GN on Same Floor Where I Was a Tech

[CarVsTree]

Hi all,

Well, it feels great to be done with school. I've been on the floor a couple of days, but didn't have my practice permit until halfway through the 3rd day so I wasn't allowed to do too much. My PCS forbid me from doing tech work (in front of the techs so they would know). Here's the problem. Two of the day shift techs keep "joking" about how I shouldn't forget what its like to be a tech and not to ask them to do things, like put pt on BP when I'm already with patient. BP for Lopressor, etc. Now, I agree that those are trivial things that if I"m already with a pt. it makes more sense for me to do (and is better care for my patients). Problem is I'm feeling intimidated in delegating at all to these techs, well all techs for that matter :uhoh21: Fortunately, the tech I actually worked with on day 2&3 wouldn't let me not delegate when I needed to. She sensed how uncomfortable I was in my new role and told me to go "do what I have to do" and she would take care of this, etc.

Any advice on how to get more comfortable with delegation. I know how important it is to delegate so that I can get my own work done. Should I just tell the techs giving me a hard time that I am already nervous and uncomfortable delegating to my former peers and the "joking around" is making it worse. I could follow it with assuring them, that I do not want to abuse my position or take advantage of them, but that there will be times that I need them to help me and I will ask when this happens. :imbar It is sooooo hard!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I've always said---only half-jokingly BTW---that the average worker can forgive anything but another worker who's risen from the ranks!!:chuckle

I faced a similar situation years ago when I took a job on a med/surg floor where I'd worked as a CNA during nursing school. All the aides were women I'd worked with on the same level, and I admit it was pretty awkward at first; some of them tested me by 'accidentally' being unavailable when they knew I would need them, or they flatly ignored me when I asked them to do something. But over time, they realized I wasn't abusing my position or asking them to do anything I wasn't willing to do myself, and even when push came to shove, I always dealt with it myself rather than running to management, and I never treated them with anything less than respect.

To this day---even though I've since left that position---the CNAs on that floor will tell you that they loved working with me, because I treated them as equals, didn't talk 'down' to them, and worked just as hard as they did. There are even a couple of aides who were essentially worthless, but I could always get work out of them by killing them with kindness........it's all in how you approach them.

You'll do fine, just give your co-workers time to adjust and LOTS of encouragement. Nothing helps make an aide's day brighter than a "Thank you---you did a great job!" or a "Nice catch on that BP---I might not have noticed it if you hadn't told me".:)

[grinnurse, RN]

But over time, they realized I wasn't abusing my position or asking them to do anything I wasn't willing to do myself, and even when push came to shove, I always dealt with it myself rather than running to management, and I never treated them with anything less than respect.

To this day---even though I've since left that position---the CNAs on that floor will tell you that they loved working with me, because I treated them as equals, didn't talk 'down' to them, and worked just as hard as they did. There are even a couple of aides who were essentially worthless, but I could always get work out of them by killing them with kindness........it's all in how you approach them.

You'll do fine, just give your co-workers time to adjust and LOTS of encouragement. Nothing helps make an aide's day brighter than a "Thank you---you did a great job!" or a "Nice catch on that BP---I might not have noticed it if you hadn't told me".:)

Good advice. So far this strategy has worked wonders for me. When I first started in the RN role, one of the aides that I had worked with tried to give me a hard time b/c I had succeeded in reaching my goal, but, I took her to lunch one day and discussed with her that even though my position had changed I hadn't and that I knew she was a better aid than what she had been showing when working with me and it improved our working relationship greatly. I hear from alot of other nurses that one of the other ones that I work closely with won't do anything for them but I have never seen that side of her b/c I help her when I can and always tell them thank you for their help at the end of every shift. I do other little things for them too b/c they bust their butts just as much as any nurse on the floor. I always try to remember the golden rule of "Do unto others as you would have done to yourself". That keeps things in perspective for me!!

I have found that the only way to become more comfortable with delegating is to just begin doing it. The more you practice delegating, the easier it will become!!

Congratulations on finishing school and Good Luck with your new position!!