I am having a major problem with a PCA on my floor. She does NOT want to do anything, except what she WANTS to do. And I NEVER ask an assistant to do anything unless I absolutely cant do it by myself, which is RARE. Last night, I had a patient whose IV came out. He is a very combative, confused patient. He is unable to drink and his IVF's are the only source of fluid intake he has. Well, I had been trying to get someone to assist me for 4 hours to hold his arm while I start his IV. He is TB positive and everyone else couldnt help me because they had immunosuppressed, peds, etc and couldnt risk being exposed and then treating their patients. Finally, the charge nurse told this PCA to help me. The PCA proceeded to throw something down and yell at me. Well, she then was standing at the head of the bed and yelling at me while I was putting on my mask and still throwing things. She finally told me "well, get in here!". I was so nervous and upset. I was literally shaking while trying to start this IV. Thank GOD I got it on the first stick. I told her that Im sick of this. The whole floor deals with this all the time. But this is the 3rd time she has screamed and made a scene in front of patients, making them feel like they are a nuisance. The charge nurses and nurse manager knows this but no one will do anything about it. We are so short staffed, they cant afford to lose any employee. I have been at this hospital for almost 2 years and dont want to leave. But I can NOT work like this. What would you do?
