Learning to assert self with NCP's/PCT's

[tigrbuttrfly]

Okay so I am almost and old new grad.. been working for about 6 months now. I am having a hard time asserting myself to the PCT's/NCP's on the unit. Most of them are older in their 50's and sometimes I feel that I am being taken advantage of because I am a new nurse. I know that they are busy. I know that they are stretched to their limit. I don't ask for help unless I know I need more than one person to lift, reposition, or give a bath. Whenever I ask, I always get the I am too busy attitude/tone, I can't do it right now and sometimes they are outright sitting at the nurses station telling me that they can't.

I absolutely don't call them almost for the entire day... when I do, I get this attitude, I've done vitals for them on my patients, glucose checks, entered their vital signs, been more than accomodating. But it's become a regular thing. So what I'm asking is what have you found that helps? i.e what to say?

I need advice!

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

Some will attempt to get away with whatever they think they can get away with. I just switched to day shift a few months ago, and one of the day shift techs tried to set the tone with me that any time I called her, she would say she couldn't do it. Fortunately she was recently fired, so I don't have to address it with her.

Sadly these people didn't learn prioritization and delegation in school like you did...they don't seem to understand that I'd love to allow them to medicate my patients while I empty bedside commodes, but YOU SEE I CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT. So you get the more unpleasant tasks, not because I think I'm too good for them, but because it's what's left to do, after I do all the things that I have to do. I mean, I'm not sure why that's complicated, but we did spend a fair amount of time on it in school, so maybe it is, lol. I mean, I worked as a tech for 1.5 years while I was in school. If someone asked you to do something, the answer is "Yes ma'am!!"

[DoGoodThenGo]

Sadly in many of these situations the "inmates" have been allowed to run the asylum to the extent management/administration does not back up staff nurses when issues with CNAs/techs arise.

While there never has been a huge amount of prestige attached to nursing assistant postions, there are many whom would do the job if wages in some facilities weren't a step above MacDonalds.

There are NAs here in NYC who tell me they make around $9/hr. That is less than 20K per year, you simply cannot live around here on that kind of money.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I found it only takes once of me giving up my chair to a tech and asking them to sit down for a second, they have earned it, to get them to see me in a favorable light. A little commiseration/kindness has gone a long way for me. Sharing laughter helps a lot too.