Would you report this?

[canesdukegirl]

I was circulating a case in the OR when I was told by the surgeon that the next patient was a VIP. I was setting the room up after I had interviewed this patient (young athlete, never had surgery before and is TERRIFIED) and told my scrub tech to be "on point" because this pt was special to the surgeon. This scrub tech has only worked in the OR for about a year, is completely unprofessional, and I have had multiple issues with her. I have reported these issues when they come up, but nothing has been done about it. This tech has a very hard time seeing beyond herself and her own needs, and often will ask the docs (while in the middle of surgery) if she can drop scrub to go "take care of business". She is pregnant, so they feel bad if they tell her that she can't go. Because of this pregnancy, she is even MORE self centered and cannot stop talking ad nauseum about her pregnancy. If someone makes a comment, she immediately turns the focus to herself-example: "We need to set this room up quickly because this patient is bleeding out." Her response: "I can't move quickly anymore and I am getting ready to wet my pants!" or "Have you pulled all of the supplies that you need for this case?" Her response: "I don't think so, I don't know. I have placenta brain. If I forgot something, I will just ask you for it."

So this young patient just rolled into the OR. He is so nervous that he has required 4mg of Versed. I am trying to do the "Time Out" before induction of anesthesia. The CRNA asks him, "Are you ok now? Are you still nervous?" Before the pt can respond, the scrub tech turns to him and says, "YOU are nervous??? Dude, I am nervous! I am very nervous!" The poor pt turns white, looks up at the CRNA and says, "Oh man, that isn't good." I am trying to do damage control and telling him that she was just kidding, but I am totally seething mad. I told my manager about this, but he brushed it off, saying "Well that's just how she is."

I am really angry about this, but my manager seems to think that I should just forget about it and move on. I thought that we were in the industry of taking care of PATIENTS and I feel strongly that this scenario was plain wrong. Should I go over my manager's head about it or should I just let it go?

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

OP, you refer to her as a "scrub technician", which as I understand it is not a nursing discipline at all, but I have no idea what training such a person goes through before qualifying. I would think, however, that some level of professionalism is required, and blurting out nonsense like that in front of a wide-awake, fully conscious patient is not only unprofessional, it is deeply inconsiderate towards the patient and all the other members of the perioperative team.

I have had too many experiences in recovery of patients who went under anaesthesia in a stressed frame of mind; as they go in, so they come out, only worse...

If she routinely omits to set up her theater properly pre-operatively, she places the burden on the circulating staff. I assume the rules are the same everywhere; once the operation starts, no-one is supposed to leave the theater, except in totally unexpected and unavoidable situations. None of you should be expected to run around looking for stuff she couldn't be bothered to prepare for.

Yes, I would report her, or at least push to have her assigned to short cases so that she can be in and out quickly; then she doesn't have to worry about her full bladder.

So she's pregnant; that's nice for her, I'm glad for her, I hope it goes well for her and I'm sure she feels like a cat with two tails, but it's no excuse for her to behave like a prima donna. If she takes any pride at all in her work, she should leave the egocentrism at home.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

PS, I love Ottawa's suggestion...

[Scrubby]

If someone acted like that in front of a patient in my OR I would kick them out.

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

I would advise against going over your manager's head. Breaking the chain of command may not only make you look bad, but also put you in an uncomfortable position with your manager. For all you know your manager is in the process of taking the necessary steps. The situation may be complicated because of her pregnancy and may require extra planning and expertise when it comes to discipline for fear of coming across as discriminatory.

[nursel56]

Not from an OR perspective but an annoying co-worker perspective. . . it would seem the OR is one of those that almost demand a cohesive group because it's densely packed and every jarring and selfish comment gets under you skin and under you skin and under your skin.

At least you have her upcoming maternity leave, which is pretty much a blessing, and maybe give you the breather you need to plan on how you'll deal with her with the above suggestions. If you think it's bad now, fasten your seatbelt for "new baby drama" Babies provide all sorts of fodder for people like that.(not that moms are all drama, but mom added to pre-existing self-centered behavior can get old fast!) Best to you!

[pamelalayn]

This isn't even about being self centered. She's just unprofessional and gross. You need to write her up and keep doing it till she's gone. I can't believe no one is listening to this. The manager should go too.