The LTC Wars...

[tiptip]

Granted I have only been a nurse since May 13th, 2008, I am now just recently starting off in another ltc after recently leaving another ltc (after completion of my 90 day probationary period,but I still remain employed prn). My issue is yes, again, another post about the backstabbing in ltc facilities. My new facility is very orgainized as far as paperwork which is one thing I absolutely love, but just yesterday I attended my first nurses meeting at this establisment. Of course the focus was on what was done wrong. A whole moment of 24hr checking was brought to the attention of the 11-7 nurses. I was basically a floater, but just recently I have been semi-assigned to a hall and cart which was once worked by a nurse (we will call her Barbara) who now decides to take the other halllway since I've started working there.

Here is the problem, when I orientated my one full day I was introduced to how a cart should not look, I was introduced to Barbara's cart. I was also introduced to how not to do things, I was introduced to a lot of errors caused by Barbara. The night following the meeting Barbara states to me that she looked behind me one day and noticed I missed a 24 check in a chart. When I asked her what chart, she could not recall. This made me realize she is one of those snitches and probe fault finding nurses. The thing that upsets me is that I have actually turned the once "Barbara's bad example" med cart into the "perfect, clean, dated, and up to date cart." I'm figuring she is not liking this fact, so she finds every little small thing I miss which is gonna happen, I'm not perfect to magnify it 10x to others. She also basically copies my actions, just yesterday I decided to disinfect and clean the cart big time, and thirty minutes later its like she thought of it herself. Then when morning shift comes in she speaks as if it is her idea. I never choose to speak about anything I do because I know it will be noticed. I'm just so mad right now. This lady also hates that I prove her wrong, for instance, you date the otc med as soon as you open them, she stated to me that even though you date when you open them you can still use them till the expiration date. She's been a nurse for 30+ years, me 3 months....and what's sad I gave her the benefit of the doubt when people spoke of her work ethic, now I am unable to look at her in any positive manner. Should I feel this way? I have to see Barbara again tommorow, and I really want to confront her, but I don't know how to do this professionally because I am so mad....:argue:

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

You might be allowing 'Barbara' to rent entirely too much space within your head. She seems like a petty person who is not worth the time, effort, or energy. The sad aspect of this whole situation is that she's probably losing no sleep over what she has done to you.

This is a sticky situation. If you confront her, she seems as if she's the type who would lie to management by telling them, "That new nurse threatened me!"

[tiptip]

And your probably right, it's just that I know more than 80% of my shifts I am going to be with Barbara, and I just don't want to go thru this every time I come onto shift feeling like I have to defend my work ethic, intelligence, and every other odd thing I realize I am accountted for that she will surely bring to my attention...thanks I am worrying about it too much...and she is probably at work doin it to the next nurse or sleep....:wtosts:

[skwlpn]

I had very similar experiences with a nurse in my first "real" job in LTC. The nurse who tormented me worked 5 weekday shifts (days) and would relieve me every Monday morning (30 minutes late for 2 years) and was somehow able to blame any of her problems during the entire week on "that new, ignorant nurse who works weekend nights".

This woman had been in her position for 10+ years and management was not interested in anything she was doing that was wrong, ie: my finding 4 day old dressing with her initials and the date that she signed off she had changed daily, her continual tardiness, huge med errors, etc.

She never took a written report (she knew everything about all the residents), would make coffee and toast while I attempted to give report and I would have to chase behind her after she was done making breakfast so that she could take "the rest of report in the courtyard". It was a disaster.

After the second or third report I made on serious problems and was ignored each time, I decided that the only thing I could do was document, document, document. Not necessarily in an accusatory way, but a fact based, cover your bottom, this is what I did and what happened during my shift type of daily "diary" careful not to violate HIPPA.

Otherwise, I stood my ground. I did MY job to the best of my abilities. Truth be told, management knows about everything you have just discovered about this woman. Your good work, rapport with your residents, great charting and good attitude speaks for itself.

When he was teaching me to drive and I would complain about someone tailgating me, my dad used to say, " you can only drive YOUR car." This is kind of the same. You can only run YOUR cart. Do it to the best of your ability and let her "expertise" roll off your back.

Once you decide that she is no longer going to affect your day you will be so much happier. And when she sees that she is not annoying you, she may stop since the "joy" will be taken out of her actions.

Hang in and do good work. You already know that your reward is not in accolades heaped on by others, but in the personal satisfaction of a job well done. I can't think of another profession where this is more true. Outwardly thankless and deeply, personally gratifying.

Love your job. Taking care of others is a noble business.

Stacey

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

As hard as it seems, continue to demonstrate professionalism and organization in the presence of the other workers and management. Deep down, they probably know who the real screw up is.