Workplace Issues. How do I deal with this nonsense? (Long post)

[shining_star28463]

I graduated from nursing school in fall of last year and began working as a LPN in a physician's practice owned by a hospital back at the end of January 2009. The staff that I joined had been together for at least two years before the practice was purchased by the hospital so the nurse practitioner, other LPN and receptionist knew each other before I came aboard so I have always felt like the odd person out. Anyway, the other LPN and I butted heads early on (as stated in a previous post of mine) and although I took the advice of everyone on the board and spoke to the nurse practitioner that situation has not greatly improved. My LPN co-worker irritates me on an almost-daily basis by constantly questioning me about what I am doing, watching my time clock and looking for any presumed oversight so that she can harp on it. The hospital recently acquired another provider for the practice and hired a MA to help over the staff shortage (but there's still a staff shortage) and the LPN co-worker is constantly overstepping her job description with her as well. An example of this is: I had separated patient charts last night into piles that the provider had to see and piles that we could get done later. She goes over to the piles and says, "Why are the approved PA's over here? The provider doesn't have to look at those now?" I answered that there were no approved PA's in the pile. She says, "Oh, yes there are." Then she proceeds to go through the pile of charts that I have already separated to prove to me that I don't know what I'm talking about.. So she pulls a couple of charts with PA paperwork attached and practically shoves the charts in my face and says, "See." So when I tell her again that there are no approved PA's in the pile only the rejected ones that the provider has to look at to decide if she wants to appeal, my co-worker says, "Oh." No apology. Nothing else but, "Oh." Another example is yesterday she and I were working the floor with the two providers while the MA was on the telephone. We all rotate days with the providers and telephones and the nurse practitioner is normally busier than the physician and so whoever works with the physician usually helps the other person cover patient care on the floor. Yesterday since I was with the physician I tried to help the co-worker LPN with the nurse practitioner's patient load such as triaging a few of the patients and everything but the physician was pretty steady as well and there was a pile of callbacks that were placed on my desk that had to be done too. So in between doing my patients, labs and injections for the physician I was trying to get all the my other assignments done when my co-worker comes up to my desk (while I am the phone with a pharmacy) and says, "You don't cover for me when you're on the floor with Dr. _ , do you?" So I say, "Do you have flags pulled because I just checked and I didn't see anything and Dr. _ has work here that he want me to get done." She says in a really nasty tone, "Yeah, I have 2 injections, but I'll get it." Meanwhile, I have triaged several of her patients in between my own and not to mention the fact that when she is supposed to be helping to cover the floor, she ends up not doing anything but sitting at her desk and pretending to make telephone calls. Anyway, I let that one ride too. Then last night, after I have finished up the nightly callbacks that I was handed to do by the providers I went to clock out and there she is again asking me, "Are you done with everything?" I am so fed up and irriated with her I feel like I am moments away from blowing up.

Another issue is the medical office manager is inexperienced and has zero medical knowledge. She was intially the receptionist and the office needed a manager so when the first three people that the hospital wanted to hire fell through, she applied for the job back in the summer and got the position basically by default. One day, I left at 5:30 to try to make it to my son's football game. I am scheduled to work 8am-5pm but since I've been there I have always worked until at least 6:30 or 7:00 and sometimes as late at 8 or 9. Anyway, I left a few charts to do the next day. There were prescription refill requests and on our voicemail we tell patients that there is a 24-48 response period and we will get back in contact with them. I had already spoken with the people and told them that that they could pick up their prescriptions the next day, but I left the prescriptions for the provider to sign and was going to put them up front for the patients to pick up when I came in the next day. So the LPN co-worker was on scheduled to do the phones the day after and I guess a couple of patients had repeat called that morning. No one bothered to pull any of these charts to determine whether or not I had spoken with anyone. I suppose that she and the office manager just sat around and talked about me before I came in because as soon as I clocked in; still had my purse on my shoulder, the office manager pulls me aside and infront of everyone else in the front office tells me that, "I don't need to be leaving work to do the next day because she got a couple of calls from patient's saying no one called them back about their refills and that the co-worker LPN got calls too." So I said, "On our message we tell the patient that there is a 24-48 response period for refill requests and also that I had spoken to everyone that called and did she have any charts pulled to show me who they were?" The answer was no, she didn't pull their charts and she couldn't remember who they were but I need to do all my work before I leave. I did become angry then because whenver anyone else wants to go, they leave. The office manager leaves no later than 5:30 everyday and my co-worker leaves promptly at 6 pm every Thursday for her Bible Study class. This was the first time that I had ever left to do anything and it was after my scheduled hours and I still ended up missing my son's football game because I ended up being late. And I told her that I was always there, doing everyone else's work when they didn't want to with no complaints and the one time I left to do something with my family it was an issue. She didn't say anything else but I also talked to the nurse practioner about it because I think that the office manager is good at managing the front office but she doesn't know enough about medicine or what the nurses do and don't do to try to tell me how to practice. I also believe that she should acquire communication skills because no one should tell an adult what he or she needs to do.

