I hate my job / CST / CIRCULATORS

Nurses General Nursing

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I hate my job! I work in one of the worst environment in the world and I really don't know what to do, maybe some of you with more experience can give me some useful feedbacks.

I have been a tech for about 4 years and I have experience in working in both surgery centers and big hospitals. So far my working experiences have been positive, but about 1 year ago I relocated and started to work in a small hospital in California, and the only word that come to my mind describing this place is PURE HELL.

Let me start saying that the ORs are old, dirty (there is no terminal cleaning) and management is a complete joke.

Preference cards are NEVER updated and the nurses that work there must be the laziest people I met in my whole life, if you dare to ask them to get you something during a procedure, they roll their eyes and start to argue with the tech why they didn't open that specific item. If you answer that that item was not in the preference card, they start to yell at you that you should know and that you are a worthless tech.

What is funny is that those circulators, after doing their charting, all they do is just looking at their phones, reading trashy magazines, or surf internet.

It happened multiple times that the MDs themselves got frustrated in having to deal with certain circulators, they said to me multiple times forget asking something, didn't you get they don't want to do anything all day?”.

There was a specific circulator that even requested me to scrub out multiple times during a procedure, she refused to get supplies that the MD asked for during a procedure.

The level of harassment that takes place in this hospital is unbelievable, you go to lunch and it isn't uncommon to hear people trashing other coworkers in front of everybody else. I worked in big hospitals and I know that gossiping” is part of the unwritten rule, but at least have the decency to gossip behind close door, not in front of everybody (reps, management and at times even MDs).

There is no sense of efficiency and time management, you relieve someone for lunch (which should be just a 30 minute timeframe) and they might never come back in the room, or they come back WAY past the time due. If you mention that to the Charge Nurse, he will just roll his eye and go on with his day (he is not a bad guy, I just think he doesn't want to be bothered. he is friend with some of the people that work there, so I think it is hard to discipline someone when you are going to be meeting with that person for drinks after work).

Let's not talk about shift changes, if a tech is between cases and they know there will be someone coming to relieve them, the same tech will do absolutely nothing, they will not even open a back table pack…You go to relieve them, they are already outside the door telling you got to go, bye” the patient is in the room already asleep, the MD is scrubbing in and literally there isn't even an Item opened for the procedure…you find yourself running and rushing, trying to open the basic items to start a procedure…and the circulator that is well aware of what is going on start to yell at you, because they said that the problem is you, you should know that people there are lazy and they don't care about anything 30 minutes prior their shift ending, so you should be aware of it and just deal with it.

Being a tech is stressful and demanding, but let me tell you, actually the best part of my job is dealing with MDs and patients, they definitely are the nicest people to deal with at my facility.

You will ask yourself why don't you quit?” I have a family to support, I am a single mom and I have no other sources of income.

I am trying to find another job but I am having such a hard time (maybe because this area of California is oversaturated with techs)…

So until I find another job do you have any suggestion about how to survive this hell?

Libby1987

3,726 Posts

It sounds like a kick back place to work as an RN, they must be happy in general having all of that time to carry on and scroll social media. Even for the techs, with their long lunches.

Unfixable

35 Posts

My last 3 jobs were like this, very toxic. I did what I was told and kept to myself as much as possible. Despite this I still caught a lot of heat for absolutely no reason. If you're outnumbered, it isn't going to get better no matter what you do. Run.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Trach Care, Diabetes.

Wow. How absolutely disgusted you must feel! I understand being trapped in a job that is stressful and toxic. That is why I left nursing in 2011 it made me physically ill, it was that bad. Please don't let it get to that point for you, because Nothing is more important than your health. I would perhaps consider a different field of employment? I worked for a gas station chain while I took my break from nursing, was quickly promoted and clearing after taxes about 3,300.00 per month. Lost that job (one of the reasons I returned to nursing). Put your resume out there you have the experience! You also seem like you have a good head on your shoulders and a great work ethic, don't let those lazy people discourage you. Plus I bet you can put some of the doctors you work with as references :) I wish you the very best.

Unfixable

35 Posts

Wow. How absolutely disgusted you must feel! I understand being trapped in a job that is stressful and toxic. That is why I left nursing in 2011 it made me physically ill, it was that bad. Please don't let it get to that point for you, because Nothing is more important than your health. I would perhaps consider a different field of employment? I worked for a gas station chain while I took my break from nursing, was quickly promoted and clearing after taxes about 3,300.00 per month. Lost that job (one of the reasons I returned to nursing). Put your resume out there you have the experience! You also seem like you have a good head on your shoulders and a great work ethic, don't let those lazy people discourage you. Plus I bet you can put some of the doctors you work with as references :) I wish you the very best.

I don't know about OP but I'm done with it, I'm past the 10 year mark and there isn't much that I haven't done with regards to nursing. I've bounced around enough as a traveler to realize that going to a different facility/department doesn't change a thing. It's workplace bullying, that's what it is. I like nursing but can't stand most nurses. Even being on this board you see "certain nurses" trying to bully other nurses. I'm not going to mention names but they are always posting negative comments towards people who are looking for suggestions, they ridicule people who are looking for a shoulder to lean on, and they act like they know it all when people have a question when they don't even know the full story. And God forbid you have an opinion that is different than theirs! You must think you're pretty special to be able to control not only what other people say, but also what they think! It's disgusting. I like the work and the patients. You don't quit the job, you quit your co-workers.

Unfixable

35 Posts

As for the ER....this will give you a hint as to what goes on in the ER. 98% of people are ESI 4 or 5 who are abusing the system.42e6ab2191ef32ba05ff45f955bed23f.jpg

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