types of co-workers/patients to be aware of. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THESE PEOPLE?

Nurses Relations

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Some of the patterns I can think of in types of people that irk me at work:

CO-WORKERS

Houdini – “code brown?” Hides in nearest cubby, preferably with a locking door.

The absent MD – “yeah, whatever you think. Can you put that in as a telephone order?” gets paid five times your salary while you do their job.

The cell phone addict – half day working, half day texting (also tends to be a Houdini)

The old-school MD – wants to order Tylenol in grains. grumbling about how it used to be, pecking away at the keyboard with index fingers, eyes shooting from monitor to keyboard. they will get it done… eventually

The phone snarler –$150k in student loans for a job they hate. Capitalizes on elitism. You, random person on the phone, are their prey.

The benefit milker – need I say more?

The over-glorified RN – delusional “everyone here is stupid… except me.” Spends less time actually working and more time trying to find a problem with other peoples work. finds the most condescending way to point out an error.

The work dumper – Feels entitled with their seniority. Takes advantage of the passive orientees while they flip through catalogues and watch TV, hoping this new slave doesn't develop a spine.

The futile administrator – “here’s my solution," E for effort

The over-stepping CNA – wants all of the glory, possesses none of the qualifications. Tries to delegate to RNs, has been “working on my nursing degree” for a decade.

The drama queen/king – oblivious to the fact that you’ve got work to do. Tends to catch you while you have no escape route. Can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to stick around and hear about their juicy little nugget

PATIENTS:

The med seeker – always nauseated, always in pain 10/10, loves their IV drug cocktail.

The bum – saying the s-word in the ED earns them 2 weeks of hot meals and warm bed. $1000/night on the backs of tax-payers.

The puppetmaster – Hitting the call button like its Jeopardy! And they’ve got the answer every 5 minutes.

add more if you can think of them. I'm sure there are some I left out.

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Some of the patterns I can think of in types of people that irk me at work:

The old-school MD - wants to order Tylenol in grains. grumbling about how it used to be, pecking away at the keyboard with index fingers, eyes shooting from monitor to keyboard. they will get it done... eventually

.

I think that is cute;)

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
some of the patterns i can think of in types of people that irk me at work:

co-workers

houdini - "code brown?" hides in nearest cubby, preferably with a locking door.

look at them directly, say their name, and ask them to come help me :devil:

the absent md - "yeah, whatever you think. can you put that in as a telephone order?" gets paid five times your salary while you do their job.

refuse to cite options for them. i give them the details and then say "what do you want to do?".

the cell phone addict - half day working, half day texting (also tends to be a houdini)

ask them to check my email for me. mostly i just ignore them.

the old-school md - wants to order tylenol in grains. grumbling about how it used to be, pecking away at the keyboard with index fingers, eyes shooting from monitor to keyboard. they will get it done... eventually

actually haven't really run into this one.

the phone snarler -$150k in student loans for a job they hate. capitalizes on elitism. you, random person on the phone, are their prey.

kill them with fast details and a smile.

the benefit milker - need i say more?

the over-glorified rn - delusional "everyone here is stupid... except me." spends less time actually working and more time trying to find a problem with other peoples work. finds the most condescending way to point out an error.

haven't worked with one of these in a very long time.

the work dumper - feels entitled with their seniority. takes advantage of the passive orientees while they flip through catalogues and watch tv, hoping this new slave doesn't develop a spine.

the futile administrator - "here's my solution," e for effort

the over-stepping cna - wants all of the glory, possesses none of the qualifications. tries to delegate to rns, has been "working on my nursing degree" for a decade.

make sure my boss knows every time they forget to report a sat of 77% or don't do their vital signs.

the drama queen/king - oblivious to the fact that you've got work to do. tends to catch you while you have no escape route. can't understand why you wouldn't want to stick around and hear about their juicy little nugget

patients:

the med seeker - always nauseated, always in pain 10/10, loves their iv drug cocktail.

give them what is ordered and tell them there is nothing else i can safely do without risking them not waking up.

the bum - saying the s-word in the ed earns them 2 weeks of hot meals and warm bed. $1000/night on the backs of tax-payers.

