Just Venting: PCA with an Attitude!

Nurses Relations

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Okay, I'm just venting...not trying to cause trouble, judge or bash all PCA's (or CNA's) because not all of them are like the one I experienced over the weekend. Just wanted to vent and get this off my chest, that's all.

My son was admitted to the hospital this past Saturday (with bleeding complications from his tonsillectomy). He stayed in the pediatric surgical unit in case he had to go back to the OR for cauterization. (Thank God he did not have to go back to the OR!) The nurses who took care of him were awesome, so no complaint there. But the PCA who came in the next morning and wheeled him out when he was D/C was a real drag! :down: Right away I picked up on her negative attitude from the time she came in just after 7 a.m. to take his vitals, and then brought him breakfast. No smile at all, didn't say hello (I told her good morning, and she barely said it back...like it hurt her to say it) and when I asked her a question, it was always a short, snappy answer. And when it came down to escorting us out, we waited about a minute outside while my hubby brought the car around, and she didn't even look at me or say one word! I'm not taking this personal, but geez, shouldn't someone who is in healthcare be a little more friendly??? Especially when it comes to working with children. I'm sure she was probably having a bad day (even though she was like that from the very beginning of her shift)...maybe? I know PCA's work hard...but she shouldn't be taking it out on us. I didn't expect her to be bubbly, but at least a little smile wouldn't have hurt. She just made me uncomfortable...:icon_roll

Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

my advise - drop it. Don't make mountains out of molehills. We ALL have had those days when we feel crappy, moody, tired or in general burnt out. No smiling at someone, While not that good of a first impression, is not indicitive of overall work performance - she may have done her job (clinical aspects) wonderfully but was not having a positive day psychlogically.

Its called being human.

For example - if you go out to dinner an hour before the resturant closes - you will get your food and maybe some so-so customer service - at that period in the workers mind - all they want to do is go home, shower, relax and sleep.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cath Lab, Cardiology,Neuro.

I worked with a LPN who was like that. She reminded me of the guards at Buckingham Palace where no matter what you do or say, they can't smile. Working with her was like working with a robot: no emotion! And when she decided to say something, and she thought it was nice, it turned out to be totally insensitive.

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

Young? Inexperienced on the job/dealing with ppl? Shy? All of the above?

Just needs to work on her "people skills"?

Sorry she was such a bummer, but glad the nurses were great and your son is okay :-)

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5th of july or christmas day, up too late last night or house burned down - do you think your boss would let you be sullen and unfriendly to the patients/parents? i can't count the # of times i've had to set aside my very serious troubles and smile even when my heart was very heavy. if i have to and can do it, i think others should be able to learn to do it, too. as i said earlier, inform the boss and let the worker's boss sort it out.

5th of july or christmas day, up too late last night or house burned down, my boss wouldn't be at work. neither would yours. do you really think that they're the best judge of how we should act on those days when they don't work them themselves. when they aren't making the same sacrifices for the patients that we are? and while my boss is understanding if i don't cover up all my troubles, not all are. which is why i advocate keeping a complaint that didn't affect the patient's outcome one bit in perspective.

i do my best to keep my troubles to myself. i don't always succeed. so i'm certainly not going to judge someone based on the report from a mom of a few short minutes of interaction. but one patient complaint to a manager counteracts 20 reports from coworkers about doing a good job. so i'm not going to jump on the "make a complaint" bandwagon unless i hear that something catastrophic happened. and not smiling isn't catastrophic.

if you want a waitress or concierge, go to a restaurant or hotel. if you want to get better, go to a hospital. if you go to a restaurant or hotel you don't complain because you didn't get medical/nursing treatment. just like you shouldn't complain when you don't get waited on at a hospital.

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Specializes in LTC.

Well she needs to leave that personal stuff at the door when she comes in, and pick it up on the way out. We all experience bad days or what have you, but the workplace is no place to carry them. This leaves to much room for error, we all know that if you are not feeling this job on this day, chances are you are not gonna do your best, and even PCA's perform task that could be vital if not reported or done properly.

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Specializes in LTC.

Is "she was quiet and didn't smile" really worthy of a vent thread?

Some family members have a particular way of staring at you when you come into a room that makes you really uncomfortable, like you're being scrutinized very carefully. They're probably the type to complain about a minor non-incident like this.

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hmmm, three things that stand out to me:

  1. Maybe its just her - her personality.
  2. Maybe she was under a lot of stress from work, and its flowing over to her communication skills with patients and others.
  3. ............and maybe its one of those days that she simply forgot to leave her "personal baggage" at the hospital door.

:yawn: Oh well, I feel sorry for her patients.

:yeah:Maybe another job would suit her -- like workin' in the morgue :lol2:

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

It is so much easier to be kind, it really is. AND, it isn't that difficult. I don't understand people who work in healthcare and are just plain nasty. I wouldn't report her for her behavior but keep it in mind when you take care of patients. A smile and a hello can go a long way.

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Why not just let it go, huh? This occurred a couple days ago, and you're still ranting about it? She did'nt smile or chat w you?. Perhaps something really dreadful was going on in her life; who knows. No harm was done. Forgive and move on.

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I actually just wanted to get opinions from you all to see if this is common or not, because I've never encountered anyone in the healthcare field like this PCA. (I've visited the hospital and nursing home a lot within the past year and a half because of my ill M-I-L.) But this person made it very obvious that she was either unhappy about something or did not want to be there, which did make it a little uncomfortable.

Yes, my son is better and that's what's most important, and NO, I didn't expect to be the center of her attention, or for her to have a conversation with us, or wait on us like a waitress in a restaurant, but shy or not, just a little smile and a hello does go a long way...and that isn't difficult to do.

I decided not to waste time complaining to her manager since she didn't go out of her way to be rude or didn't cause harm.

Thanks for the feedback!

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I guess I'm on the devil's advocate side. I'm usually friendly, and I think my patients like me. But there are days when I don't wake up for a while, so when I first walk in I'm not likely to be all sunshiney. And even more lately, I'm hurting because my feet hurt. I never realized how much pain can make you so grumpy. I try my best to keep that away from work and I succeed but you might not get a great smile or chipper tone from me on those particularly bad days. I guess I would go ahead and report it if it really bothers you that much, maybe its a pattern with this PCA. Maybe she'll get fired. Maybe she has great bosses who can help her work out her problems and keep her on. Or maybe she's so sorely needed because she does her job and shows up every day that management won't care what you say about something so petty as her personality not being bubbly enough. Just food for thought.

And yesterday I was in a car accident and am particularly in pain this a.m., so I might have a more prickly than normal response. If so, I'm sorry.

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Specializes in Home Infusion/IV Therapy & Blood Svcs..

I agree with some of the above posts...it doesn't matter what kind of day you are having; we are all expected to be professional. I take HUGE issue with the amount of people in the healthcare field with no personality! I was a CNA before I became a nurse - no matter what is going on in my personal life, I have NEVER been rude or unfriendly to a patient. I am a very compassionate person, but feel there is no excuse for that. I would definitely notify the nurse manager...yours may not be the only complaint about this CNA. A few years ago, I had a very sick child in PICU for several weeks, & I ended up reporting a nurse that was hateful to me & to my daughter. Her behavior was unacceptable, & I requested that she not be allowed in our room again. These kind of people should be reported & "weeded out" of this field - there are too many GOOD nurses & CNA's out there with hearts of gold that would LOVE to (and deserve to) replace them!

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