Caught in the middle

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Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, and Cathlab.

Hey guys

Have any of you faced situations in which you were asked to take sides, what i mean is that you have male techs on one side saying that you have to back us up in what ever you say, cause you know its a guy thing, and then on the other sides been asked by female nurses that we nurses have to stick together and that we cant let the techs take control of things. just like to add on, i'm the only male nurse in my unit. i mean like i'm totally caught in the middle, i dont wish to take sides, but im being forced to and have no idea how to handle the situation. if i side with the nurses, the guys take offense to it, and if i side with the techs my female counterparts get upset.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Tough situation. I'm facing a similar situation in that it seems daily I'm beginning to have trouble with the techs, and you alienate one, you alienate them all and times are tough.

Regardless, remember you are there for the patients. Don't take sides, handle each situation appropriately confronting issues as they arise, holding people accountable for their job description male and female.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
Tough situation. I'm facing a similar situation in that it seems daily I'm beginning to have trouble with the techs, and you alienate one, you alienate them all and times are tough.

Regardless, remember you are there for the patients. Don't take sides, handle each situation appropriately confronting issues as they arise, holding people accountable for their job description male and female.

Good luck.

What perfect advice Tweety! I couldn't have said it better myself!

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Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, and Cathlab.

You are absolutely right tweety, it's the pt that matters. Thanks for helping me clear out my head.

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Stay out of the argument ("I like all you guys, I don't want to be anybody's enemy, I wasn't there, I don't know the facts, I know you'll all get this worked out") and focus on yourself and your patient.

A smile and silence is your best response. Unless it's a matter of ethics or safety or something of substance.

BTW, if the techs are doing what the nurses ask, there shouldn't be any issues. If they don't want to do what the nurses ask, they maybe need to do something different.

My best techs are the ones I can trust to do their work and do it well. And interestingly, we never have a disagreement.....

:p

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Tough situation. I'm facing a similar situation in that it seems daily I'm beginning to have trouble with the techs, and you alienate one, you alienate them all and times are tough.

Regardless, remember you are there for the patients. Don't take sides, handle each situation appropriately confronting issues as they arise, holding people accountable for their job description male and female.

Good luck.

:yeahthat:

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this is an easy fix. i would tell the male techs they are acting like little girls. just do your job and deal with it. tell them if its a big issue tell the manager and then forget about it already. you have better things to worry about.(what i like about guys you can tell it like it is and leave it at that)

girls you have to explain or they might get upset just for the way you say this or that. girls yeah just look at them and smile and say i really dont care who said this or that. the manager might, but not me. i am going to go and take care of my patients, if you like you girls can sit here and gasip all day about it. when your ready to deal with the issue instead creating a new one you know where i will be. tell them a issue between them and a tech has nothing to do with you and they should not be dicussing it with anyone other than that person and or the manager. dont make it a personal issue and distract me from thinking about my patients with this trival stuff. handle it in a professional way dont attack the techs in a personal way, that just leads to future issue. if you need someone to intervene call the manager not a coworker for this. by talking about it with everyone who will listen your causing a bigger problem, cause now not only you but many are involved. if you find a nurse drunk are you going to tell everyone but the manager, be a professional already and handle the situation accordingly.

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

Yikes,

I'm glad at my workplace we are aware that we are all on the same side...This sounds childish, doesn't everyone know that it's the techs and the nurses against management? He he..anyway I would be sure to not alienate anyone if possible because both the techs and your fellow nurses can make your life difficult if they so choose.

Good Luck

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Ummm, I wouldnt tell the "girls" to sit and gossip about it allday. I'd take the other guys advise and just handle situations individualy. people will respect you if instead of sideing with RN's or the Guy's you use your duel status as both a guy and an RN to help them find a satisfactory middle ground. If your not the negatiating type I'd take the other guys advise and stay out of it. Either way don't side aginst anyone and definatly don't call your coworkers "you girl's" or your going to find yourself in a hostile situation and honestly you would deserve it.

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Hey Y'all

Papaw John smiles, covers his mouth with his hand and turns and walks away.

P- J-

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