Confused!

ShaneTeam · Mar 5, 2016

Sorry to hear you feel that way. I'm wondering what type of support you expect from the RN's? Hopefully, you realize you are there to support them, right? That might be where some of the comments are coming from.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Mar 5, 2016

It can very well be a cultural thing. f every single person is of a different culture than you, it can be that communication can be based on tone of voice, perceived intent....lots of things. And a culture's take on signs of respect or lack thereof.

Everyone wants diversity for diversity sake, and little education or direction on how to be effective. Statements such as "rude" or "defensive" are very subjective comments. Without example, ineffective.

Is the other PCT on your shift of a different culture as well? Perhaps that person can give some insight?

By extending your probation, they are making it impossible for you to transfer out of this unit at this time. I would think about it for your future. Even as a phlebotomist, in an MD office, some other forum.

But I absolutely get where you are coming from. Any statement beyond yes is being rude and argumentative, tone of voice can be seen as questioning authority.....before facilities diversify, they need to be sure everyone is on the same page as far as cultural norms.

nutella, MSN, RN · Mar 5, 2016

It can very well be a cultural thing. f every single person is of a different culture than you, it can be that communication can be based on tone of voice, perceived intent....lots of things. And a culture's take on signs of respect or lack thereof.
Everyone wants diversity for diversity sake, and little education or direction on how to be effective. Statements such as "rude" or "defensive" are very subjective comments. Without example, ineffective.
Is the other PCT on your shift of a different culture as well? Perhaps that person can give some insight?
By extending your probation, they are making it impossible for you to transfer out of this unit at this time. I would think about it for your future. Even as a phlebotomist, in an MD office, some other forum.
But I absolutely get where you are coming from. Any statement beyond yes is being rude and argumentative, tone of voice can be seen as questioning authority.....before facilities diversify, they need to be sure everyone is on the same page as far as cultural norms.

I work in a multicultural environment and have worked with many different nationalities. In many places "diversity" is the norm already. The key is to make an effort of fitting in no matter where you work. There are unwritten rules in every workplace - even the ones that are not as "diverse".

Trying to get along, play nicely, and respect each other will go a long way.

nutella, MSN, RN · Mar 5, 2016

Hello everyone. I am a new PCT recently hired on 40 bed geriatric med/surg floor. Next week it will be 3 months. This is the first PCT job for me ever. I took a course at a community college for certification. I work ft nights. I just had my first evaluation with my mgr and do not agree with many of the statements written. Some comments include that I am disrespectful to the nurses, I am argumentative with coworkers, I am defensive and do not take accountability, safety is not my priority among other things. It feels like the list goes on and on. I am very upset because never in my life (I am 38 yrs old) have I had such strong words to describe me. I find myself to be the complete opposite of all that is being said. Being that my mgr does not work at night I can only assume that her comments are hearsay from others. I personally would like specific examples as to when I was rude or disrespectful or argumentative. Staffing is horrible at night and sometimes there is only two of us on the floor which means 20 patients each. My mgr is aware that I have expressed how overwhelmed at times I am especially being new and not getting the proper support from the rns or my coworkers as far as teamwork. I was told by many techs who have been there for years that the night shift on our floor unfortunately is like this. I also tried to see if I could move to day shift where they seem to have better staffing and I feel like I could perform my job better on that shift. My mgr told me she feels it's not a day or night issue and basically she doesn't understand what my problem is. I had my probation period extended for another 60 days but I'm not even sure if I should remain there and deal with the stress. I've left 3 times in tears already. I'm confused and sad. I was so excited to embark on this new career as I have a passion to help and care for others and I really don't know why this is the impression they have of me. I'm still so new and only had 10 days with a preceptor, 5 on days and 5 on nights. Patients tell me I should be a nurse with the way I treat them and I've had multiple patients compliment me when I draw their blood. All along I'm thinking I'm doing well and I feel blindsided by my evaluation. I think my Mgr is mad because I've brought up a few things that perhaps she feels I am criticizing "her team". She even made a comment to me to insinuate I have a problem with the "diversity" of the night shift as all the rns are Filipino. Please help. Any advice is appreciated. I am considering going to hr about all of this.

Of course you can question the eval or go to HR - chances are that this will not effect your review. If the evaluation comes from the nurses you work with/under it is their way of telling you that you do not fit into the team - for a variety of reasons.

You may fit in better at a different place.

The manager told you that they suspect you having a problem with diversity - that is usually a no go in the long run if your facility is diverse.

