.

So I've been in the ER for about 13 months. Before that I worked ICU for a year and volunteered as an EMT for about seven years. I personally have been a patient medically so many times, I feel like I can relate to my patients and was admitted as a teenager for psychiatric treatment due to a suicide attempt so I also feel like I can understand my psych patients' fears and concerns.

That being said.

Before I've been at my facility a year, I received four Daisy award nominations, completed my SANE And TCRN certifications, had numerous positive patient satisfaction surveys and press ganey mentions, and overall seemed very well liked by my patients. I feel like I'm thriving! I truly love what I do and it inspires me to work harder. My manager always stops me when she sees me and tells me how happy she is with my progress and my educator nominated me for a nurses' week award.

Now for the kicker.

I feel like because I am working so hard and I do garner patient satisfaction and managerial praise I am slowly alienating myself from my coworkers. I don't brag about it to them and honestly take criticism so much better than I do praise most times. I always do my best to help them as much as possible, thank them, and whenever I've been recognized I share the glory and redirect some of the attention on to my coworkers who have helped me.

I work 3p-3a so I work with day shifters and night shifters. Primarily it's the day shift crowd that song my praises-- I oriented with them and they taught me most of what I know about ER nursing. It's my night shift coworkers that make me feel iced out. It's so disheartening when my coworkers use my daisy award or patient satisfaction surveys as almost a jab. I don't know how-- but I'm almost embarrassed to have been recognized. I don't get it. And I don't know how to fix it.

I love all of the people I work with regardless of the shift I'm on (minus like 2) and I really do want to feel like I'm better accepted on my night shift portion of my shift. I do my best to play down my achievements so I don't upset anyone and share credit where credit is due. I do my best to be upbeat and positive and uplift people I work with.

Am I being that obnoxious coworker and doing something wrong? Anyone have suggestions with how to handle this?

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Specializes in ER.

It sounds like you are too Pollyanna for this group. They are probably jealous and annoyed.

ER nurses tend to be cynical and irreverent. Plus, some units or shifts are hopelessly cliquish. I worked with a vicious bunch at my last job on one night rotation. My ER manager was kind enough to grant my request not to be scheduled with them.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

A couple of things might be in play here.

1. At some point, it does become apparent when someone is likely to be moving up the chain, and this does separate you from other staff. You have to decide whether you're OK with this. Sometimes you have to decide what is more important - professional advancement, or being one of the crowd.

2. This is a generalization, but in my experience, night shift folks across the board tend not to be in love with management. Many people actively seek out night/weekend scheduling specifically for this reason.

3. Generalizing again ... but ER nurses as a whole are not a particularly demonstrative/emotive group. It comes with the territory.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

Hmmm. I kind of agree with the above posters. Is there a chance that you are seen as the teacher's pet? As in, "Be careful what you say in front of S-n-S because it will get back to the boss..."?

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Specializes in Flight Nursing, Emergency, Forensics, SANE, Trauma.
Hmmm. I kind of agree with the above posters. Is there a chance that you are seen as the teacher's pet? As in, "Be careful what you say in front of S-n-S because it will get back to the boss..."?

I don't think that's it. Because they complain about a lot of management stuff in front of me, if that was the case that would probably stop.

I kind of am at a loss. I don't need to be besties with everyone I work with. I kind of just want to be treated the same as anyone else without me having to sacrifice my patient care or education. The side comments about "the Daisy nurse" taking a particular patient is getting a little tiresome. There is one day shift girl in particular knows I won't turn someone down if they ask for help and uses my kindness to switch crappy patient assignments with me because "you'll be more patient with them"

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Be proud of your accomplishments! There is no need for you to compromise your excellent patient care and sense of professional ambition to satisfy others who are complacent. Keep being a leader. Perhaps you will be able to mentor in the future and pass along your skills to another.

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Specializes in ER.

I find the better you do in nursing, many women can't be happy for you. I would just do your job and gloss over your achievements, remain humble, they all know what you've done.

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Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.

I agree 100% with what the above posters said, from experience. I don't like talking much about my first nursing job, in my first ER as a nurse, and how I was treated. But suffice it to say, I know how you feel. This was not the same at every ER I worked, but the nature of the beast in very different in the ER versus other settings. I am sorry for your issues and proud to see such a rising star in the field. Keep your head up!

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I don't think that's it. Because they complain about a lot of management stuff in front of me, if that was the case that would probably stop.

I kind of am at a loss. I don't need to be besties with everyone I work with. I kind of just want to be treated the same as anyone else without me having to sacrifice my patient care or education. The side comments about "the Daisy nurse" taking a particular patient is getting a little tiresome. There is one day shift girl in particular knows I won't turn someone down if they ask for help and uses my kindness to switch crappy patient assignments with me because "you'll be more patient with them"

The devil with these jealous wenches and whatever the male equivalent of a wench is. You owe them nothing but common courtesy and to pull your own load. How dare you let them make you ashamed of yourself and of your achievements? how dare you let them use you and walk on you?

Believe me - if you fell and couldn't get up, they would not come to your aid. Just keep on doing your best. Someday you could be their boss and won't that be fun! This is work, not high school. You guys all need to grow up. Best wishes. And congrats on your achievements. What is a daisy award?

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

This is pure jealousy and what they are doing is cruel! As someone said already there are some people who cannot be happy for others. I have experienced this with one male nurse that is on our team who has gone out of his way to destroy and bully me because of his jealously. This is unacceptable behavior and you are going to have to deal with it. You need to confront each person that is doing this and do it in private and in a professional manner and let them know that you will no longer tolerate the comments and the behaviour. If you do not stick up for yourself the behavior is likely to to continue.Your goal is to stop the behavior because you are not going to change their insecuity and jealousy.Some people want the glory without doing the hard work and there is nothing wrong in letting them know they can achieve as well with some effort.You may want to offer sone study tips if you csn stand it and if they are willing to recognize what they are doing is wrong and just sour grapes.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I never went to work to make friends. Those friends I made are true; the ones who were rolling eyes (there were only a few) when I earned a new degree or achieved a new board cert can go take a long walk off a short pier. Those of us who are constantly seeking/achieving/learning/growing are kind of a slap in the face to those who are stagnant, a painful reminder that they are not growing or reaching. Don't take it personally, just be the best "you" that you can be. I am proud of you. :)

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Specializes in Flight Nursing, Emergency, Forensics, SANE, Trauma.

Thanks everyone for all the kind words. I think this will just be something that I will eventually develop a little thicker skin for at some point. I usually take criticism better than praise but in this particular case, it is just emotionally exhausting.

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