Been working as a PCT for almost a year... go from 0 write ups to TWO within a month.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

What gives?! Within this month and a two week span, I've been called into the office TWICE regarding "patient complaints." I've been working as a PCT full time and going to school full time as a nursing student in my final year.

Apparently, these patient compliants were complaints such as I didn't knock on the door maybe once out of the 20 times I entered the patients room that night or that I closed the door too loud or that I even didn't look like I wanted to do my job. I just don't get it. I've always done my job the same way since being hired and up to then, nothing... now I have this long ass paper trail out of nowhere.

I don't know if it's my matter of fact, blunt personality or what, but I don't want to lose my job over petty issues. And I'm pretty sure I screwed myself out of a graduate or new nurse position too.

Just felt like venting.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I wonder what kind of facility you are in. I have seen the EXACT same b.s. happen...

when the customer service model is rolled out. Patients are made aware that we are kissing anything to get their "business"

As you can see, your manager is on that bandwagon and writing you up for ridiculously petty things.

Try to move to a unit with a more down to earth manager... or find something else.

This won't stop there.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Moved to PCT/PCA forum.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

I wonder what kind of facility you are in. I have seen the EXACT same b.s. happen...when the customer service model is rolled out. Patients are made aware that we are kissing anything to get their "business"As you can see, your manager is on that bandwagon and writing you up for ridiculously petty things.Try to move to a unit with a more down to earth manager... or find something else.This won't stop there.

I think this is exactly the issue cause that was the overall tone of the conversation, customer service. I guess I'll start having to reframe my job as a glorified hotel person instead of a healthcare professional. Oh and this reaffirms that I'm not cut out for regular med surg hospital nursing.

[karamarie91]

Oh, you're in Med-Surg? No wonder. That is one of the hardest floors to work on. I'm still in orientation, but the patients complain over the most petty things on med-surg. You always have to watch your back, even when you think the patient and their family is smiling at you! I feel your pain and don't feel you have many options if you decide to stay on the floor. Med-Surg is incredibly busy and it's easy to have a matter of fact atttitude when you're trying to get everything done!

I suggest you transfer to another unit if you can't deal with this manager. Or you can pay more attention to the image you are portraying(according to the patients), so that you can lessen the amount of writeups. I wish you well!

[lilliben1]

I too have a matter of fact, blunt, sarcastic personality. It doesn't mean I don't love my job, I do! But a lot of people when they meet me think I'm rude, better then they are, etc., because I'm not grinning like a fool 100% of the time. I just am so busy I need to get my work done, but it's something I'm working on. Thankfully never been written up for it, but have had enough people tell me how they felt when first meeting me that I figured it's something I can work on.

As for family members and patients, they'll stab you in the back so quick sometimes, so always keep that in mind. I don't think it's just Med/Surg, it can be any unit. I love Med/Surg though so I'm just learning how to deal with different patients. Keeps me on my toes.

[caliotter3]

It could be that for whatever reason, you have been targeted, so they are starting a paper trail to back up an anticipated adverse personnel action. With writeups , they don't have to give you a raise on your anniversary date and enough writeups can justify letting you go, or as you suggest, not hiring you into a nurse position.

[northernguy]

I have to admit being a CNA is pretty much a people job. It really is a lot like waiting tables or other customer service hospitality jobs. RNs can get away with not being as people oriented, but not CNAs. Im not exactly a bubbly personality myself, to put it mildly, but I usually manage ok because I genuinely show concern for my patients and I have an even temperment, so it takes a lot to get me to act annoyed,impatient or flustered.

Sometimes I do wish it was more like EMS, where the motto was basically our job is to save your A**, not kiss it.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

Well, I have a meeting with my manager and the HR director tomorrow afternoon. I hope everything goes smoothly. I've done research into this and basically I'm just going to tell them that I don't agree with the write up, but still sign it citing next to my signature "not admitting to fault" or something of that nature.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

Welp. Met with my manager and the HR director, suspended for two days.

[caliotter3]

Welp. Met with my manager and the HR director, suspended for two days.

Unfriendly for you. I would spend the two days dusting off my resume and starting the search. I personally would not want to stay somewhere that was showing me that I am no longer valued (if ever).

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

Unfriendly for you. I would spend the two days dusting off my resume and starting the search. I personally would not want to stay somewhere that was showing me that I am no longer valued (if ever).

Well, that's easier said than done. Between work and being a final year nursing student, that leaves me with pretty much no time. I also don't have a vehicle as of now. I see it as I graduate in early May, so I can tough it out for two months and hopefully not get another "complaint." I want to transfer to somewhere like the ED or an ICU but there are no positions available as of now. I was given the choice to grieve but I think I'll pass just because I'm not trying to ruffle anymore feathers if I can.