Got someone mad at me

[TazziRN, RN]

We have a recent CNA graduate orienting in the ER to be a tech. The first day I met her I was impressed, she seemed eager to learn and promising. In just over a month we've all changed our opinions of her. She's a know-it-all who thinks she's better than the rest of us. Last night she brought her kids in, they'd been ill for a few days. She said that she called Dr. Doe at home and he told her to bring them right in to the ER. (I know he didn't, but that's beside the point.) After finishing the triage I told her very gently that calling docs at home for personal help is not a good idea. She giggled and said "Well, my sister's dating him." (The opposite is actually true....the sister is chasing him and he's trying to avoid her.) I told her I understand that, but the docs value their private time as much as we do. She has seen us take calls from pts and page their docs to call them at home so she knows what she should have done.

Today I heard that she comlained long and loud after I left for home and that she is planning on talking to the boss, that I had no right to talk to her like that. I figured that hearing it from me would be a lot less embarrassing than having the doc tell her that.

I'm not afraid of the consequences because this girl has been causing problems since her first week. I'm just tired of it. She runs to the boss everytime she thinks she's been slighted, and she's still on orientation!!

Now what?

[bethin]

I wouldn't worry about it. Once the NM hears about this, she's going to be in a heap of trouble. I don't know about your hospital, but at ours, we have to sign a statement that we will not call docs at home for personal businees, nor will we ask personal medical advice or ask for prescriptions to be filled. If you're sick make an appt.

I have the home number to PCP but there's no way I would ever call him at home for ME or a family member. If I need to see him, I make an appt or if it's an emergency, I go to the ER. Let ER make the call to the dr.

I think she definitely stepped over some lines. I'm curious to see what the dr says about this.

BTW, it sounds like you were being professional when you told her this.

[TazziRN, RN]

We don't have to sign anything like that, but I would think it would be common courtesy! If I see my doc in the hall and it's a simple problem I might ask him for a script if he's not in a hurry, but that's it. I have the docs' home numbers, pager numbers and some cell numbers memorized, but I would never think of using those numbers from home for myself.

[bethin]

Tazzi, maybe this girl was born without common sense and courtesy. We don't like to be called on our days off.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

It isn't going to be long before this CNA implodes if she keeps up this behavior. You might just want to sit back and watch and enjoy the ride. I'm sure that you are as respected at work as you are here so what she says is useless. We all dislike people who take advantage of our work environment, although we are allowed and even expected to ask our ER docs for help if we are sick. If won't be long before she makes a total fool of herself and is laughed out of the ER. You did everything right, she just is too dumb to appreciated good advice when she hears it.

[TazziRN, RN]

Thanks, Gonzo!

What's so frustrating about her is that when we all try to tell/show her stuff she pulls the "I've-been-around-doctors-for-years-I-know-what-to-do" attitude. A couple of weeks ago she was complaining that the boss's assistant counseled her about a problem and accused another tech of complaining about her. I finally dragged her into a room and told her "Don't be blaming *** for talking to the boss, it was me!" It was several other people too but I wasn't going to bring them into it without their permission.

[clemmm78, RN]

Yikes!! What a toxic person. No advice, just sympathy.

[Julie_Bean]

yea sucks what she did but not really your place to tell her so.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

I work with a nurse in the ER who thinks she knows everything and has only been outa school a couple of years. I have caught her doing things wrong a couple of times and suggested that she not do it, and she just laughs at me. Anyway after trying about 3 times to help her I finally quit and just stay way far away from her because I don't want my name on any of her charts. We share pt care alot in our unit. Fortunately I don't work with her much any more.

No it alls are so hard to deal with. And our unit is so chaotic she will most likely never get caught even if she makes a mistake.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

I disagree Julie Bean, it is important for more experienced nurses to share their knowledge and wisdom. But not to worry because this CNA is going to get herself in trouble with her attitude anyway. I hope nurses like Tazzi never stop sharing advice. It is the best way to learn.

Julie BEan, I see you have only four posts on this website. You might want to hang around a little more and learn before you start criticizing people.

[Batman24]

You went out of your way to not only offer professional advice, but to be kind and helpful. She's not receptive to either so let her continue to dig her own grave. If she goes to the boss my guess is the boss will reiterate whay you already told her.

[burn out]

gosh gonzo give julie bean a break. If her comment was critical it was only mild.I also agree with her. no matter how much this cna is disliked by Tazzi when she came to the ER she did not come as an employee but as a patient and should have been treated as one. No matter how much I disagree with what the cna did as an individual I would have just sat back and watch the new girl hang herself.