working in a hostile environment.

[happytobehere]

I work in a specialized unit I started as a new grad and have suffered for months with hostile coworkers. I love being a critical care nurse, but need a change.

I like the unit because I feel very close to my patients and their families I can be investigative.

Does any one absolutely love where they work and are not so bogged down that they rally can focus on pt. care?

thanks

[happytobehere]

banditrn,

I have spoken with the management a few times and even they are aware of the problems... do you know the best way to transfer without causing hostility because I ma positive I ma going to leave

thanks!

[happytobehere]

man your going to think i'm crazy but I don't know if it is a union hospital. Why would that make a difference?

[happytobehere]

this is the comment one of the other nurses let me know the tech was saying about me.... this is because I am a new nurse in a unit! WHY do morons have to speak! How can I go to work and not put gum in her hair:devil:? What should I say to her the next time she tries to tell me how to do my job, she does not even do her job but loves to boss me around because I am an new nurse!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i absolutely agree, but my concern is the amount of anxiety these people cause me, and the fear of being set up for failure. i honestly worry about not getting any help when i truly need it. that is a very scarry feeling when patients are the ones who will suffer.

the advice about giving it more time was good. you may transfer to another unit and have exactly the same problems there. it takes awhile to become a part of the team. give it a year or so, then think about transferring.

[cardsRN]

i'm actually in a similar situation. your worries about being set up are not off target. i worry about this too. look at the work in that unit and ask yourself if you think you can stick it out. if the work itself is not enjoyable to you, move on. transfer to another unit in the same hospital, in my experience, is pretty painless. if you want to do that i would not mess with talking to charge/preceptor. go right to your manager and be honest. tell her you do not feel it is a good fit for you. resist the temptation to talk about specific situations/trash people. i too feel like i am in a hostile situation with people who have been there waaaaaay too long. i'm not going to be able to change them. untill you make up your mind, just do extra cya documentation.

[ZootRN]

i'm actually in a similar situation. your worries about being set up are not off target. i worry about this too. look at the work in that unit and ask yourself if you think you can stick it out. if the work itself is not enjoyable to you, move on. transfer to another unit in the same hospital, in my experience, is pretty painless. if you want to do that i would not mess with talking to charge/preceptor. go right to your manager and be honest. tell her you do not feel it is a good fit for you. resist the temptation to talk about specific situations/trash people. i too feel like i am in a hostile situation with people who have been there waaaaaay too long. i'm not going to be able to change them. untill you make up your mind, just do extra cya documentation.

Good advice. I myself suffered from nasty coworkers for long 4 months, and finally went to the nursing manager, and transferred to different unit within the same hospital. Feels much better! It does not have to be a misery. I would not be able to stick it out and wait for a year, or prove myself, or whatever. Enough is enough. good luck to you.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I would not be able to stick it out and wait for a year, or prove myself, or whatever. Enough is enough.

Me either.

[Calgon-take.me.away]

I have been working LTCF most of my nursing career,,,and love every minute of it for the most part. I have been working agency for the past 9 years and just in the past month went on staff where I first was employed right out of Nursing School.

I have had my share of hostile environments for sure. Just recently, turned in 3 CNA for verbal abuse of a resident, and withstood 2 weeks of torture from all the CNA's at the faciltity. From being ignored to being threatened not to walk to my car by myself to being threatened that they were going to plant drugs on me. Left there and went job hunting. Came back to where I planted my roots, and have never been more secure in my decision.

[RNperdiem, RN]

Perhaps you could work a different shift in your same unit. If you really like the unit itself, give yourself a year, then decide if you want to stay.

[HillaryC, RN, CRNA]

I am so sorry to hear what you're going through. This is yet another example of nurses eating their young -- albeit an extreme one. I would not be able to put up with that, especially because it's causing you such anxiety. ICU nursing is stressful enough, without having to worry about hostile coworkers. Does your hospital have other ICUs? If so, have you heard anything about them? At my hospital we have several SICUs and each has its own reputation. I would definitely talk to your manager/head nurse and also go to human resources to see what jobs are listed. Regarding the union question -- you would probably know if it was a union facility (you'd have a contract, shop stewards, etc), so it's probably not.

If all else fails and you're unable to find another ICU in your hospital, there are many other hospitals out there that would love to have you -- though you might have to repeat your orientation because you're so new. The environment you're currently in sounds absolutely toxic. There are much better units out there.

Good luck!

I would love to transfer to another ICU but am unsure on how to do it, who do I ask without stepping on toes?

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

I would hesitate to ask "them" to transfer to another unit. If it is a hostile environment, you don't know what they are planning for you and I hate to say it, but I would not trust them, including those in management whom you have requested the transfer from. I would be actively looking for something else and keep your mind on how great it will be when you hand in your resignation. I know from personal experience how sweet that moment is, when they find out you have elsewhere to go and they will have to find another punching bag