Sadly, you can't fix stupid.

It's hard enough working with the pressures that are on us right now (I work as a nurse in the NHS), but to be given more #%&*$# that doesn't even make sense just makes me want to rage-quit right now.

First new rule - we are no longer allowed "hot drinks" in the workplace aside from in the coffee room. No biggie as I'm not a coffee/tea person anyway. I'll just bring my bottle of juice with me. Supervisor spots it and tells me off in a loud voice, in front of other patients and co-workers, that I'd better put my drink away in my locker as we're only allowed water unless in the coffee room. Apparently, juice is classified as "hot drink." Okay. Conveniently, our drinking fountain (which has a filter installed) has been broken for almost a month now. The water from the cold tap is murky. Yeah, I'd love to drink that....

Second new rule - nurses are expected to put their own pillowcases on pillows. I come in to take a trolley for my next patient and the trolley has sheets on it and a blanket ready, but no pillows. What's up with that, I ask. Apparently, they no longer put pillowcases on pillows because people come in and take them away..... yes, to use on patients!! Not putting pillowcases on pillows doesn't stop us from taking them, it's just making our lives unnecessarily harder. Which doesn't really go down well when we go in and find your useless butt just sat down. I actually was stupid enough to ask why people don't put pillowcases on pillows anymore, and the reply was "you got hands."

I really wanted to right then and there. Don't get me wrong, I'm not above doing that work, but when I barely have time to catch my breath and get this sort of attitude, well, it's simply beyond me....

Interviewer: Okay, the situation is that you've got a patient in critical condition in one of your theatres and the blood bank is delayed in getting the proper blood processed and sent up. In recovery, they're getting overwhelmed as the wards aren't coming for their patients quick enough. At the same time, one of the doctors is complaining about a bit of kit that he wants for the next operation; he's told the sister-in-charge that he needed it when he spoke to her last week but it's not there now. What do you do?

Applicant for Manager position: Tuesday.

Interviewer: Perfect answer! You're hired!

Yeah, but it's got electrolytes!

Thanks Mike. I love my work, I really do. I work with lots of awesome people and we always put patient safety AND satisfaction first. Unfortunately, we have to deal with loads of unnecessary crap as well.

Case in point: I decided to try and stir up the waters a bit and complained to the Bullying and Harassment officer regarding the above issues. I got called into the boss's office and explained my complaint. Then she talked to other people concerned. Then I got called in again for a chat with the Band 6 (supervisor I mentioned in the first post) and the Band 7 (boss). First thing I got from the Band 6 was that she disagrees that she was rude to me and that she was well within her rights to tell me off. The fact that the water fountain is broken was not considered. The fact that I was in a busy list with no break time was not considered. The fact that the juice bottle was not contributing to any of the factors why the "no hot drinks" rule was conceived was not considered.

Then came the next moments. Apparently, I should not be complaining as I am also rude to a few Band 6s and other staff. Note that I've never been called into office for any such complaints, nor have I been pulled aside to bring this to my attention prior to that day. I do acknowledge I've banged heads with 2 other Band 6s but this was over silly policies as well..... but apparently, I've been rude to more than just the two Band 6s. I also had to defend myself for why I snapped over the pillowcase incident, and now my ability to do my work is in question. Because of a pillowcase. I spent 90% of the time in the office defending myself because I made a complaint.


In hindsight, it probably wasn't a surprise that the meeting went that way. I guess I was just optimistic, thinking things would change, thinking things would be handled politely and professionally. I guess I still am naive in some ways.


I guess I should explain that in my work, I have 4 Band 6s over me and one of them was the one I argued with over some policy but she was very mature and professional and we've sorted that issue out and it is a pleasure to work with her. The other Band 6 was the "supervisor" that was with me in the office. Band 6 #3 never does any work and #4 I get along with very well. The other team has I-don't-know-how-many Band 6s but since they are the "other team," my interaction with them is minimal, often just passing along messages or some sort. One of those Band 6s has decided to make it her business one day to tell me off for having my phone with me and so we got into a colorful discussion over policy.... that was the most interaction I've ever had with a "other team" Band 6, but apparently, I am rude to a few more of them. How convenient that those indviduals remain nameless, right? No way for me to confirm such allegations.

I do work with a lot of Band 5s and I've had a word with a few of them asking if I've been rude to them or if they've heard of complaints of me being rude to other Band 5s. I know my "brain-to-mouth" filter does not work sometimes and a few things slip through, I know my humor sometimes does not match common courtesy, and so forth. The answer I got was "not at all." I have never been rude to them nor have they heard of any complaints of my rudeness. I said I know I pick on a few people, tease them mercilessly and such, and I know sometimes it can get annoying for some. They said they know it was just me being me and they viewed it as "terms of endearment" and they do not mind it because when it comes down to it, I know the job, I do the job, and I help them with the job.

Coming from people who are on the floor, on the "front line," I guess that's vindication enough for me. The Band 6s who complain about me (I don't even know what about) not grovelling and worshipping them adequately can go #%&*$# off, I guess.






Now the next question is.... do I stir up the hornet's nest a bit more? Shake up the status quo as much as I can?