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Discussion

First day of work...BAD trainer...question.....

So I started my first hospital job yesterday on a med/surg unit as a PCT 7a-7p. I had 2 people training me. The first I LOVED....she had to leave @ 3 for a family thing and another tech trained me from 3-7 and she was HORRIBLE! Here are the things that she did that rubbed me the WRONG way and please give me your input on what I should do or if I should say anything about it.....

1) She straight up TELLS me that she is sometimes mean/rude to patients who she doesn't want to deal with so they complain about her and then she is taken off that patient.

2) I went around and did vitals on all her patients and when I was done she says.." WOW...you actually count the respirations???" I was thinking WOW...15 seconds of your life it would take you to do that and you just guess a # and write it down...given you can visually see if they are having abnormal breathing but still.

3) It was pretty slow on the unit we had a lot of patients go home, so she tells me " you can go...you only have 25 min left of yout shift anyways...just check with the charge nurse to see if its ok." So I took that as I was not needed anymore and she wanted me to go home. I tell the charge nurse what my tech said and she says " do you WANT to go home early??? I mean you can answer call lights and help out still." She said it in a way that made me feel like a slacker jerkface which I am NOT by any means! I was just doing what I was told. REALLY didn't care if I had to stay an extra 20 minutes!!! I ended up staying of course! So now I am afraid the charge nurse doesn't like me. Do you think I should talk to her and make sure she doesn't get the wrong impression of me??? Or just leave it be??

So should I say something about this girl??? Or leave this tech be???What do u do when a co-worker isn't doing what she should be? Thanks in advance! Any advice would help....

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    The charge nurse already knows about this coworker of yours, believe me. Now you know too. You sound like you already know how to show up on time, do a good job and follow the protocol. So practice your way, do your thing, use your own judgement and stand up for yourself from here on out. What will you do next time this happens?

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    I say let it be. The CN already knows about this tech I'm guessing and now you can make sure you don't do as she does.

    I'm a tech right now too on a floor that has a reputation of having some lazy nurses and techs. I don't see it so much on my 7p-7a shift but I have seen it when I do my clinical there in the mornings.

    As you work there a few weeks you'll see whom the nurses go to for help and the techs they prefer to work with. Just follow their lead and that's the one you emulate.

    Just FYI, on my unit, we arrive at least 15 minutes before our shift starts and we always stay at least 15 mins after. It is just kind of an unwritten rule.

    m

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    You most definitely do NOT say anything to this tech. Last thing you need is an early all out war from someone who has been there a lot longer than you. Just keep your nose clean, do your job to the very best of your ability and remember that this is basically one big long interview for whether they will want you as a nurse after you graduate. Don't let other people's terrible work ethic side track you. You are not part of this organization in the same way they are. This is a stepping stone to your career. For that person, this IS their career.

    Just keep doing things you know to be right and soak up information like a sponge (learning how not to do things is just as important - you saw that in this person). This person already is uncomfortable with you, hence her need to tell you about being mean to patients as a means of instruction. Anyone who does things with a better quality than her is going to make her look bad and she knows it. She pretty much set you up by having you run to the charge nurse to ask to go home early. The charge nurse certainly knows it and let you know perhaps a bit abruptly but in no uncertain terms that this is NOT the person to take direction from. I doubt very much you completely destroyed your reputation with just one shift. Just prove yourself day after day. That will speak for itself. And consider yourself now well armed with information about the kind of person that tech is - and stay away from them socially, be protective of yourself and your practice and deal with them only on a professional level when you have to. Evaluate critically everything that tech tells you to do and if there is ANY question in your mind, seek clarification. This person is not your friend.

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    Thanks guys!!! :)

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