What now?

MJB2010 · May 25, 2019

Go back to work. Keep your head down. It takes time to gain trust. Don’t let one incident ruin you. The other employees probably know this doctor is an *** if it’s true. Start looking for another job on the DL. It’s easier to find one when you have one.

JKL33 · May 25, 2019

Sounds like general discretion and discernment are in order, and I mean that in a neutral way, not as a slam.

You can help people and do what's right without getting in the middle of others' battles, and you can avoid essentially saying, "oh, please, may I have another helping?" when people lie and scheme and treat you terribly.

JKL33 · May 25, 2019

As an example, over time I have had many experiences of observing an interaction and later hearing someone’s retelling of it. Unless people use great care to be neutral in registering their complaints, the retelling may or may not bear resemblance to what I witnessed.

Secondly, I have not observed bedside staff being given the trust and authority necessary to do many of the service-recovery activities that would be ideal. Rather, there are too many critics with their own motives.

Therefore, my version of discretion and discernment for the sort of complaint scenario you describe has (for a long time now) been to immediately refer these things to someone who has been granted what I believe is the proper trust and authority required to handle them without sullying themselves in the process.

If a patient complains to me about anything in which I have no involvement, my response is always some version of, “Let me report your concern to [customer service/patient experience people/manager/supervisor]. They will want to speak with you about it.”

I never report anyone’s complaint itself - in order to prevent the exact result you have posted about. If I am asked what the nature of the complaint is, I say I didn’t get into the details. “They would like to speak to someone about a concern.” Period.

panurse9999 · May 25, 2019

Sounds like your run of the mill workplace that lied through their teeth to get you onboard with absolutely no respect for you as a human being, or as a nurse. Rings so familiar, and so frequent, that in my last interview in a piss poor nursing home, I stated in the interview, that if I am lied to in any way about what this job is going to be, I will leave, because I've done it before. Of course I NEVER heard from them again, but it saved me the waste of time of taking the job, and leaving 2 weeks later. My advice is to quit immediately. If not financially possible, look very hard for a new job. Not sure what the job market is like near you, its very bad near me.

About patient complaints ...I once worked in a toxic hospital, on a toxic unit, where a morbidly obese nurse who hated the world, actually went into my confused patient's room, and recruited her to complain about me. She harassed other nurses this way, and other ways, and yet, they continued to keep her on the unit. SMH.

panurse9999 · May 25, 2019

1 hour ago, JKL33 said:
Secondly, I have not observed bedside staff being given the trust and authority necessary to do many of the service-recovery activities that would be ideal. Rather, there are too many critics with their own motives.
Therefore, my version of discretion and discernment for the sort of complaint scenario you describe has (for a long time now) been to immediately refer these things to someone who has been granted what I believe is the proper trust and authority required to handle them without sullying themselves in the process.

I remember a service recovery issue that I handled in a hospital over an "NPO" order. Patient had raised the issue for 2 consecutive shifts, and nothing was done. I took my time, stayed at the bedside, and made phone call, after phone call to get to the bottom of it. I assured my patient that I was not leaving the room until I had an answer for her. It was drilled down to miscommunication between radiology and a surgeon. I was able to D/C the order and get her a tray. The beating I took from the surgeon over the phone was severe. I guess he thought I embarassed him. This is a damned if you do, and damned if you don't scenario, of a good deed never going unpunished. The doc should have thanked me for not blowing off what was his mistake. , but I digress.

40isthenew30 · May 26, 2019

Do you work on my unit? Sounds exactly like my new job. Lied lied lied to get me through the door. Changed the hours, days, and the darn unit. Ive tried to talk to the manager multiple times, she just keeps nodding and saying ok lets re visit this next week. Then she reschedules or does not show up. Just putting me off and stringing me along while using me to plug the holes on her craptastic schedule. I can see why the unit is short too, bunch of unwelcoming grumpy staff that is counting down the days to retirement. Can't even get a response to good morning.

panurse9999 · May 26, 2019

3 minutes ago, 40isthenew30 said:
Do you work on my unit? Sounds exactly like my new job. Lied lied lied to get me through the door. Changed the hours, days, and the darn unit. Ive trie3d to talk to the manager multiple times, she just keeps nodding and saying ok lets re visit this next week. Then she reschedules or does not show up. Just putting me off and stringing me along while using me to plug the holes on her craptastic schedule.

And if you quit, which you will, and I have because of this deceit on the way in the door, they will have your replacement lined up in less than an hour. Been there, done that. This behavior grows like miracle grow on weeds because we continue to put up with it day in and day out. They will never run out of nurses to hire, but they will get tired of replacing us week after week.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 27, 2019

I don't know where you are so no clue what the job market is like but there almost has to be something better than that! Hopefully your current employer isn't the only gig in town.

Crookshanks24 · May 27, 2019

12 minutes ago, kbrn2002 said:
I don't know where you are so no clue what the job market is like but there almost has to be something better than that! Hopefully your current employer isn't the only gig in town.

I live in a huge city where the commute is brutal. There is a ton of competition for any job that seems even remotely appealing. I cant seem to get any callbacks outside of the specialty I work in and I cant even do it anymore. I really need to try something new. I need a change badly. I am also noticing a trend of positions being posted with appealing hours and then they never turn out to be true. Both jobs I have had here were advertised as part time and both turned out to be full time only. I legit applied for every prn positon that is commutable. But my med surg experience seems to be too old. Im feeling a bit hopeless. Considering going back to school. Not sure for what though. Im even now looking at non nursing jobs.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 27, 2019

1 minute ago, Crookshanks24 said:
I live in a huge city where the commute is brutal. There is a ton of competition for any job that seems even remotely appealing. I cant seem to get any callbacks outside of the specialty I work in and I cant even do it anymore. I really need to try something new. I need a change badly. I am also noticing a trend of positions being posted with appealing hours and then they never turn out to be true. Both jobs I have had here were advertised as part time and both turned out to be full time only. I legit applied for every prn positon that is commutable. But my med surg experience seems to be too old. Im feeling a bit hopeless. Considering going back to school. Not sure for what though. Im even now looking at non nursing jobs.

Gosh, sorry to hear that. Are you adamant about staying in acute care or have you looked at options outside that?

Crookshanks24 · May 27, 2019

Just now, kbrn2002 said:
Gosh, sorry to hear that. Are you adamant about staying in acute care or have you looked at options outside that?

Im open to any area that is willing to train me at this point. The only thing I am afraid of is home health because of going into peoples homes alone and the brutal traffic going from place to place. I think I might like psych actually . Any other ares you can suggest.