Tips for Nurses: Dealing With Annoying Coworkers

[queen777]

Wow. My first job sucked and it was totally because of the 2 charge nurses. They did nothing to help,but everything to try and mess with my mind. Finally another charge nurse from the floor above called me into the elevator one night and told me "if you don't quit or transfer Virginia will never leave you alone". I asked her why. Her response, "maybe it just how you look or how you dress." I also wore a lab coat. But it wasn't to look nice, I wore it for the pockets plus the little bit of protection it gave.

Finally one night I had to leave the floor with a new pt and women died. I lost my job. I must not have done anything too wrong though because I didn't lost my license.

Once I was really busy. A new practicing RN ask me to take baseline vitals before she started a transfusion. I came in the room to get them and she had already started the infusion. I got written up for tha! Another night it was because I let a man go to the restroom instead of using the bedside comode. He refused to use it! She said to when I got back to the desk, "Read this and sign it". I read it. But I didn't sign it. I told her what happened. She stated, "well you talked your way out of this one."

I finally went to the head nurse. She said she would talk with her.

But get this. After I lost my job one of the other nurses husband called my husband and filled him in how I was being treated and singled out.... that I was given the hardest pt's and the most pt's.

I thought to myself, I thought nursing was a "team effort"!

I would have done anything for those nurses. Why they were after me I have no idea.

I am not practicing at the moment, but its things like this that make me not want to return to nursing.

Even my dad used to call me his "little nurse." I loved nursing, but not at this price. It ruins and clutters the mind.

My last supervisor praised me above his RNs. So I was charge nurse of a subacute floor. Loved it!

[queen777]

Complainers: Sometimes, its a legitimate complaint. Sometimes people just need to blow off steam. I wouldn't let it get you down. Tattle tails: I think hospitals should get away from a punitive enviroment. Perhaps the problem is the system. If employees are afraid to report and worried about being told on or fear of punishment how can a faulty system ever be improved. Talk a Lots: Most likely anxiety about something. I would try to find out what is actually causing anxiety. Lazy Boss: It's hard to tell what the boss has going on. Some management books will tell you not to get too invovled with detail as a manager and lose site of the big picture. After all it is the charge nurses responsiblity to over see your entire station. If the charge nurse is too busy doing the staff nurses job they might not be able to give the needed attention to theirs.

Other than that good article, thanks for the advise.

My theory of a lazy boss is being them being in their position for so long that they just don't care anymore, and further more don't realize how laxity they have become over the years. Its a chronic thing.

[Simpleplan]

It's one thing a charge nurse busy with managerial duties and not helping on the floor and another singling out a nurse trying to get her to quit.

[queen777]

It's one thing a charge nurse busy with managerial duties and not helping on the floor and another singling out a nurse trying to get her to quit.

These nurses did nothing but sit at the nurses station and eat all night. They never helped anyone do anything.

[Simpleplan]

That could be, my question is why have a charge nurse position in the first place if they are expected to be tasked out as a staff nurse.

[Simpleplan]

These nurses did nothing but sit at the nurses station and eat all night. They never helped anyone do anything.

I think a charge nurse should help out when they can but it should not be something that is expected. I have been in manager positions before and have always tried to pitch in and help out in areas that needed attention. Often, I would run into employees who come to expect this. Some, the more I helped the less they did, and when a problem came up that needed a manager’s attention they would complain. It’s almost as if they thought a manager meant I was their personal assistant. When I came across employees like that I found it was best to stop helping them altogether.

[queen777]

I think a charge nurse should help out when they can but it should not be something that is expected. I have been in manager positions before and have always tried to pitch in and help out in areas that needed attention. Often, I would run into employees who come to expect this. Some, the more I helped the less they did, and when a problem came up that needed a manager’s attention they would complain. It’s almost as if they thought a manager meant I was their personal assistant. When I came across employees like that I found it was best to stop helping them altogether.

I think this was their thinking too, keep in mind I was brand new to this field at 38 yrs old, while each of them had over 60 years experience between them.

Anyway, one night another LPN told me no one could help me. But I had this big man who had stroked and I couldn't turn him all by myself, and I did strain my back. She said I will be down there in about 15 mins. Come on, this other nurse had to sneak to the room to help me? Then when I asked for an incident report she embarassed me in front of all of the other nurses by saying,"you have such a hard time with turning people, have you ever thought about working in a doctor's office?"

To me this was disrespectful on her part. I was a hard worker and loved it, but when things of this sort are constantly being said it wears on a person's mind.

I have been a charge nurse myself. I didn't demean my coworkers because to me that was exactly what they were, co workers which means we should all try to work together.

[Simpleplan]

I think you and I are on the same page argueing for the same thing. Essentially it comes down to people respecting one another and not taking advantage of fellow employees. I work with a handfull of "professionals" whose motto seems to be pass the buck and do as little as possible. This attitude makes the job so much harder for everyone. Even though they don't see it, it even make the job harder for those who are trying to be lazy. Teamwork is the answer. The key is to reward and incorperate those who are willing to help and are grateful for your help. Hopefully, more people will join in with this attitude and those select few individuals who are drawing a pay check will stand out.

[aloevera]

WONDERFUL ARTICLE.....AND SO TRUE......

As I read, each personality that you wrote about, I immediatedly could name the co-worker that I work with !!!!

I can handle the lazy charge, she doesn't bother me anymore....

I can handle the complainer, I just nod, mumbl and go about business...

But the incessant talker still gets to me...I get distracted because I hate to just ignore her. I have tried the "Are you through charting?" question but she just keeps on talking....about things I do not want to or care about hearing.!!!! Lately, I have had to walk away...but sometimes that is not possible....Thank you again for reminding me I am not alone in these battles.....Now, to make it worse, our new Supervisor is the "incessant talker" !!!! She has nthing to do but parade around with her clipboard and talk your ear off about things that have absolutely nothing to do with what you are doing !!!!! I am walking away from her, too....

[queen777]

I think you and I are on the same page argueing for the same thing. Essentially it comes down to people respecting one another and not taking advantage of fellow employees. I work with a handfull of "professionals" whose motto seems to be pass the buck and do as little as possible. This attitude makes the job so much harder for everyone. Even though they don't see it, it even make the job harder for those who are trying to be lazy. Teamwork is the answer. The key is to reward and incorperate those who are willing to help and are grateful for your help. Hopefully, more people will join in with this attitude and those select few individuals who are drawing a pay check will stand out.

I finally did get over loaded one night with too many pts and a elderly lady died. All I could think of was why didn't those lazy charge nurses go and check on her since I had to leave the floor with a new pt? (this was 11-7)

Anyway, it opened a brand new door for me. I went to agency work and I loved it. I not only made more money, but I became the charge nurse which I really enjoyed. And I learned so much more. Other nurses who have not tried working in nursing homes, let me just say they are not all the same. I enjoyed the subacute floors the best.

[smithl32]

Thumbs up! I will be an LPN graduate next week and during my clinicals I have seen these kind of nurses. I will always look at myself and work on not becoming one of them. Negativity is cancer to the soul.

[ysth83, LPN, LVN]

I don't think these 3 are the only "problem" co-workers you'd be able to encounter, but you were able to describe on the mark. :chuckle You're advise are a must in able to endure working with them, though.