Colleague treats tech like a slave. Would you intervene?

cbcle · Jun 25, 2011

Thank you all for your input. I am composing an e-mail to the nurse manager now. I'm normally not one to meddle, but I won't stand for a toxic work environment. Thank you all!

steelydanfan · Jun 25, 2011

There's a nurse on my unit "Anne" who treats all of the techs, in particular a tech named "Mary" in an appalling manner. Anne is well known for her diva behavior. We all hate getting report from her because she is rude, tries to get you in trouble to cover up her mistakes, etc. You all know the type. There's one on every unit. We all put up with it. However, today I observed Anne treating Mary in a way that I consider to be absolutely unacceptable. Mary is a tech and a nursing student. She's one of our hardest working staff members and she's going to be a shining star when she gets her nursing license. Anne treats Mary as though she is the scum of the earth. She barks orders at her, looks upon her with disdain, and just in general treats her in a way that you wouldn't even treat your worst enemy. I was in such disbelief over her behavior that I kept waiting to see if this was some long-running joke between them.
A little later I took Mary aside and asked if this is typical of Anne. Mary burst into tears and said this has been going on since she started working and that she's just too terrified to speak up about it. She gave other examples of times when she'd been treated like dirt by Anne. What would you do? I want to say something to the unit manager about it. I would even volunteer to confront Anne myself to see if she's even aware of how poorly she treats Mary and other individuals. Would this be overstepping my bounds to mention something? I have a feeling management is aware but hasn't said anything because Anne has been around for quite some time. What would you do? I can't stand watching someone be treated this way! This is why nursing will never be considered a profession. We don't behave like professionals!

YOU are not behaving like a professional if you are not in your managers office on Monday making a formal complaint about Anne's behaviour. Not to do so is cowardly and just plain WRONG.

steelydanfan · Jun 25, 2011

Thank you all for your input. I am composing an e-mail to the nurse manager now. I'm normally not one to meddle, but I won't stand for a toxic work environment. Thank you all!

Glad to know you tok the high road, but an in-person meeting is a LOT more effective than an email.

mama_d, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

Glad to know you tok the high road, but an in-person meeting is a LOT more effective than an email.

I always thought so too, but an e-mail is something in writing that can be referred back to/placed in personal file. My direct manager prefers e-mails for that reason, and will follow up in person to touch base about the issue.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

As nurses we must advocate for others. Usually it's for our patients, but it follows that we should advocate for others who aren't able to advocate for themselves, for whatever reason. Kudos for being willing to get involved in this situation!

shortd · Jun 25, 2011

The problem with this intimidation and fear is that if the tech messes up and puts the pt in danger they may try to hide it before coming that nurse. It is probably breaking down all communication, she's probably affraid to relay any concerns of a pt's condition to that nurse. Compare this to a beligerent MD and how easy it is to page him/her.

The fact of the matter is there's a nursing shortage but a big pool of applicants without degrees ready to replace a tech quitting. This tech being a nursing student also means she won't be in this job for long anyway and no guarantee she'll work for the hospital. The nursing manager has an experienced nurse on her staff, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

I don't don't know what Flo would do. I work in the SICU so don't have any UAPs exept unit secretaries whom I would be lost without. Compare how much this tech does for you compared to what this nurse does for you. I was a PCT while in nursing school taking care of the pts while the nurses were hanging out in the break room or texting in the med room. On my unit I'm taking vitals, I/Os, feeding, bathing, ambulating, turning, cleaning poo, and sometimes even talking to my extubated pts along with everyting else a nurse does. I would treat like gold anyone who did any of that for me.

I support you however you want to handle the situation because you've got to do what you have to do (or don't do) to survive this job.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

fwiw, there's a lot of new research on bullying that shows that bullies back down a whole lot better if bystanders speak right up. teaching victims to be assertive is fine, but it's not really that effective. what they're starting to do now is teach kids that we are all responsible for stopping bullying, and to get in the bully's face and call him/her on it, to support the victim by being present for him/her.

if you have observed this, you can bet others have too. if it happens again, have a signal word that will call them together right away so you can stand next to mary and tell anne this is unacceptable behavior. sort of like the "code pink" thing we use when there's an abusive physician, where all the nurses stand together, bear witness, and face him down.