Fed up with a tech. Long- sorry.

[missladyrn]

I used to work as a tech myself. I totally respect them and know how hard they work. There is one tech that is really out of hand. We work in a clinic. She has been working in the field for over 30 years, she hates nurses and she hates young new nurses. She hates patients, she pretty much is mean to everyone. She has been giving me a hard time since day 1. It is like swimming upstream every time I have to work with her. She tells people she is an RN and her facebook page states she is an RN. First major issue I had with her, she was told she could leave for the day when patient X was finished. I had hung vanco for patient x and it was scheduled to run for 60 minutes per MD order. 25 minutes later I look in on patient X and she is gone. I call patient x and she states that the other nurse came in and sped up the med. I was livid, went right to the manager and told her what happened. I take this offense VERY seriously as I hung this med and if there is any reaction or anything I am the one who will get blamed. Tech has NO authority to be touching the IV!!! She said she would speak with tech. Nothing was done. Manager said she denied it, and since I didnt see her do it nothing we can do. Patient would verify if manager bothered to call. I asked not to be scheduled with this tech again, as i value my license and she is not safe. I have since written this tech up for several major offense. She has been caught falsifying compliance logs, touching patients ivs more than once etc etc. She just does whatever she wants. I can't even take a lunch when I work with her because I have to babysit everyone who has a med running or she will touch it.

This tech screams at me, cusses at me, and refuses to do her job on a regular basis. I am working with her all the time. All of this in front of patients. I complain to manager, manager states- Oh that is just "techs name" you will get used to her. If I have to hear "oh that is just her" one more time I am walking out the door. So anyway yesterday I hung some vanco. Tech sped it up again. This time I freak out and start lecturing her on red man sydrome and the dangers of meds. Tech cusses at me and said she isn't doing anything sits at the computer and gets on facebook. Manager has a talk with tech. Tech comes out screaming and swearing at me again in front of patients, said I am a tattle tale and said some things that you just don't hear a lady say ever. Patient complains about language. Tech gets written up has a disciplinary meeting Friday about the patient complaint. Now other techs are all mad at me because I GOT HER IN TROUBLE.

I need a new job. The manager seems totally ok with psycho tech possibly killing patients by interfering with IV. The fact that if the patient had not complained nothing would have been done makes me so perplexed. My manager does not manage. My license is at risk.

[nctamelanurse]

time 2 go!!

[Bigdude]

I already hate this tech just cuz she tells people she is an RN.

[FLArn]

I wish you the best in whatever action you take. What a mess!:hug:

[PedsDrNurseTheo, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, EMT-P, NP]

Operating outside the scope of one's practice (i.e., adjusting medication rates when one is not certified or licensed to do so) and representing one's self as an licensed professional when one is not are both punishable offenses under most states' Nurse Practice Acts.

From what I gather from your posts, this tech is not only frustrating and annoying, she is a criminal. And she is dangerous. If your manager will not report her misrepresentation of herself to the State BON, then you ought to - and get some additional people to support you. Get a screenshot of her FB page too.

Just saying.

[JDZ344]

I opened this post this thinking "maybe I can explain it from the tech's point of view", but NOPE, what is is doing is INEXCUSABLE and when (not IF!) she seriously harms a patient then guess who will take the blame? Yep- the RN. Run (not walk!) from that job. Seriously. I'm a tech and I went cold reading that!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Screen shot. BON report. She is breaking the law.

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

These are some serious allegations you are posting about this tech. If the manager is not addressing the issue than it may be time to move this higher up the chain of command. If nothing is still done, then it might be time to move on.

Also, who is running the clinic? If it's the state than it might be time for a call.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moving to nursing colleague and pt relations forum.

[demylenated, BSN, RN]

Um, certifying agency, BON. She is working under YOUR licence, you are responsible for her. I would also put my complaints in WRITING so if anything is looked at you can SHOW you have used the chain of command and nothing has been done...

However, something will be done if/when you report her to the BON. THAT is where you need to take it. Until then, I would tell mgt I refuse to accept responsibility for having her work with me. I would tell them she is practicing outside her scope and is unsafe and refuse to accept responsibility.

But, that is just me.

[KrysyRN, BSN]

I would recommend speaking with the director of nursing at your facility. This tech's activity, representing herself as an RN, and the manager's and other techs reactions is mortifying.

A few years back I worked with a nurse that was stealing from the hospital. I'm not talking about taking home a bandaid or roll of tape in her pocket. She was stealing thousands of dollars worth of goods, including narcs. I informed the floor supervisor, and the supervisor said, in words to this effect, that I was being slanderous. She was angry with me and told me to be careful of what I said. I was at a loss for what to do next. One night I saw the Medical Director in the hallway and told him what I was witnessing and my supervisor's response. Within 2 weeks my supervisor was terminated, as well as that nurse. The director of nurses said I should have informed her of what was going on. It had not occurred to me to speak with her (I was fairly new to nursing at the time). Lesson learned...

[Denisse3, ADN, RN]

OMG!!! Get out of there. Clearly the manager has issues herself and doesn't care about patients! That is very serious how can they just let her do whatever she wants and puts pts life at risk? I dont get it!! If I was you I would QUIT and get another job. You must be really stressed out!