Bullying starting again?

Currently returning to a place I worked as a nurse. I'm doing relief work/agency work there as I am studying for a MSc in psychotherapy at present and don't want a permanent full-time job. The relief/agency work keeps my hand in and keeps me going financially - pays for the basics.

The lady who is my Line Manager tried to have me moved several times when I worked with her on a permanent basis, but my Director of Nursing intervened every time and insisted I stay. He also gave me a fabulous reference when I left my permanent job there. The woman who is/was my line manager has bullied several people who have all left, those who work closely with her now are all her close friends who she socialises with inside and outside of work. The line manager did the first year of the psychotherapy course that I am doing but dropped out, so don't know if this is an issue.

The Dr. in charge of the service has given me clients for my MSc before and said it would be no problem to refer clients to me again next year when I am in my final year of the course. However, last Friday, when I was there, Line Manager pulls me aside and says that the client I was finishing up with should be my last contact with the Service. I said I would be coming back next year to take on more clients for therapy, she reiterated again that the client I had just finished with should be my last there. I was flumouxed and didn't know what to say so just finished and left.

Texted the dr and said what happened, asked him if there was a problem for him with me being there as I didn't want to cause anyone any hassle - waiting for reply.

Was casually friendly with dr. in question, but nothing else. Don't know if this is a problem for manager also as he was untill recently going out with another nurse, another really good friend of manager. Anyway, there was nothing ever between dr and I as he apparently doesn't date single parents and the grape vine says he likes slim women and I'm a larger lass.

Don't know what to do from here. Should I wait for dr to reply. Should I approach my Dir of Nursing. Need the money from the relief/agency work there. Possibly will neede to take clients from there next year to be able to complete my accreditation, but not sure yet. Looking at other posssible options to get clients also.

Advise on best way to handle things would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Would it help to go to your Nursing Director and request if clients/job in another unit available and explain that you need the work for two reasons, from a financial perspective and a client perspective.

You mention that the doctor in question has " given" you clients for your MSc before.

Do you mean that he's referred clients to you in order to gain experience in gaining psychotherapy hours or for your dissertation ?

If so does the organisation have a policy on either of these practises ? This decision would not be solely up to the doctor in charge of the service.General management and the Ethics committee would have a substantial say in whether psychotherapists in training are permitted to recruit clients from the clinical area in question .This is to ensure that the best interests of the client are protected.
As you also work as a nurse there, nurse management would also have a large input into this matter.

I'm not quite sure what relevance your comments re: the doctor's taste in women have in relation to the topic at hand.

I would advice you to seek clarification from the Dir of Nursing.

Go to the Director of Nursing and report all incidents as soon after they happen as possible.

In these situations it's often better to just go down the appropriate channels than trying to sort it out with the person because it can get out of hand and given the type of work that you do at no time do you want your ability or the "bully's" ability to care for patients questioned because you are distracted by your own issues.

Go to the Director of Nursing.

We'd need a bit more information to judge this situation.

1) Is this a public hospital or clinic?
2) Are you paid by clients that are referred to you?
3) Is this 'no more clients' policy the extent of the alleged bullying? As you've described the situation, it wouldn't appear to be bullying to me.

OP, several people went to the trouble of replying. Did you find any of the advice useful ?

bullying again?

Hi! everyone, thanks for your replies. No, this is not the first time 'bullying' has happened. This manager tried to have me moved previously at very short notice without the permission of Director of Nursing. When he found out he was really annoyed and insisted that no one was to be moved without his permission, and I received an appology from him. I would be in a long line of others who feel 'bullied' by this manager, so its not entirely personal.

The organisation is private. There is no policy on students training in psychotherapy there as far as I know, and on how they obtain clients.

My work with clients was included in my nursing hours, and I was not paid extra for it if it went outside my hours, which it did quite regularly.

I have approached my director of nursing who has been very helpful, though I don't want to be hassling him, as I believe there are a number of similar inicidents ongoing elsewhere in the hospital - so I'm sure he has his hands full.

Am applying for other jobs and have sought another placement for my psychotherapy practice. Hope to be finished there by begining of January at latest - its not worth the hassle!

Thanks again to all of you for your replies. Sorry it took so long - life is very hectic!