Dealing with a cocky tech?

Specialties Emergency

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

There's one tech in my department that is starting to rub me wrong a little bit. I'm keeping my mouth shut, but can only do this for so long.

He's good in codes, but seems like that's all he wants to do or thinks he's required to do. He offers very little help with other scenarios, like transporting patients or helping with code browns. He has this arrogant attitude that I dislike. I have to work with him quite a bit.

I've mainly tried to be humble as the new person in the department and yes I'm relatively new, less than a year in the ED. But I also have several years experience as a nurse outside the ED and I come from a higher acuity facility where we would get code after code after code.

I guess what I would like to see happen is less of a cocky attitude and more help instead of hiding out in the supply room on the phone until a code comes in and saying no I can't help because I'm working this code, what about helping instead of hiding in the supply closet.

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Your first step is to sit down and talk with him about how you're feeling. Make sure to do it in a non-accusatory way.

See how he sees the situation, tell him how you see it, and then the two of you try to reach a happy resolve.

If that doesn't work, then I'd bring it up with your direct supervisor.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Team work makes the dream work! Goofy but true. Definitely let him know. Are you the only one feeling this way, or do others express the same frustration?

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I never understood why they're called techs. What do they do that is technical? Sadly, where I work, we have bad medics who don't do anything and management allows insubordination of techs and medics. They are exactly as you described, bring in a full arrest they jump to their feet, ask them to take a patient up to the floor, they stone cold ignore you.

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... as the new person in the department and yes I'm relatively new, less than a year in the ED....

Operative phrase here. Focus on yourself right now. If there is an issue with this person, you're not the first to notice it, and guessing the folks in charge have it handled even though they didn't check with you first.

If there isn't, the "new guy" kicking the bee's nest is not who you want to be.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
... as the new person in the department and yes I'm relatively new, less than a year in the ED....

Operative phrase here. Focus on yourself right now. If there is an issue with this person, you're not the first to notice it, and guessing the folks in charge have it handled even though they didn't check with you first.

If there isn't, the "new guy" kicking the bee's nest is not who you want to be.

I agree with you. I just see this being a problem over time. When I'm not working in the trauma rooms and busting my behind it would be nice to have more help available from a tech so I don't have to bog down another nurse for something a tech could do. It's not good for morale to have someone that deliberately hides when needed to do things that they find less desirable. Not cool at all.

I think I will wait for a while and start keeping track of the instances of selective helping and bring it to his attention privately. I'm going to give it a little while though.

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I have the same issue in the ED I work at. There is one tech that is right there to help with certain things he likes, but if it's something he doesn't like to do, he hides or gets another tech to do it, or pretends he does not hear my request over the walkie talkie. The other day I needed to get a rectal temp on a patient and needed help turning the patient. This tech came in to help, but when we turned her and he saw she was soiled, he left the room and sent another tech in to help clean up the patient. I spoke to management and was told they would talk to him but don't know if they have yet. I let management know that this is not the first time he has avoided a task he does not like and I have seen a pattern. I would keep track of specific things and go to management. Have other workers noticed his behavior?

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