I just had to rant

Published

Two weeks ago or so, I was asked/begged to take a surg tech's call because she had to do something important after work... she is a high risk pregnancy. Anyway, it was busy all day and people had to stay late. I saw her in the hallway and found out from the front desk that she volunteered to stay until 6pm (we get off at 5:30). If it was so important to leave on time today, why did she volunteer to stay? Drs. offices close soon. So I don't get it.

Is anyone else staying late because of no relief? Has anyone have a coworker that asked you to take call and then find out he/she really could have kept it? I'm a little peeved...

Sorry, I just had to get this off of my chest. This person has been described in other posts by someone else. I feel sorry for her with her pregnancy, but other than that, she needs to improve her attitude, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-Op.

That's like getting mad because you loan someone $50 for bills and they say they are broke. Then you fin out they went out to drink/eat that day... who cares, you made the choice to do what you thought WA te nice/right thing. That's your choice. Its there choice to burn that bridge of kindness. No reason to get stressed about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR.

No, but I have had someone tell me they would be there before a certain time if I was covering a few hours, show up, and tell me that they were going to go take their lunch break and then come relieve me. It's dishonest, and if someone burns that bridge you just don't cover for them again. That's how I see it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That's like getting mad because you loan someone $50 for bills and they say they are broke. Then you fin out they went out to drink/eat that day... who cares, you made the choice to do what you thought WA te nice/right thing. That's your choice. Its there choice to burn that bridge of kindness. No reason to get stressed about it.

So you wouldn't get angry that someone used you? I see that highly unlikely. Who cares? glad you have $50 to give someone so easily.

If you were in the OR on call and stuck there, you wouldn't be upset? You're a very rare person. You should come work at my hospital. People will loooove you.

..yes, she has just burned a bridge. She's been doing it for quite a while, especially because she tells nurses how to do their jobs...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
No, but I have had someone tell me they would be there before a certain time if I was covering a few hours, show up, and tell me that they were going to go take their lunch break and then come relieve me. It's dishonest, and if someone burns that bridge you just don't cover for them again. That's how I see it.

I think it's the dishonesty that gets to me... partly because she's always using her pregnancy as an excuse for everything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-Op.

Yeah pretty much, that is why I am now in charge of the department. Monday thru friday they can call me 24/7 and I am there to help anyone. I will and do stay late for them when asked. That is the kind of person I am. If I loan someone $50, I count it as gone, if they pay me back its a bonus. IF I didnt have it to offer in the first place then I would not have given it to them. Fortunately, the majority of my surgical team is like this now. I lead by example. This is also why all of my nurses transport patients and turn rooms over between cases when they are free. They dont sit in the lounge or locker room. I am by no means religious but I do live by the "golden rule". It works for the jost part.

When someone has something to do, no matter what it is, and I have the time to offer to take their call..... I take it. Why be so worried about it. IF you are gonna hold it against someone when you do something for them then dont bother offering.

I will not be a sucker though. If they burn me once with money/taking advantage of a situation I wont lend it to them again or will be hesitant to help them again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Argo, I understand Silly's comment. The employee that she is referring to takes full advantage of everyone around her by playing the pregnancy card...and truthfully, there is no way to tell if she is making this stuff up or not, but because people like Silly and me actually CARE about the people we work with, we will offer to help them out. Unfortunately, this employee is very much wrapped up in herself and does not have the capacity to consider the effect she has on her teammates. This behavior is embarrassing to our profession and is unacceptable in a professional environment. However, much like the "boy who cried wolf", we never know what is an actual emergency or what is a fabrication. The only reason Silly and I offer to help out is because there is a child involved. It is something that we must endure as a team because we are there to help each other. We will continue to help, and we will continue to be frustrated, but really, what are the options here? To ignore her? It is a very frustrating situation and one that we cannot as nurses and moreover as human beings to turn away from. What would you do in this situation?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-Op.

I said what I would do. I would take the call if I had the time to do so and didnt mind coming in or staying there late. If I didnt have the time I wouldnt take the call or stay late. Either way I would not complain about it if I agreed already that I was swapping the call because it was a decision I made, not her.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
I said what I would do. I would take the call if I had the time to do so and didnt mind coming in or staying there late. If I didnt have the time I wouldnt take the call or stay late. Either way I would not complain about it if I agreed already that I was swapping the call because it was a decision I made, not her.

Point taken.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion