Confused!

[pct913]

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.

[rnnluvnit2006]

Sometimes seeing ourselves through others eyes is a bit of a reality check. Does it mean you are all those horrible things they say? No, does

it mean that you are lacking in your skill set or job responsibilities? No

What it does mean is that perception is their reality, and whether you mean to make the impression you are making, you are.

Don't take offense to it...consider it to be constructive criticism. You don't have to apologize, just take what they say, and realize there might be a better way to present yourself.

Some rules to live by in our field...Many mistake confidence for cockiness, and are threatened by a confident soul...if they are not talking to you, odds are they are talking about you. Everyone is your colleague, very few are your friends...keep your eyes open, your mouth shut and roll with the punches day by day...You will be less stressed, and will find that those that were not so nice will come around.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

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.

Guidance, feedback, insight. Really? You really don't understand what OP means? Sometimes I am just baffled by the rudeness on this forum.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Sounds like the ratios are a big problem there and it's a tough demanding job.

I agree with taking a look in the mirror. Regardless of how you feel you are presenting yourself, you're being perceived as rude and that's a bitter pill. When you're overwhelmed, near tears, and stressed how is that manifested in your behavior?

Are the nurses just sitting around doing nothing while you're working and not giving you support? When you're overwhelmed and needing help, how do you ask? Do assume that they can see you're busy and they should read your mind and know what you want? I'm an RN, and I'm not taking their side, but I'm sometimes flabbergasted when a tech spits out "no one is answering any lights, and no one is helping me", when I've spent a good deal of my day doing non-RN tasks (no problem, that's my job) and stay until 9:00pm charting when the tech walked out on time.

Like the poster above said, it doesn't mean that they are right, it's just how you are perceived. Take it as a learning experience.

Good luck. Nothing stings worse than working your butt off, being stressed to the max and then being criticized. Been there and done that...mostly every day. LOL