So then tonight before I leave, the office manager says that she needs to talk to me. She says that the hospital is trying to look at ways to cut overtime and asks me if I would mind coming in from 8:30 to 5:30 and the MA will come in from 8 to 5. Since I live almost an hour away and this gives me more time for the commute this sounds pretty good to me so I agree and then ask but what is the other LPN going to do?" Then comes the kicker. The other LPN is going to work a ten-hour shift from 8am-7pm and then she will be off on Thursdays and on Thursdays the MA and I are expected to do patient care for both of the providers and work the telephone as well. The MA has to be out by 5:30 at the latest everyday because she has a small child in daycare which means that will leave me to get all that work done and answered before I can leave on Thursday nights plus then the office manager says and just because the other LPN will be there until 7 doesn't mean that we are supposed to leave anything extra for her to do. Then she says the MA and I will just have to be on our "A" game on Thursdays since the other LPN will be off. My issue with this is, "How is it fair to the other staff that one person is allowed to have a day off during the week?" I would love to have a day off during the week to go to school functions (I have 3 young children) or generally just get things done that I can't do on the weekends or simply to rest and I am sure the MA would to so is it wrong for me to say that I don't agree with a change in the schedule that will allow one person the flexibility that others are not allowed. Not to mention the fact that I average a near-ten hour day anyway and so does the other LPN. We are severely short-staffed for the extensive care that the office offers and the practioner alone sees an average of 32 patients a day that have to have injections, EKGs, in-house lab tests and phelebotomy done. The physician is fairly new to the area but he's averaging at least 20 patients with the same needs. I am very unhappy with the disorganzation and back-biting that goes on in the office and the hospital management is no better with constantly saying, "No overtime," then not providing the staff needed. I feel rushed trying to get these patients in and out. For instance, the practitioner saw 22 patients before lunch today and I didn't clock out until 1:43 pm because there was so much stuff that had to be done. There was at least another 10-12 patients seen after lunch. The office manager/receptionist does the scheduling and also just lets people walk in even though it is not a walk-in clinic. Luckily the MA does a great job helping to cover the floor but I know that feeling rushed and stress is how mistakes are made, however no one listens to my concerns about the overscheduling. I go home stressed and exhasuted every night. I missed every single one of my son's football games and my daughter's basketball games. I haven't seen her play volleyball either and her last game is next week. I have had to school functions and dental appointments because of my work schedule. I feel that my family is severly neglected. I know that the economy is not great and LPN jobs are scare but I don't know how much more of this I can take. And now, the idea of one person being singled out to have a day off during the week? That is preposterous and very unfair. I know that this is a very long post but I would appreciate any responses and advice.

[rholman]

No offense...but what's up with the font. Not sure if you'll get much response, you might want to change to a bigger font size. This is way to small to read on the computer

[forthebirds]

I think you should ask management to provide you the same opportunity as your LPN coworker. You do not have to just take what is handed down to you. You have value as an employee and you can constructively provide your input about how this new setup may adversely effect both you and your family. One way to balance out all those long days may be to have one day off a week, like your coworker. Would having a similar work schedule as the other LPN help you? If so, ask for it and see what happens.

[canigraduate]

No offense...but what's up with the font. Not sure if you'll get much response, you might want to change to a bigger font size. This is way to small to read on the computer

Most browsers have an option to enlarge the fonts on the screen. I suggest you use it. Usually the option is under a menu entitled "View" or something similar.

The post looks fine in my browser.

To the OP:

Honey, what are you still doing there? Seriously. My butt would have been out the door. Your workplace sounds toxic to the extreme. Also, it sounds like you are engaged in a p***ing match with the LPN. As my father says, that accomplishes nothing and stinks up everything.

My honest advice would be to get the heck out of there. Also, take some time and think about what's going on with you that you would put up with this stuff. If you absolutely have to stay there to prevent starvation, find some way to make peace while standing up for yourself, otherwise you're going to go crazy and make your family more miserable.

Good luck!

[texas_lvn]

I am so sorry you are having such a crappy time. Hon, its time to look for a different job. In my exp, the Dr is actually over the manager, so maybe speak with him. Just be sure and DOCUMENT everything. Write it all down on your personal time, and if anyone emails you anything, forward it to a different email account that you have access to at home, I would also ask the manager to email you the change in schedule and ask why cant the three of you have alternating weeks of 10 hour shifts? that seems fair to me, and if she says no, go to the Dr. and document everything said!!!! Good luck.

[Scrubby]

When the other LPN is trying to micro manage you by asking you if everything is done, just ignore her. If she starts repeating just tell her that you appreciate their concerns but you don't need someone checking up on you. Don't dignify any of her sarcasm with a response. I'm sure she'll get the message.