Long at your evaluation carefully- if most of the items reveal that you perform not to their standard and unsatisfactory chances are you won't be able to turn the ship around in a short period of time plus you are questioning their ability of evaluating you correctly.

Perhaps it is better for you to look for a different place. And as somebody else pointed out - if you are good drawing blood perhaps you want to do a phlebotomy class/certificate and get into that.

CNA is a tough job all around with not much orientation.

pct913 · Mar 5, 2016

I understand my role in supporting the rns but I mean as far as us working as a team. I communicate with the other techs and have been told and realize that certain rns work better with others. For instance if I need help let's say with changing a patient I am told I should ask my rn. At times even though they may not be busy charting or passing meds I get told I should get another tech to help. At times that is not possible and then the tech will tell me I should ask my nurse. I find myself for most of the nights bouncing back and forth just trying to get my job done.

pct913 · Mar 5, 2016

The other techs on my floor are all different cultures. We work well together except it seems like since the first day I've been there everyone seems to talk about each other and again the teamwork aspect gets hurt by this. The techs that trained me said they know the techs at night do not get along well and they're not sure why.

The mgr for the entire unit is the one who does the evaluation along with the night mgr (my shift). The rns do not do our evaluation.

It's very hard to hear that if they feel you're not "fitting in" that I have to feel like I'm getting pushed out or away. I'm still learning and getting use to it all. I've never outwardly told an rn "no" and if I can't do something at the moment they ask I will respectfully say is it ok if I do this first before I do that? Again with no direct examples it is a very broad statement that I am disrespectful and argumentative. That is basically saying we don't care what you say we believe the rns and don't want to hear your side of anything.

I've worked with many Drs, nurses, and others in general and I have never had this issue. I know how to speak to people and how to act as a team player. I waited so long to get into this hospital system and now I feel like my image is tarnished and this is not who I am at all.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2016

If multiple people are saying you are rude and disrespectful, it's time to drop your defensive posture and take a good long look in the mirror. That's hard to do, but you can't change what you don't acknowledge. The manager is most certainly making her evaluation based on input from your coworkers.

Working in healthcare is very stressful. Some units have different chemistry than others. Hopefully you can turn things around, but if not, you may need to go elsewhere and find a better fit. But at the end of the day, wherever you go, there you are. Just make sure that you have honestly examined your own part in your current situation, change what you can, and let the rest roll off your shoulders.

pct913 · Mar 5, 2016

I have worked in healthcare for the past 6 years however this is the first time in this position. I understand the stress. I am having a difficult time accepting what they are perceiving to be rude and disrespectful without specific examples or knowing if it is just one particular person. Like I said I am in my late 30s and in all my past work experiences I have never been told these things.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2016

I have worked in healthcare for the past 6 years however this is the first time in this position. I understand the stress. I am having a difficult time accepting what they are perceiving to be rude and disrespectful without specific examples or knowing if it is just one particular person. Like I said I am in my late 30s and in all my past work experiences I have never been told these things.

Were your other work experiences in environments in which this particular ethnic group you have referred to was highly represented? If not, that might be the first clue. If I were in this situation, I would pull aside one of the more respectable but honest RNs who shares that ethnicity, tell him/her you've received complaints that you have been disrespectful, and ask the nurse politely but bluntly if there are cultural boundaries you have crossed or if he/she has observed you behaving in an inappropriate manner. What do you have to lose?

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2016

I think my Mgr is mad because I've brought up a few things that perhaps she feels I am criticizing "her team". She even made a comment to me to insinuate I have a problem with the "diversity" of the night shift as all the rns are Filipino. Please help. Any advice is appreciated. I am considering going to hr about all of this.

Okay, I just saw this when I re-read your OP. I would tread very very lightly in this regard. Seasoned nurses are not going to be really open to someone who has no experience as a nurse or in that particular unit insinuating that she knows better how to do things or criticizing members of the team who have likely been much more of an asset in the unit than the newbie has. It's not clear what kinds of things you "brought up to her," but this could certainly be part of the trouble here.

pct913 · Mar 5, 2016

In addition to all of the this they showed me a patient complaint that was supposedly from a month ago but was not brought to my attention until my evaluation. It was stated that I did not get to the patient in time to have her use the commode so she had an accident. The family was upset over this. How can just I be blamed for this type of complaint? Perhaps I couldn't get in the room because I had 19 other patients I was caring for? There are other techs and also the rns who are able to help patients also. Due to this complaint they wrote on my evaluation that patient safety is not my first priority. How can they even say that?