Toxic Healthcare Personalities

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Recently, there was a discussion in this forum about know-it-all nurses, and it got me thinking about all the other kinds of toxic personalities we encounter in the healthcare setting. What is the worst toxic healthcare personality you have ever encountered?

:angryfire:bugeyes:

:yawn::madface::cry:

Specializes in critical care.

I agree about the complainers! They want to cry and moan but you better believe they don't have any solutions. Let alone try to help CHANGE the situation......CAT

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Interesting thread I must say. My favorite is when I was told that I get frustrated easily. Yes, I do. When I am busy with two sick patients and the new ICU nurse off orientation for well over 2 months is breathing down my neck asking me questions every 10 minutes asking me about basic nursing 101 stuff or stuff he should have learned from orientation. Yes, it gets frustrating especially when it's beginning to interfere with the care I need to give to MY patients. Sorry just venting..

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Specializes in ICU.

The nurse who comes in ten minutes early to change the assignment to what suits her the best,, and that is usually the easier patients,, and the less amt of patients,, then she goes to report and screws it all up by interupting you every fifteen seconds asking about something wayyy off base,, that I haven't covered yet.....

Then.... she insists that you do an order that was written at 7pm... (the time her shift starts) I think she did this to me to see if I fell for it.. Nope, mags didn't fall for this one. Even if it is an emergency,, if it is written while your standing here getting report, and it's YOU'RE shift, then you're gonna be doing it.... I'm not staying on your shift to do your work. Especially since this patient was here for the last two months and you already know everything about them... Don't pull that malarky on me.

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I hate ones that watch another nurse drown in work, sitting at the desk going "oh you are having a bad day" as they sip coffee while some poor soul is on ther third admit..Get up and help

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Specializes in ICU.
I hate ones that watch another nurse drown in work, sitting at the desk going "oh you are having a bad day" as they sip coffee while some poor soul is on ther third admit..Get up and help

Yeah, or the help hypocrite: "Can I help you with anything," they are always asking, but if you actually say, yes, they get an attitude. They just want to be seen as helpful, they don't want to actually be helpful.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
This is interesting. Can you elaborate? I had an incident once where I was in the right, but the only one who was a wittness to it didn't want to get involved.

That's exactly what I mean. Sorry it happened to you. Remember as Ann Landers said, "Time wounds all heels." ;)

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
Yeah, or the help hypocrite: "Can I help you with anything," they are always asking, but if you actually say, yes, they get an attitude. They just want to be seen as helpful, they don't want to actually be helpful.

I can't stand those types. I always end up thinking "why did I even bother to let them help?"....I also hate when people can't say please or thank you or you're welcome.

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These situations have brought back lots of memories, some good, some terrible, but each one a learning situation in some way or another. Like I always say, nursing is so demanding, you either love it or leave it. Blessings everyone.

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Specializes in ICU.
These situations have brought back lots of memories, some good, some terrible, but each one a learning situation in some way or another. Like I always say, nursing is so demanding, you either love it or leave it. Blessings everyone.

I agree, a person either loves it or should leave it. But how does one come to love it?

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I can't stand when you see a co worker busy and ask them if they would like some help. They say no. Then complain that no one asked them if they needed any help.

Or the one who you keep asking if they need any help, finally they do accept said offer of help and complain that you didn't do it their way. Fine then I wont help you anymore.

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Specializes in amb.care,mental health,geriatrics.

How about the ones who spend all their time working behind the scenes to create drama and bitterness by constant mean gossip and trying to turn one against another.

I agree with the poster who talked about those who will sit and watch someone else drowning. That always amazes me, and it happens a lot! I'm fortunate now, to be working in a small setting where all of us are really close and good friends, and everyone does work together as a team. And no one is hesitant to ask for help if they need it.

Which brings me to this one: people who DON'T and WON'T ask for any help but expect everyone to be mindreaders. I'm talking about the cases where no one is drinking coffee, everyone's working, so it's not a matter of anyone blatantly just not bothering to help...I'm talking about when people really are not aware that someone is in need and that person does not simply ask for some help, and then they get angry and resentful and no one can figure out why!!! Come on, folks, we gotta communicate.:twocents:

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My top six toxics....and by toxic, I mean the ones who drive the good ones away

--The NM who's forgotten the first word in her title is NURSE

--The "divide and conquer" manager -- tells one employee that another "doesn't find them to be a team player" or "has concerns about their quality of care" without specifics, but makes SURE to tell you who told her, so everybody starts squabbling. Everybody cliches up and starts fighting, nobody's watching management...

--The "Captain of the Titanic" manager -- you're yelling "ICEBURG DEAD AHEAD" and they're **** about the placement of the silverware in the dining room. We received a survey asking what management could do to help us provide better care, and my entire shift sat down and did them together -- and we all put, "hire additional nurses, get us functioning equipment (half our BP machines don't work), and get more IV and PEG equipment." The write up that management sent down? They will address our concerns over the paint job in the breakroom. WTH? I didn't even realize the breakroom is painted, I never have time to be in there....

(Yes! If the room was on fire, they'd be ******** about the dust on the furniture!- Val)

--"The snitch" -- to maintain her position as the "favorite", she will report any perceived infraction, and if she can't find enough, she'll make one up. My NM jumped me one morning because it was "reported" I left an insulin syringe on the pt's bed after administering insulin. I jumped her back, especially since that particular night, I HAD NO DIABETICS.....

--"The Driver" -- as in, the charge or NM who mistakes motion for progress, and activity for accomplishment. I don't care if you're on 50 committees, can you tell me ONE THING that has been accomplished? You talk about our customer satisfaction scores, have you noticed the bad nursing evaluation scores, as evidenced by 75% turnover in the last year?

And the worst...."Princess of the unobvious" -- the charge or NM who focuses on everything but what's important. This is the person who would walk past a code in progress, to complain about the furniture being thrown out of the room (to make room for the code cart), since furniture isn't supposed to be in the hallway...(actually saw this one, the MD on the scene told her to get the "H" out if she could spell "CODE"

:up::up::up::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeahthat:

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