What to do with a bothersome co-worker!

[SWEETNURSE1974]

I am having some major issues with a co-worker and don't know what to do! I started at my current facility a little over a year ago as lead RN in ICU. There are just 2 guys that work in the unit. One is a lead nurse on days and the other is a LPN, "Fred", that works nights with me. At first I got along fine with "Fred", but now he is constantly trying to pawn his work off on me because he's "just a LPN". Also, I feel that he tries to undermine my authority with some patients and other staff members. I've tried talking to him and our manager, but it doesn't seem to help. The house supervisors are having some trouble with him, too, but once again our manager seems to ignore the issues. I was recently told that nothing would be done to reprimand him, because he's gay and management is afraid that he will sue. Everyone could care less about his sexual orientation! We just want him to respect us as fellow nurses and his superiors. I, personally, want him to do his job and treat his patients with more diginity and compassion! What can I do?!?!?

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks Leslie. My point was to document and ignore the rumor that nothing is being done because of fear of a civil rights lawsuit. My point is also that the OP didn't specify who gave her this information, but that "she was told"

Another point I had was that this situation sounds like many others I have seen where management doesn't get involved in correcting a nurse. It happens all the time.

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

I look at this a little differently, perhaps because I was an LPN berfore I was an RN. I was snubbed and denigrated several times by RNs who told me I was not a nurse, "just a practical". And yet these same RNs would ask me for advice or help when they had problems. I will hazard a guess that Fred has gotten some of the same treatment. I would ask Fred what he means by being just an LPN, and let him know what he contributes as a part of the team, instead of laying in wait for him to screw up. And if you think he is undermining you, call him on it, away from patients of course. You are both adults, and ought to be able to communicate like adults. If he is doing something dangerous or illegal, of course you need to involve the manager. But if he is not pulling his weight, talk to him, not about him.