Workplace bully at first RN job

Nurses Career Support

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  1. should I start trying to find someone else to work?

    • 5
      Yes
    • 4
      No
    • 0
      Hang in and see if anything changes

9 members have participated

Hey guys! So I need some advice.

I have a problem. I am a new grad in a not so ideal work enviroment. At first I loveddddd my job. Its a night tele position at a smaller hospital. The reason I chose this hospital over the larger ones in my city is because I had heard good things about it over the yrs, the staff seemed friendly, management seemed approachable and genuine, closest to my home (only 10 mins away) and most of all- I could get a really good grounded nursing foundation from which to grow. I recently have been experiencing some trouble with my CNAs however since I moved to dayshift about 2 weeks ago. There are two in particular who are AWEFUL. The are beyond rude, do not respond to their pager, when asked anything (even a simple yes/no question they tell me "your not going to make it on dayshift if you keep bothering my nerves." They chart baths that were never given. My pts have been asking me if We even have aids to help b/c I am doing the linen/diaper changes and helping to bathroom each time. I cant even ask them to get me a pudding cup or pitcher of water without either being ignored or talked down

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... talked down on. My breaking point was when the aid (finally, 5 hours later) went to give my patient a bath but not without a hateful remark. She said to the secretary "going clean up this patient who can turn themselves b/c some of these nurses are afraid to change diapers." Excuse me, but no. I've been doing EVERYTHING on my own for the past couple weeks. I'm leaving my shift 2 hrs late just bc I dont get to chart during my shift due to me having to stop giving meds and following new doctor orders to address concerns they can be helping with. They disappear in the morning, take 1 hr lunch periods (i dont even get to take a lunch). Im getting burnt out and the comments they are making are breaking my spirits. I talked to house sup last week and he said he would handle it and nothing changed. It just got worse. My charge nurses are experiencing the same issues minus the rude comments bc they have authority and have been there longer. They have sent emails to management and nothing has changed. I messaged my manager yesterday and she scheduled a meeting with me. I dont wanna leave this job with only 6 months tele experience. I really wanted to try to make it to the YEAR mark but i dont think I can stick it out. I feel like my 6 months experience will go to waste and then the new hiring manager at other potential jobs will wonder whats wrong with me. I just cant do everything anymore. Dont get paid two salaries anyway. Help. What should I do?

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Stop talking and start writing! If you keep talking it never happened or they will say that. I suggest when approaching management about it, reinforce the patient care aspect so as not to appear as though you all are having a simple personality conflict.

And I'm confused, are you saying management has a problem with them too or management is immune to their antics since they've been there longer?

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It's difficult when you don't have the confidence to stand up for yourself but that is what you have to do. You wouldn't allow them to talk to a patient(a stranger) like this then why allow them to talk to you like that. Just stand up and say "that is uncalled for and I won't tolerate it" stand your ground and keep records of everything that is happening, dates, times and quotations. Start now and try to write down everything that has happened and when. Then as a group you should come up with a plan to get rid of these two lazy mean butts. You know down deep they won't change. You should approach this on how it affects teamwork, morale and patient care. Not on how it affects you personally, a lot of supervisors don't give a hoot about feelings. Remember you are taking this before " a judge" so have all your facts in place.

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Charge nurses are getting fed up bc of short staffing and the CNAs we do have on day shift are not pulling their weight. The management knows that their is lack of teamwork unit lately but they are blaming it on a high census and unscheduled call-ins. We are all stressed out. We are working with 2 floor nurses, one charge, and one CNA each shift. 17 bed tele unit and The nurses are having to do total care while having 6 patients each. (Charge having 5) i am understanding that one CNA per 17 patients is tough work so i offer my help even when i dont have time. This particular CNA doesnt want me to "help" however. She only wants me to "do it by myself" and leave her alone for the day. I catch her taking hr breaks multiple times a day. Its ridiculous while im drowning in the work i have to do. Shes been there longer and we are already short staffed so i know they wont fire her. Ill just get blamed for being poor at time management skills-which is not the case.