feed him, care for him, and be thankful his life isn't mine.

the puppetmaster - hitting the call button like its jeopardy! and they've got the answer every 5 minutes.

double, triple check if they need anything before i leave, aslo stating that i am going to pass meds/do a bath and will be back later. if they keep calling, they can sit a few each time.

add more if you can think of them. i'm sure there are some i left out.

the "more story than you need" rn: she calls you over to waste a narc and has to tell you a 15 minute story about the patient, her weekend, and something random about her dog.

the "i have a question" doesn't ask if i have a minute rn: new to the floor, sees you heading towards a room with dilaudid in your hand and launches into "ok so i have this patient and..."

the post ct, bedridden patient with diarrhea who needs to be cleaned every time a squirt comes out:god love them i know life is rough right now, diarrhea sucks, and i fully understand your need for help, but aside from a rectal tube you need to give me at least 15 minutes between clean-ups my dear.

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Specializes in CVICU.

The Dwadler: In the ICU, the night nurse who wasted time all night and then starts a bed bath until 6AM, and at 6:45 needs 2-3 people for help to turn, weigh, and change the sheet when everybody is trying to close out their charting, give report, and get the hell out of there.

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Specializes in Plastics. General Surgery. ITU. Oncology.

The Nurse Manager. Hasn't worked on the wards since 1972, breezes through your on its knees ward smiling graciously and announcing that you must take an admission into your only empty bed.

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In which category do you see yourself?

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

The oblivious, entitled manager: "I just don't understand why Nurse X calls out just because she has morning sickness. What did she think would happen when she got pregnant?" This, the same manager that calls out sick because she didn't sleep well last night.

The oblivious, entitled ST: "I don't know why the nurses complain so much. All they do is play on the computer during the whole case. I think I'll ask her for something again RIGHT as her butt hits the chair." The nurse is charting, not playing.

The Pretend Clueless RN: Has been there for years and years, yet claims to not know how to do something because it isn't something s/he wants to do.

The OMG! HOW did you get your RN?!? RN: Scary. We have all worked with them. It was only when working with an RN (who claimed to have several years of OR experience) that my jaw hit the floor after she exclaimed to the CRNA, "What is that bonging noise? Can't you shut it off or something?" It was the pulse ox.

The New and Improved Intern: Everything has already been planned for this Golden Child. School paid for already, the world is his oyster, and the sky is the limit. He has knowledge about everything under the sun, and would LOVE to give you advice on everything that comes up in conversation. When his attending gives him an order, he says, "I will take it under advisement". Yes, this is a true story. I doubt the poor bloke will last long.

The Real Chatty Cathies of RN: Oh lord. There is no way to pretend you didn't hear them call your name. The next county heard her call your name. You cringe as you turn around (because you want to be polite), she is barreling down the hallway in a panic. You start to think something might actually be wrong, and then she goes into a soliloquy regarding what she ate last night and how her poop looked this morning. Meanwhile, the surgeon is waiting for you to return to the room with a requested item so that they can continue with surgery. *sigh.

The Altruistic Manager: You don't know the battles that they face behind closed doors with Hospital Administration, and they don't give you the details. But all of a sudden, there are better working conditions, new equipment, and more new staff coming on board. I LOVE YOU, Altruistic Manager! (sorry, had to put a positive one in there!) :)

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In which category do you see yourself?

"The narcissist" - always going online and writing judgmental things about their co-workers, and taking heat from forum readers

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I'm not trying to label EVERYONE, the idea is to give people awareness of the piranhas at work so that we can all keep our dignity and have a better day.

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Specializes in Plastics. General Surgery. ITU. Oncology.

The Altruistic Manager? What on Earth is that? Are they like ghosts, everyone swears they exist but no-one ever actually saw one? ;)

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The "more story than you need" RN: She calls you over to waste a narc and has to tell you a 15 minute story about the patient, her weekend, and something random about her dog.

In which category do you see yourself?

This one. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
The Altruistic Manager? What on Earth is that? Are they like ghosts, everyone swears they exist but no-one ever actually saw one? ;)

MY nurse manager! She is great!

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