The Drama Continues (long, sorry)

[HappyJaxRN]

Hi ya'll. What a wonderful day this is today! I hope everyone is happy, healthy, and having a great week so far.

Well, I had a horrible weekend on my TOXIC floor. My patients were fine. In fact, I had a breakthrough with one of them. Love it when we figure things out and you can be a part of that transforming process.

Everything was fine until my last (3rd) 12 hour shift in a row. I called the secretary to order rectal tube collection bags for me. The day time nurse used them all and I didn't have anything to replace the already half full bag. While I was busy with another patient, the team leader intercepted the call with the secretary and took a message. Not understanding what I was asking for, she approached me with a rectal tube kit and said with a cocky tone in her voice (normal for her), "WHEN YOU order this, this is how they come and..."

I interrupted her and said, "I know. I'm the one that put the tube in. I only need the collection bags, not the entire kit."

She told me where they come from and they are not stocked on the floor. I told her, nicely, that I knew all that and went through all this the night before. AND that the patient was getting it for free because we had no way to charge the patient for it. I repeated that all I needed was the collection bags. She walked away without saying anything. I didn't know that she was looking for the bags.

She came back to me about 15 minutes later and told me that she found the bags. I was happy and thanked her and asked her, "Where did you get them?" I was curious so that I wouldn't have to call everyone again and I could pass it on to the next nurse. My team leader suddenly copped and attitude. She answered me as she walked away from me. BTW: I'm HOH... Anyhoo, I didn't hear her and said, "What? Where did you get them from?" She answered me again with her face away from me as she was walking away. I asked her again and she walked back and said angerily, "I SAID ACROSS THE HALL." And pointed. I was not sure why she was so mad at me. I answered her, "Gee, I'm sorry. I can't read your mind." Okay. I shouldn't have said that but she was SOOOO rude. I was shocked that she got so mad at me. She storms back and yells at me and said, "I'm sick of your attitude."

I was shocked again. I looked at her funny. She pointed across the hallway like I was a child. I walked over there and her cliquey friends were in the room. She yells at me in front of all them saying that she is sick of my attitude and how I answered her. She was a foot from my face and in my personal space. I became defensive immediately and told her that she was rude as well. She said that she got the bags for me and I should be nicer to her. I thanked her for it. What was I supposed to do, take her usual abuse? No. I wasn't going to. Later I told her that if she wanted to yell at me, then she should do that away from the staff. She demanded that I apologize to her. Which I did. It was an amazing night.

The last straw was when I overheard one of the staff nurses (one of her buddies) telling the doctors and the PA's about the incident and only told the team leaders side of the story. She was talking so loud. I could hear it in the hallway. I did approach her and she flew off the handle at me. I thought the entire night was a night from *H*. I hate my floor. I'm not ashamed to admit it anymore and I plan on leaving. At this point, I don't care anymore where I go. I have another interview this week. I'm so happy. I hope I get this one. I'm beyond ready to leave.

:smiley_ab :chuckle

[Sis123]

Hi Happyjax,

Your co-worker sounds like she is going through the crabby perimenopause or menopause attitude deterioration. An blood estrogen level might be revealing.

I recognize this because I went through this myself for a period of time. She probably isn't happy being herself right now, either. Just be aware that *it isn't you* that are doing anything wrong. It's most likely that she's pissed off at everything and everyone these days.

Too bad she doesn't have a girlfriend to explain this to her. She doesn't have to suffer like this, and she doesn't have to make everyone else miserable, too.

hope this helps,

Sis

[HappyJaxRN]

Hi Happyjax,

Your co-worker sounds like she is going through the crabby perimenopause or menopause attitude deterioration. An blood estrogen level might be revealing.

I recognize this because I went through this myself for a period of time. She probably isn't happy being herself right now, either. Just be aware that *it isn't you* that are doing anything wrong. It's most likely that she's pissed off at everything and everyone these days.

Too bad she doesn't have a girlfriend to explain this to her. She doesn't have to suffer like this, and she doesn't have to make everyone else miserable, too.

hope this helps,

Sis

I would like to blame it on her hormones....Do you go through menopause for years? She has a reputation for being like this for years....I've only been there for a year. And although she's a pain in the hiney, I have to admit, she has actually become a little bit better. Another reason I was shocked at her behavior. I went to my NM and said that I have to leave. She asked me what happened. I told her basics and she told me that another nurse came to her that morning complaining about our floor and was seeking a transfer. So, it definitely is not just me and it's nice to see that the NM is realizing that this is a problem for the entire floor.

[Sis123]

Unfortunately, menopause is a process that can drag on for far too long. And that is for the patient's point of view, as well as everyone else's point of view.

I am glad that a co-worker also is requesting to leave, and most likely told a similar story to your NM. Hopefully now your NM will get to "the root of the problem."

Take care, and keep being the good nurse you are!

[HappyJaxRN]

Unfortunately, menopause is a process that can drag on for far too long. And that is for the patient's point of view, as well as everyone else's point of view.

I am glad that a co-worker also is requesting to leave, and most likely told a similar story to your NM. Hopefully now your NM will get to "the root of the problem."

Take care, and keep being the good nurse you are!

Thanks you. That was sweet. :)