As for the unfair hours, well put your case forward with management. If they don't appear to be willing to listen maybe look for work somewhere else.

[skittlebear]

yuck! i'm sorry your going through this. it sounds like too much drama to me. i am 100% with the other posters here. i would first talk with the office manager and ask her if you could have a similiar schedule as the lpn...i would then ask the doctor since it would seem that he would be above this "office manager". if you can't get a similiar schedule as the lpn than i would find something else. even if you did get a similiar schedule i would still look for another job. never leave your old job until you have a new one....as my mother used to always tell me : ).

as for the lpn looking over your shoulder. i would not give her the time of day. just ignore her. smile and say, "hey thanks for caring but i think i can manage." smile to her as much as you can. kill her with kindness. just treat her like a peice of lint that is stuck on your shoulder and brush it off. i know that can be hard since your with her daily but that's all you can do with people like that. pretty soon, she may get tired of picking on you. every facility has a co-worker that is just...um, horrible. what i tell myself everyday before i go in to work is this...."i'm here for the pateints, not that co-worker i can't stand". it helps a little. hold your head up, stand your ground, and pretty soon this co-worker may get bored. in the meantime, i would look for another job. good luck!

[skittlebear]

No offense...but what's up with the font. Not sure if you'll get much response, you might want to change to a bigger font size. This is way to small to read on the computer

I can see the font just fine! If you can't, all you have to do is punch the control key and roll your mouse to whatever font sized you want. Simple solution. See?

[nursel56]

I you've been there since January I definately would say they should have meshed with you and you should not still be feeling like the odd person out. Do you feel like the other employees, ie the MA and the Office Manager are supportive of you, and that the other LPN is the only antagonistic person? If this is a dysfunctional clique and you've tried to get along with them to no avail, it's going to be very hard on you. If the only thorn in your side is that pushy, bossy LPN, I would ask you this. How is your demeanor toward her? Do you try to appease her and let her retain the upper hand? Or do you look her in the eye, and state your position every bit as assertively as she does, but without the snotty, nasty tone.

If you feel your superiors, which she is NOT, are happy with your work and are fair-- you need to fight back. You should not have to tolerate that behavior from a peer. That means talking to the doctor, if he is in charge of the whole shebang. Forget about the Office Manager for resolving the issues in the back office. It was frankly, dumb of them to make a receptionist in charge of a back office, but there's nothing to be done about it now.

The work load does sound very heavy, not knowing what time you will be leaving every night extremely stressful, but I wouldn't say (yet) to run out of there, if there is a chance to salvage this, unless it will not be difficult to find another job right now.

The way the schedule was handled was totally unfair and arbitrary. Maybe the other LPN got it because of seniority, but they should have included you in the process.

I honestly don't know why they play this gotcha game after all this time. Some offices are toxic, and impossible to change. As I said, think about the dynamic with regards to where you fit into the TEAM. Think about how you think they might be perceiving YOU. Not because it's your fault, but because it may lead you to new insights and ideas.

No job is worth feeling so constantly miserable over, or affecting your family the way it does. Especially the son's football game. I would have walked right out of there and said, see ya tomorrow, guys! I'm off to cheer my son on!!

Anyway, just a two cents. Hope it gets better for you :)

[ktwlpn, LPN]

The other LPN is a typical bully and ignoring her won't stop her behavior.You need to stand up for yourself each and every time she picks at you. On the upside I had a similar relationship with a nurse a few years ago-she would actually watch me pour and pass meds to make sure I was giving the correct ones-challenged everything I said or did..We ended up being assigned to the same unit and she is the charge nurse. It was very tense for some time-I pulled her aside and we had it out.Now we are really good friends...Go figure...Good luck

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I hate to tell you, but these are pretty typical office nursing shananigans. If the providers love you then go to them with a concise and reasonable request after the office manager 1st turns you down.

Spend the 2 minutes on the problem and then immediately spend 4 minutes on possible solutions and their benefit to the provider and the smooth operation of the clinic within the realities of the no overtime.

If I do 4 10's I will not have overtime.............

[Chapis]

i am not a nurse, but we all have that 'co-worker', i think you need to put a stop to it, rather than brush it off, even though it sounds like a good idea, you might want to try it to kill her with kindness, if it doesn't work, than step up and tell her to just back off. i would also get with the office manager and ask her to rotate the schedules as it would be fair across the board for everyone to work and have the same days off, as it would also help you since you have 3 kids at home. and like someone else said, start looking for another job, you sound like someone great to work with, they sure don't deserve to have you.

talk to anyone you can about this situation to see if they can resolve it, can you go to the hospital's hr since the manager there doesn't really know the situation? talk to the doctor, and like someone else said, keep everything for proof, emails redirect them to another email, or print them off and keep them and take them home.

good luck to you, i wish you the best.

keep up posted!