I was just curious. I've been preparing myself mentally for those unforeseen moments when you get chewed out for no apparent reason. I have a rather tough skin but sometimes those remarks can cut you to the bone. I refuse to cry in front of others. I go home and take it out on my punching bag (poor hubby;)).
I was working nights as a CNA and I had just come on duty to get report. The CNA I was following was hurrying and trying to leave so she could go to the club with her boyfriend. I asked her about Mrs. So-and-So and she gave me a go to h*** look and said, "She's fine!!! What are you? Playing nurse? Get over yourself!! Night shift don't do S*** anyway!" I was stunned and just turned around and walked away. Mumbling obscenities all the way.:angryfire
Well, when I checked on this lady she had a complete brown ring and was sopping wet!!! Her bottom was bright red and starting to break down in places! I was furious. The next night I told this CNA what I found and that if she EVER dissed me like that again she would regret the day. You don't leave a resident like that!!! You're supposed to make your rounds and have people cleaned up! She hadn't been cleaned up for hours because her sheets were stained! :angryfire
Well, said CNA ended up getting fired a couple of weeks later, thank the Maker! During her last 2 weeks she gave report with no lip and was careful about what she said to me.
What has a doctor or co-worker said to you that just totally teed you off? How did you handle it? If you don't mind sharing
The unit where I work has three hallways extending from the nursing station, in about the shape of a "T". Just to be kind to one another it is normal practice to try to assign nurses to patients in the same corridor, but in no more than 2 corridors.
One day I came on to see my assignment was at the extreme far ends of all three corridors. When I questioned the assignment (like any other of the nurses would upon seeing an assignment like that), the nurse in charge who had made up the assignment sneered at me and, in front of all our colleagues from both shifts, said she wasn't going to change it, because "you could use the exercise, anyway".
I marched into the manager's office and told her what had just been said, and said that if the assignment was not changed immediately, I would be writing up the charge nurse for harassment and taking it up with Human Resources. I said that I do not come to work to "exercise", and that when and where I "exercise" is nobody's damn business. I am there to deliver patient care, just like any other nurse is supposed to be.
The manager agreed with me, and someone got taken down a couple of pegs for a few months while other people got to be in charge.
Just after I got my degree - 6 years of working full time, going to school part time - this one nurse said to me "I would go for my degree, but I have children".
Another time, when I stayed overtime to help cover a sick call she said "We are so lucky to have someone like you here. It doesn't matter if you stay late because you have no one at home waiting for you".
I've heard that thing too about the "if only I didn't have children...." yeah right. They shut up pretty fast when I tell them I went to school with 4 foster kids in the house, had to coordinate all of their and had to make sure they made it to all apts with home visits, therapy, school, social worker meetings, etc, etc, etc. And I worked.
Of course then school was "easy" for me because I had a previous degree (insert eye roll)
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
Honestly, in the 18 going on 19 years of my nursing career--I've had maybe only a couple of episodes that would count as completely inappropriate. The only response I've had always seem to work.
...."If you have a problem with me, perhaps a discussion with my lawyer will be better for you?"
Honestly, in the 18 going on 19 years of my nursing career--I've had maybe only a couple of episodes that would count as completely inappropriate. The only response I've had always seem to work.
...."If you have a problem with me, perhaps a discussion with my lawyer will be better for you?"
