Head Nurse Hell!

Re: Head Nurse Hell!

Ellisonia — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 01:23:33 GMT

I completely agree. This IS bullying. No, people like this won't change until someone in authority takes them to task and tells them their behaviour is unacceptable. So I would approach the practice manager again and explain how this is affecting you. Your employers have a duty of care towards you and should take your concerns seriously. If not I would appoach someone higher up.

Good luck with it and hope you manage to resolves things soon.

Re: Head Nurse Hell!

oconnoanan — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:02:01 GMT

Oh god, I've been in this situation too. Why do people in seniority get their kicks from abusing their power at the expense of making someone utterly miserable??!! I was actually speaking to a colleague about similar scenarios the other day (thankfully I've left the original place now) but we were discussing a former colleague of hers that had bullied staff and has since left the practice. Thankfully in her situation, the bullying was dealt with and the person was called out on it. So often with bullying though, it can be quite subtle and the little things that slowly build up and bother you, and it can be hard to pinpoint exact events if you are trying to draw attention to the behavior and its effects on you. Terrible scenario to be in! I think in those situations, their behaviour towards you is so ingrained that even if you call them on it, they are unable to stop acting that way. Incidentally, after I left the place where I was being bullied, the bullying turned towards other members of staff, and (and she was also known for it in her previous job (where her contract wasn't renewed)). Some people are just like that and will never change!

Re: Head Nurse Hell!

Sal the 1st — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 09:12:57 GMT

[quote user="MaryJane26"]

I have spoken to the practice boss about the situation before now but it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference really...

[/quote]

How many nurses are working there?

Did you take it up with the HN before you went over their head? - this might be where some of the problem has come from? Being a HN isnt all its cracked up to be, I have done it a few times - you get it in the neck from those above you and you get it in the neck from those below. Somewhere you have to to try and strike a balance between the two camps and it isnt always that easy. Its even harder if somebody decides to sidestep you and do their own thing. TBH if this happened to me as a HN I would be feeling a bit miffed and I would probably take it up with the person that did it to try and resolve the problem but I can also see that if you had a HN that wasnt that confident in doing that and the situation was allowed to go on it would drive in a real wedge as by going above their head you are sending the message that they cannot do their job properly

When I have been a HN I have always tried to explain why I would like things to be done a certain way or why I would like things to be done (but open to new ideas) or why something is happening in the practice as much as I am able and that way if everybody knows what is happening and why I find there are fewer problems and people pull together. I have always been as fair as I can but sometimes it is a compromise - somewhere along the line somebody isnt going to be happy.

If this is what has happened I would suggest you do speak to your HN and try and clear the air - you might find that they are trying to do the best for you if you let them

Its possible your HN does convert their stress to temper but if they knew they could trust and depend on their nursing staff they would then have ? less stress - its a two way street

Re: Head Nurse Hell!

MaryJane26 — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:20:16 GMT

Thanks so much guys, I really appreciate your wise words! I am a positive person so trying to take all the positives that I can from it but as you've said - being a trainee it can knock your confidence! I've decided I definitely am going to leave but will try and approach the subject again with my HN in the mean time. I really aspire to be a head nurse one day, so I suppose I'll use this as a template of how not to treat the other nurses!! So glad I decided to put out my original post, I don't feel so alone in it now :) xx

Re: Head Nurse Hell!

Jill Macdonald — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:56:02 GMT

Good advice above..

It is a very valid point - that bad experiences are as valuable as good ones.. Even though your head nurse may be putting you through a bad time at the moment (and there may be many reasons for his/her behaviour), we can learn from these bad experiences, and how NOT to do things in the future! I think, if you haven't already, then it is worth trying to speak to your HN - sometimes people I think genuinly don't appreciate that they are upsetting others, and let's face it, head nurses often don't get any personnel management training before being plunged in at the deep end! Good luck, and hope things get better for you..

Re: Head Nurse Hell!

Lee484 — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:11:20 GMT

Dont let it get you down. We've all met a head nurse like that! I was lucky, when I was training I had an amazing head nurse, but when I moved it was the total opposite, I was scared about making mistakes incase I got yelled at infront of everyone and it really knocked my confidence which took a long time to get back. I'm now a head nurse And I hope I've learnt a thing or two from all of my head nurses in the past (included how not to scare your nurses!) Good luck looking for a new position, I think when your training you need a good support base around you, your doing the right thing.

Re: Head Nurse Hell!

MaryJane26 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:54:48 GMT

Thanks for your advice, and what you say makes sense. I know I want to do vet nursing, she just gets me down! I think some of the problem comes from politics within the practice - basically things that aren't going to change by me flagging them up. I have spoken to the practice boss about the situation before now but it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference really...must just keep looking for a new practice and in the mean time work on not letting her get me down :)

Re: Head Nurse Hell!

jane Lewis — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:19:02 GMT

Don't give up! Perhaps your head nurse just channels her stress into her temper. Have you tried speaking to her? Does she realise how she's behaving and making you feel. Alternatively could you speak to someone above her. If you don't feel you can def try to find another placement. Speak to your college or local colleges and see if they know of local vacancies as often practices ask them first. I worked in a practice for a year and I felt miserable, almost thought of quitting nursing because of it. Now I love where I am, I'm respected and treated fairly as part of the team. Sometimes a change in practice can revive your passion for the job so just don't let her get you down!