Yet another rant ...

[tryingtomakeit, RN]

I have been working in the same hospital since I graduated in May, 2004. It took forever for me to get comfortable with L&D.

I absolutely love my coworkers (well, most of them, lol), the MD's are wonderful, and I adore what I do! The problem is the management - as well as all their "friends". It seems lately that there are certain people who can act any way they want and excuse after excuse is made for them. For instance, I had a poor coworker come to me in tears the other night because of a lie a coworker was spreading about her, and when she took it to our manager, who is a close friend of our DON, she was told that she was over reacting and that she needed to overlook this person because, "we all know how she is". The person who started the is good friends with our DON and manager. This isn't an isolated incident. They do things the rest of us would be shown the door for without a word ever being said to them.

I guess the main gripe for me personally is that lately I have been being pulled a lot to med-surg, which I don't mind if everything I need to do is caught up and they are swamped. Lately, though, we have been being pulled to med-surge when they already have PLENTY of help just because a certain nurse, who is a close relative of our nurse manager, throws tantrums if she knows we are having a light night. For instance, last night there were two mothers in PP, two babies and one mom laboring in L&D. We do not do mother baby, however, our nursery and PP work together closely from the same station (when there isn't a level two baby in the nsy). Also, on weekends, the second L&D nurse is pulled to cover PP and the PP nurse is called off if they aren't terribly busy.

To make a long story short, this relative on med-surg came unglued because the nsy nurse didn't do both the moms and babies and the PP nurse help them. They had 14 pts with four nurses on med-surg! I have seen our PP nurse forced to do 13 pt's alone! Of course we all helped from within the dept as much as we could, but as far as anyone "officially" getting her help, no way!

It wouldn't bother me so badly if the med-surg was just making off-handed comments behind our backs or whatever, but she will come around us just to act hateful and insinuate we are lazy. Not once have I seen her on a slow night for her come to our aid when we needed it.

The other night I had been floated to med-surg and my partner in L&D got a pt whose mother was being verbally abusive to her and even threatening her, so she called and asked for me to come be with her until the situation got under control. I told the supervisor, who is also berated by this med-surg nurse if she isn't at her beck and call, that I was going back for a bit and why, and she said it was fine. As I was walking away I heard a ruckus - it was this particular nurse saying in a very loud voice to the supervisor, "where the h--- is SHE going? That girl in L&D has ONE GD patient, can't she take care of one GD pt by herself ?!!!!!!"

I would complain, but because of the way I have seen things handled in this little close knit group, I know that nothing would be done anyway. It is one of those situations where I am either going to have to suck it up or leave, and right now I choose to stay. I guess I just wanted to rant for a bit, lol. Thanks

[LoriAlabamaRN]

That's such an unfair situation... I would not last long in that type of environment. Can you possibly switch units or shifts? Honestly, if I were you I would be keeping an eye out for any interesting positions available near you, and be ready to pop in your two weeks notice if you happen to spot your dream job. Good luck- cliques are lame.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

I'm sorry you have to put up with this. But remember, all things change sooner or later. Wherever you work there is always someone who stirs the pot and makes life a challenge. I like to think it's lifes' way of keeping us on our toes. It is a shame though because our jobs are hard enough and we should all be working together to make life for all easier for each other, not harder.