I've had so many mean things said to me in the workplace that I've lost track. But I can back track this for you. I was working a 2nd temporary job in the medical records department of a small hospital. I hated that job. I got so stressed one time that I hung up the phone on a doctor who kept asking me the same assinine questions over and over when I told him that I was new there and could get help for him but everyone was very busy at the time. I hung up on the man and guess what? He called back asking for my supervisor (who was another prick). So he asked who was it that hung up on the doctor. No one came forward. Finally they found out it was me and I lied to everyone saying that I clicked it off accidentally. I could tell by everyone's face that no one believed my lame story. I did get somewhat of a tongue lashing from the prick supervisor, but he never released me. As a matter of fact, when I tried to quit a few weeks later he called my temporary service and tried to talk them into making me stay. I think I got this treatment because someone he "knew" that I had a crush on him the whole time despite the fact that I found him difficult hence calling him prick. LOL LOL
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Tim said I "insulted" him by insinuating that he had done something foul to that cake. :lol2:
On the topic of doc temper fits, one of the OBs at a clinic I worked for, apparently something happened that did not meet with his favor, he proceeded to dismantle every piece of furniture in his office and throw it out in the hallway in a bonfire looking pile with metal chair legs protruding out of it. I think he was just finishing up with some bookcases as I walked by. :uhoh21: :uhoh21:
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
I still cannot understand why people think they can get away with bad behavior. It's not just about professionalism (definitely it is, but not just), it's not just about getting things done properly (we know that is true, of course)....it's about basic kindness to our neighbors. Treat others like you would be treated.
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
Just after I got my degree - 6 years of working full time, going to school part time - this one nurse said to me "I would go for my degree, but I have children".
Another time, when I stayed overtime to help cover a sick call she said "We are so lucky to have someone like you here. It doesn't matter if you stay late because you have no one at home waiting for you".
That's her very sad way to placing salve on her envious ego. I'm sorry she tried to make you feel bad. I'm sorry for her that her self-esteem is so low that she has to make people feel bad so she can feel good. So sad.
Not the meanest thing that was ever said to me, but the one that was meant to harass me. When I first graduated I worked at an ECF. Had a nurse call my home at 2:00am (I left at 11:30) to complain because I left 200cc of tube feed in a bag. If there was less than 250cc I should have taken it down and replaced it. I really don't know how I controlled my temper, because I am not usually that good at it. But I very kindly informed her that 200cc of fluid would last 4 hours at the currant rate, however if she thought that wasn't enough she should go to the DON. I also let her know that if she ever called my home at that hour again over something so trivial, rest assured I would call the DON. Never heard another word from her the rest of the time I worked there. I really don't think that I would be that nice now, must be getting crabbier as I am getting older.
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
Well, after 31 years of nursing people don't treat me that way much any more. I can usually stand up to just about everyone. I did have a run in with one of the nursing supervisors the other day about staffing for the night shift (I am the charge on 3-11). He and I went at it. He is no longer doing any supervisor work and I am still waiting to get my meeting set up with him via my manager so that I can discuss this little event. It is no big deal but I really want to tell this guy off.
One of the worst events was went I was working at a large inner city ER that saw about 400 patients per day. There was this medicine resident that I just did not get along with and he hated me as much as I hated him. He would follow me around the ER and we would be exchanging words. He backed me in the corner of a room once and I thought he was going to hit me but I got away from him. I headed for the restroom and he followed me in. About that time the chief resident came in and I told him that if he did not get that little bas____ off me I was going to flush his head down the toilet. He got him out of the bathroom and away from me. After that we just avoided each other as much as we could. I am not as hot tempered now as I was when I was younger.
:lol2:
HvnSntRN
89 Posts
The unit where I work has three hallways extending from the nursing station, in about the shape of a "T". Just to be kind to one another it is normal practice to try to assign nurses to patients in the same corridor, but in no more than 2 corridors.
One day I came on to see my assignment was at the extreme far ends of all three corridors. When I questioned the assignment (like any other of the nurses would upon seeing an assignment like that), the nurse in charge who had made up the assignment sneered at me and, in front of all our colleagues from both shifts, said she wasn't going to change it, because "you could use the exercise, anyway".
I marched into the manager's office and told her what had just been said, and said that if the assignment was not changed immediately, I would be writing up the charge nurse for harassment and taking it up with Human Resources. I said that I do not come to work to "exercise", and that when and where I "exercise" is nobody's damn business. I am there to deliver patient care, just like any other nurse is supposed to be.
The manager agreed with me, and someone got taken down a couple of pegs for a few months while other people got to be in charge.