Why all the drama with nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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Argh, my friends, just argh! I'm getting home after my week of night shifts and I'm tired and frustrated. Oh, I love my job and that's not being sarcastic but why does nursing seem to attract all the drama queens? I'm just blowing off steam here and maybe I'll give you all a grin early to start your weekend: So, at the end of my shift my boss calls me and is angry. Seems the newest nurse hired to work a certain shift has decided she wants my shift instead. Due to the fact I went back to school this semester, that night shift works best for me - and is truly the shift I love! - my dad is terminally ill, etc...I told her I want to keep my shift. She blew over the phone telling me several not very nice things about my attitude and that she can't guarantee I would keep my shift. I asked why the new hire got to decide I would be the one getting the shift boot in the butt and how come she wasn't expected to work what she got hired to work. I had to work swing until 'my' night shift opened up. Guess that was the wrong thing to say. More choice comments followed. Now I'm tired as heck, typing this to blow off steam, and wondering why I seem to be the object of my boss's ire here. Hubby thinks the boss wants me to quit. Dog-gone it, though, I love this job. Guess I have to see what happens when I see the boss again. It's all clear as mud to me. I don't want to look for another job right now with school and stuff but I suppose I could if I have to. What happened to management appreciating an RN with a strong work ethic who wants to do the job she was assigned? Argh, again! Have a great weekend everyone!

Specializes in New Grad 2020.

Your boss is a douche. Now you love your job and your husband thinks they want you to quit. I'd wouldn't budge one bit.

I would be like a weed. A weed. I would just keep hanging out and sticking around. So I'm closing be a weed or herpes never leave make them more and more annoyed you didn't give in they are a bunch of losers

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Argh, my friends, just argh! I'm getting home after my week of night shifts and I'm tired and frustrated... Oh, I love my job... It's all clear as mud ... What happened to management appreciating an RN with a strong work ethic... Argh, again! Have a great weekend everyone!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]25828[/ATTACH] :inlove:
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When I first read your post I assumed that your husband was right and for what ever reason the writing was on the wall for you at this job and it was time to quit before you were fired. Your additional comments totally change my response. Having been Little Miss kumbayah at several different jobs over the years I can tell you that more you agree the more they will take attempt to advantage of you. I spent years with the shifts the others refused to take, the assignments that "were too hard" and being the one floated because the others would cry (seriously).

It seems that your manager thinks that you are an easy target. I really do know how hard it is to change this about yourself but for your own sake you need to continue to say "no" firmly to any and all unreasonable requests, it's the only way to make it stop. I'm thinking there are a number of other nurses on the same shift pattern as you that your manager wouldn't have dreamed of trying this with.

PREACH !! I wish I could " like" this 10,000 times. You are spot-on.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, RESEARCH, REHAB, HOME HEALTH, QUALITY.

"Managers don't need ammo. If they want somebody out, they will find a way to make it happen."

its called bullying...

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Specializes in HIV.

First of all, the moment my manager started yelling at me, I would've hung up on the *****.

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Specializes in PMHNP-BC.
Whenever anyone on this board relates a problem that happened at work, the first and most common response is "Quit!" Pretty much every time.

Lol....so true, but I pretty much quit whenever I get pissed off....It has worked for me so far but it drives my husband bonkers :)

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Personally I think quitting is a rational response if you are given the alternative of accepting the unacceptable or leaving. I think nurses owe it to themselves and other nurses to reject nonsense and move on if necessary. Nurses that suffer in silence or even worse moan constantly about their fate do nobody any good. Management has to feel pain of utilizing poor decision making. Where I work we have a history of getting mandated quite a bit. Its a busy ER and we staff for "normal" levels which are always lower and less acute than the rosy forecast placed forth by management. This leads to staff burnout and plenty of call-offs. So between over-crowding and call-offs its the rare day that somebody doesn't get mandated up to the limit of 16 hours. For a long time I simply accepted this as a fact of life & then I got sick of it. I created a "if you mandate me for 12 seconds I'll call off for 12 hours rule" which I told management about. Of course this created problems for management that they didn't want to deal with. The result? I get mandated a fraction of what I used to because when they tag me for 4 hours they know they are losing me for 12. They hate it but I'm well within my rights according to our collective bargaining agreement. Other nurses started doing this and now we have regular lists for voluntary OT which has greatly cut down on this problem. Nurses who need / want the extra money willingly fill these shifts well in advance to more realistic staffing levels. Nobody here is powerless. If you are fed a doggie doo sandwich you don't have to eat it. That's your choice.

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Specializes in Hematology-oncology.
This is similar to what I say when called by the Urgent Care where I work pool. "No, but thanks for thinking of me." No explanation...end of story.

Thank you Olddude and Nurse Beth for the good examples of what to say. I always feel like I need to rationalize why I can't switch shifts to my unit manager.

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Specializes in Gerontology.

You all are SO SMART! Thanks to all of you for the wonderful responses! See, I can't be objective from the inside but asking for help from all of you has made me see things differently. You're great! I'm going to work on being strong, gulp! I'm going to stand my ground, I'm going to be brief and not over-explain things. I'll let you know how things turn out. The big meeting is in two weeks and I'll know then. Thanks again:)

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Good Luck DogMom!!!

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If they want to find a way to get rid of you... they will. Stand your ground and you do not have to explain into detail why you cannot change that shift you have been working. The new hire cannot just take it away from you, but they can make it so hostile. It does not matter if you have obligations out of work and family stuff, etc. They don't care about that but about their convenience or need. I would not say quit, but if things take a turn for the worse make sure you have references that will vouch for you and quit if you have to. I think its your last resort by the way you are writing. There is something else I have learned, you do not have to be upfront of everything of your life and its okay to be firm, so you are not treated like a doormat. It doesn't mean you appear like you can't be approached but your have your boundaries and need some respect too.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I actually do NOT think they are trying to get rid of you. I think you have been a reliable good worker for a really long time, they are short handed, they have a nurse willing to work but only YOUR shift or that nurse is going to leave. I think they are assuming you aren't going to leave no matter what, so if they can just get you to switch, they have more staff all the way around.

Hold your ground. I can guarantee you that if they are hurting for staff the last thing they are going to be wanting to do is fire you. This is desperation.

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