I have read a couple of previous posts regarding incompetent and unstable coworkers. I have worked the night shift on a pediatric unit with this one other nurse for over 3 years now. She got her nursing license in 1980 and then practiced for a few years as a visiting nurse in Alaska. She then went into the corporate world until 2004. She took a refresher course and my NM hired her instantly to fill a void.
The problem is she has no recollection or retention of information. Every night she asks me a basic nursing question. She has asked me recently how to assess bowel sounds, she wanted the CNA to hang her meds and do her assessments, she did not know if a post inguinal hernia pt would have an incision!! This is only the tip of the iceberg. Her lack of knowledge is only compounded by her attitude. She was surly for years. She makes no effort to retain or learn nursing information.
Her attitude has recently become very manic. She is calling the unit at all hours to see what is going on, she has become very animated and uses loud foul language on the floor (it is a peds unit). She has a terrible temper and recently went off on a secretary to the point the witnessing nurses on day shift paged the manager out of a meeting. Unfortunately, the manager arrived after she was gone.
I have reported many instances to my manager and little is ever done. For some reason, she has a soft spot for this individual and does little to correct her behavior. On learning of the recent tirade she did on the secretary, my manager gave her 10 days off -- and since it is the holiday season, she got to be off her required holidays and have a lovely week off at a time the hospital restricts vacation. This is also paid time off.
Upon learning this I went to my manager and her manager with a documented list of this nurse's proffessional and employee lackings. She is chronically late for work and has not been giving meds because she said she was too busy at 5am, so the day shift could do it at 0730 or 0800. She was not busy and all my meds were given.
I know I now need to continue to document all her incidents. I do not know if any further action will be taken. But now I have to work with her when she returns later this week and I am sure she will have it out for me. I know she is aware many of the accusations came from me. I am nervous since it is just her and I on the night shift. What can I do?? I am nervous she will confront me in her raging anger and I am also worried she will just continue on her way without much repercussion since I don't think my manager wants to be bothered with filling this position. Should I leave or transfer?? Continue documenting or go higher up the chain-it is a large metropolitian city hospital?
