Am I just being too sensitive?

Lovethisworld · Apr 14, 2016

I would confront her first, if the situation continues go to your supervisor, who does she think she is?

Maevish, ASN, RN · Apr 14, 2016

I am a PCA at a local hospital working 3-11 pm. I am having a problem with one of my nurses, but am I just being too sensitive(?). As soon as she arrives she begins barking orders while looking at her phone. I never have a problem helping my pts or nurses. However, I find it difficult to be helpful to her when she comes out of a pts room to tell me the dinner tray needs to be removed. I mean isn't that something she could have brought out? Or when she leaves room A and comes to tell me she's going to room B (walking past room A), take water/ice to room A. I am usually in the middle of cleaning up one of her total care pts or doing my vitals on another end of the hall when she asks this. Am I being too sensitive or am I not saying enough? It doesn't help when she is clearly (for hours) not charting or passing meds but looking at her phone texting/Facebook-ing. Should I say something to her or just let it ride since I'm not an RN? Thanks for all suggestions/help!

I would say something to her, nicely, and if it doesn't change or gets defensive, go to someone else (maybe a charge nurse you feel like you can talk to). I'm a nurse and I get so irritated when someone who clearly isn't doing anything or on their way to do something, and doesn't silence an iv pump or answer a pt who's calling out.

My mom had that problem as a CNA because she's super nice and would do extra things like that for people, but then they came to expect it and didn't do their jobs. She finally had to say something and she hasn't really had a problem with it since. I hope this helped!

xo

PancakeSaturdays · Apr 18, 2016

Hi PCABham,

Does this same nurse work at every facility?! I think every PCA, CNA, LPN, RN, etc. has worked with this nurse at some point in their career.

How annoying for you.

I don't know if this would help, but I just wrote an article about this very type of nurse you wrote about. And how one nurse (in a similar position as you) learned how to deal with the taker-mean nurse.

The article is here on allnurses; I'm new-ish to how things work here, but if you type in [h=1]Amber on the Therapy Couch: How One Nurse Conquered the Mean Nurse Without Confrontation, in the search bar, you'll be able to read it.

Hope it helps! Let me know in the comment section if there's any way I can help you!

- Tricia[/h]

Dyvinite, RN · Apr 18, 2016

No matter your title it doesn't give anyone a right to disrespect you. You should always try and work it out between yourselves before escalating it above. The bringing the tray out from the room could have been done especially if she was just in there. Just my opinion.

milesims · Apr 20, 2016

That is extremely disrespectful and should not be tolerated.

However, I think that confronting her "harshly" at first or telling administration would just escalate the situation and not prove your case.

Next time she is on her phone, you could ask her, "Can you please handle this, this or that?" or next time she asks you to handle something while you are busy, tell her nicely, "I have my hands full right now, could you please get the trays yourself?" If she doesn't comply, call another nurse or PCA to help you, so you have a witness to her actions and the consequences. Remember, do NOT give attitude. Be the better person.

If she doesn't comply, even when her pride isn't at stake with these polite and non-threatening questions, I'd go straight to administration with another nurse or PCA that helped you when she didn't. Tell admin her response, what you experienced after asking her these polite questions, and what you did (calling another nurse to help you). It will prove your case more.

ZoeFrecn · Apr 26, 2016

I don't think you are being too sensitive at all. I had the same issue with a nurse. She felt it wasn't her job to get things for patients. Often, she would walk past the fridge, and down the hallway to tell me that pt x in room x needs a glass of water. It would have taken less time for her to get the drink for the patient herself - so illogical. I didn't mind doing this if I wasn't busy, after all it is part of my job. It became a problem when I was busy and she would still come and find me for tasks that she could do herself even though it was clear I was in the middle of something. I would state 'sorry I'm really busy, can you do this for me? Otherwise its going to be a long time until I can get to the patient.' She would grumble, but do it. It's really important that you speak up. Nurses, CNA or LPN's are all part of the caregiving team. We have to work together to help ensure patient safety and that we are giving the highest level of care we can possibly give. You don't want to be putting your patients' at risk because a nurse is too lazy to do something. If talking to her doesn't work, then I would start working your way up the management chain.

PCABham · May 2, 2016

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions!! I was seriously worried I was just being overly sensitive. I will be taking some of these suggestions to see if we can work it out.