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This is coming form a former manager and director. With years of Gallup and Studor training. You must make your charge nurse and your immediate management aware of this environment immediately. I would check for a policy or a position statement lateral violence (which is what you are describing) and is considered to be a sentinel event by the Joint Commission, I understand that CNAs have a very difficult and thankless job. It is difficult to hire good CNAs even tougher to get great CNAs. When fast food pays more and is less demanding. But that does not excuse poor or disruptive work-ethic. Your management team must set the expectation and make every employee rise to this expectation. If not; then yes you should probably start a search for new opportunity.

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Charge nurses are getting fed up bc of short staffing and the CNAs we do have on day shift are not pulling their weight. The management knows that their is lack of teamwork unit lately but they are blaming it on a high census and unscheduled call-ins. We are all stressed out. We are working with 2 floor nurses, one charge, and one CNA each shift. 17 bed tele unit and The nurses are having to do total care while having 6 patients each. (Charge having 5) i am understanding that one CNA per 17 patients is tough work so i offer my help even when i dont have time. This particular CNA doesnt want me to "help" however. She only wants me to "do it by myself" and leave her alone for the day. I catch her taking hr breaks multiple times a day. Its ridiculous while im drowning in the work i have to do. Shes been there longer and we are already short staffed so i know they wont fire her. Ill just get blamed for being poor at time management skills-which is not the case.

See that's the problem. There's a difference between helping and just outright doing someone else's work. You have one job, not two titles and you don't get two paychecks. I understand wanting to take care of the patient but (not to sound arrogant) you can do CNA duties, she can't do nursing duties. While you're doing her work, your own is suffering. Sometimes you have to help after your own duties are completed. If you keep doing her job it won't ever be a problem but you're risking burnout from selling yourself short.

As the other person said, keep a journal of her antics and put your foot down. You can get your point across with them without being hateful. It's easier to replace a CNA than it is a nurse. The charge nurses don't want to pick up the slack on nursing so they'll get it together when they realize you'd rather leave than put up with mess.

I suggest you approach them one more time to fix it and if they do nothing or the behavior doesn't change, get her told yourself. When she complains about you they'll know you were fed up and they did nothing.

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Specializes in NICU.

Bullying by some CNA s is every hospitals dirty little secret. They know about it but for various reasons look the other way. You can ask nicely upfront but if they still do not follow through you have to take the next step,do you really want that hassle ?Because they will try to get you back.They feel protected and untouchable,so it is up to you to decide what your work situation will be like.

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You are right about them trying to get me back. As if the job hasnt been bad enough already- now if i go to management about it- i look like i tattled on them and they will def be out to get me as a new nurse. And im still learning! You dont think that other places will look down on just 6 months experience? I worry bc the company i work for monopolizes most of the city- other bigger trauma hospitals in the area are owned by them. Im afraid im really doing myself in by quitting this company so early in my career if i plan on living in this area for a long time.

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This is coming form a former manager and director. With years of Gallup and Studor training. You must make your charge nurse and your immediate management aware of this environment immediately. I would check for a policy or a position statement lateral violence (which is what you are describing) and is considered to be a sentinel event by the Joint Commission, I understand that CNAs have a very difficult and thankless job. It is difficult to hire good CNAs even tougher to get great CNAs. When fast food pays more and is less demanding. But that does not excuse poor or disruptive work-ethic. Your management team must set the expectation and make every employee rise to this expectation. If not; then yes you should probably start a search for new opportunity.

Thanks for the advice. I didnt think about checking the hospital's policies. Does every hospital have a way to report issues anonymously? I will def go to my charge nurse again and my nursing supervisor. Its worth a shot. But i wont hold my breath on her changing her attitude.

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As previously stated, keep written track of everything and write these employees up. Stop doing all of their work. Do your work first and foremost, to include the time spent to do their write-ups. Do patient care only when you have the time, inclination, or when it is imperative. Start a Job Search. But do your job here the way you are supposed to, and I mean do your job, not the job of the CNA's. Stop worrying about the six months. Move on when you get the opportunity.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

I have also worked with these type of lazy CNA's. I have found the best way to handle it is to simply not do their job. You are the nurse, they are the CNA. If you keep doing their job they will (obviously) let you! If a patient calls for a CNA need, tell them and leave no room for argument (just tell them and hang up, walk away etc). If they continue to be insubordinate (do not do what you told them) notify the Charge, and keep going up the chain of command (in writing). I have found that usually this is not necessary as they will start doing their job once they realize that you wont put up with it. Good luck!

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