Working with a vindictive coworker

Nurses General Nursing

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How do you protect yourself from a vindictive coworker? I am a nurse and there is a technician that is falsifying documentation on legal documents. They have been reported but the issue wasn't addressed. How do you work in such of a toxic environment? Would it be better if I left the environment and started over somewhere else? I really like my job and my other coworkers so it isn't an easy decision.

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What are they doing that is vindictive? Out of curiosity.

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.

If they are the one doing the "falsifying," then why do you need to be protected from anything?

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Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.

What information is this coworker "falsifying?"

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

In what way is this coworker vindictive, and how is the environment toxic?

What documentation is the tech falsifying, and how do you know it has not been addressed?

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What everyone else said: how is it vindictive, what does it have to do with you, and why are you so concerned about what they're doing if you're not the one falsifying documentation? Also, how do you know they're falsifying documentation?

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.

Before jumping to conclusion i would try to see what is really going on. It sounds as if i could be some miscommunication. Once the situation is escalated to higher authority it would only create more problems even for you.

If you have not personally done anything wrong i would not worry about. Cant aways wear a cape.

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I'm sorry for the late reply. I'm certainly not trying to wear a cape. I had to report the person because they crossed out some documentation on charting and said that I hadn't given a medication when I had. I had to protect myself and ended up having a meeting between this person with the manager- my goal wasn't to report it and I took the correct steps but it wasn't handled. I am watching myself very closely with this person because I know their true colors now. Sometimes we learn the hard way.

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What's the point of them crossing out your documentation and lying about a med administration? What's your manager's rationale for going along with it? I wouldn't be watching closely, I'd be leaving.

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Why should they leave when they are not the one causing the problem. I would be watching this person like a hawk though and would not trust them! How do you know it was not handled? Any corrective action or counseling must be kept private so you may not be privy to that information.Any reason for this person to be jealous of you or have a reason to get back at you or even the score?

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They should leave because they have a manager who hasn't done anything. If someone corrects my documentation, especially regarding medicine, and still has a job I'm gone! There is no corrective action, it's illegal. There is no counseling, it's illegal. I'm still unsure why someone is so uncouth that they changed another nurse's documentation on medication administration. That is no environment I would want to be in as it's not safe, and potentially hazardous to the patients and my livelihood. We're nurses, not FBI agents. Who has time to go to work and be on guard watching another uncouth coworker that should have been fired and management who lacks the common sense to do it?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

They should leave because ultimately the only person on this earth anyone can control is themselves. Other people at play in this situation have shown themselves to be unreliable to the point of legal risk. No sensible person would stay in that situation.

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