Learning to say "NO"

[icemanof92]

I have been a PCT on a med surg floor for almost 6 months now. I am going into my senior year of a BSN program in the fall and I have been an EMT for 3 years. I am pretty confident in my skills and ability to work with patients.

My big challenge has come in recently because I switched from nights to days. The last day shift I worked, I did not even get to my section and start my VS until 30 minutes into my shift because numerous nurses from another section asked for my help. In one case I was unable to do what the nurse asked me and I told her this, but she just gave me a blank look and said 'I know know' (I went straight to the ANM on that one).

Don't get me wrong, I am not the "not my patient, not my section" type of tech AT ALL. I am happy to help where needed, but not at the expense of my own patients who need me. There were 3 techs on the floor but the others were nowhere to be found.

Another problem I had was when I was in my section a patient returned back from a test. I needed help to move him back to bed because he was a fall risk and very unsteady on his feet but able to walk with assistance. I had to keep apologizing to the man because his RN was literally standing talking to a coworker for 15 minutes and kept saying "I'll be right there". Again, every other tech was mysteriously "invisible" at this time. I have never had this problem on nights as it seems the entire night crew works well together and people take care of their own sections, only asking for help when really needed. I feel like I am "too nice" and not pushy enough to get the help I need and say no when I really can not help.

I guess I just need to learn to say NO more often...any advice?

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

If this is an ongoing problem, talk to your manager. Otherwise, you're going to need to learn to be firm in telling people, "I'm sorry, I am tending to my own patients right now, but I will be available in X minutes." OR "I am busy at the moment. I can come find you when I have a moment, though."