New Nurse having trouble with Techs

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Ok so I finally got hired as a Critical Care Nurse for a residency program. The program sends me through three months of classes, alternating a few days on 6 different floors of the hospital to give me experience everywhere. After the classses are over I am supposed to either choose a floor to stay or stay in the pool and go anywhere. I am really liking almost everything about the job except the Techs. In my facility are CNA are called Patient Care Techs. I was a tech for over a year on a different part of the the hospital so I know their jobs and their responsibilities. I keep getting these techs that look at me when I ask them to do something as simple as assist me with a lift up patient in bed and they say things like...'I'm too busy, ask someone else.'...or....'that's not in my job description.' What the ??????!!!! The last brush off I got was when one tech told me that she was too busy to transport a patient off the floor to xray and I would have to do it myself. I had three other patients and was running late on my med pass! What am I supposed to do. They don't respect me and I feel as though they are trying to set a precendent so that later they won't have to listen to me or do what I ask. I am in no way being mean to them when I ask them to do stuff for me. I try to help them because I know they are an important part of our team but I am getting to the end of my rope and I am about to report them to my supervisor. But I dont want to be the whiney new nurse that can't handle the techs.

How would you seasoned RN's deal with techs who don't want to be delegated to?

Specializes in Orthopedic, Med/Surg.

I believe you're correct in that I was too harsh re: my comments on this nurse and respect. What got me going is that she stated that she paid a lot of money, stress, etc. for it. I did have that same problem with one of the PCT's when I graduated from school. I basically ignored the problem and asked someone else for help or did it myself. The PCT did come around once she realized I was not going to stop politely asking for help and in not helping me she was not doing her job (and I also think she discovered that I was not completely incompetent as a RN). Other nurses will noticethe PTC not taking responsibility and it will come down on her, as it is her problem and what goes around comes around.

What I am trying to say is that I really don't think it's a lack of respect and the RN should not be looking for it. I think it's a matter of the PCT not doing her job and not taking responsibility for it.

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Many nurses gave you excellent advise, my opinion is for you to change Dept., preferably a staff that don't know you. When I graduated a few of my friends worked in O.R. But when they became RNs, the Dept head had to put them in a completely different O.R. Bldg. They knew they were not going to be respected. At my job, PCTs are hating on other PCTs are trying to get into nursing school. There not even in the RN program yet. That just the way it is.

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Specializes in VA-BC, CRNI.

I take a very stern but fair approach with my CNAs/Techs, whatever you want to call them.

I help them any chance I can get, I will answer the call lights when I can, I will get water when I can, change briefs etc.

I have an understanding with them, when available ie not while I am passing meds I will help them...even if that means I have to stay late to chart. The only thing I ask of them is to do what I say when I say it within reason. Be a leader, you don't have to roll over for them nor do you have to be a slave driver.

Address the issue with them, personally I would not bring this up to the supervisor until you have personally addressed this with them.

I regularly get praises from my aids because I will answer lights or do a brief change. You don't have to do all their work for them, just let them know that you are not above what they do. When there are issues, go to bat for them. At my place there was an issue just recently and I brought the issue up the to DON personally on their behalf. Small issue but it bought a ton of political capital with them. Doesn't take much, just let them know you are the team leader and you will help them.

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Specializes in ER.

I'm having the same trouble where I work, but I made a mistake of handling things myself (i.e: confronted the tech myself) and now I have a "bad reputation" amongst the techs. Looking back, I took it too personally and was too prude & naive in thinking that everyone's a professional here and we can solve problems 1:1. I'm learning things the hard way, and I hope you don't make the same mistakes I did. :p

There's bound to be some hazing especially when ancillary staffs have been there for years and you're just fresh out of school. They want you to acknowledge that they have more experience than you and want your respect. (plus a lot of times they're much older than you) So suck it up, do everything yourself and hopefully they will see that you mean business and start helping you out. When they teach you new things or correct you, (even if it's something you already know) either laugh it off or just say "Thank you." However, if they challenge you about something legal regarding patient care, don't back down.

If you had a 200lb patient with stage III decub who needed repositioning and the all ancillary staffs ignored you, then talk to the charge nurse, but not in accusatory manner, but as a patient advocate. ex: "Hey, I have a pt who is 200lb with stage III decub who really needs to be repositioned, but I could not find any help at this moment. Can you help me out?" S/he will either come and help you him/herself or find someone to help you out. Always go through the AHN or whoever is in charge and don't take matters into your own hands! Use the system!

I think it's a good idea to always explain why you're delegating as well. I once asked a tech to put a pt on a bed pan because I had to triage a pt who complained of chest pain, but she complained straight to the AHN that I was just talking to the pt and didn't put her on a bed pan. :angryfire Sometimes, you never win...... So yes, it sucks, but unfortunately, it's part of real life nursing as a new grad. Good luck!

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Maybe your right, maybe I should take a different approach with them. For instance maybe I should remind them that even though I used to do the exact same thing as they do I am not one of them anymore. I paid alot of money and went through alot of trials, tests, school, etc. to finally be a RN. I earned that title and I realize that CNAs are important to the team. I respect them but they should respect me. I was only asking for ideas and advice on how to deal with CNAs (techs) that do not want to do anything I ask of them. I have never ordered anyone around in my life and I am not about to start now. I may be a new RN but I am no spring chicken and I have dealt many a time with all types of different people. This is just my first experience being in a position of authority. After all is said and done I am responsible for the well being of my patients. When I was a tech I took great pride in having one of the RNs look to me and say, "Thanks I really appreciate your help." I have been waiting to instill that same sense of pride in another tech but have yet to have the chance.

I was a tech...and I always try to be nice but I am above all a patient advocate and if a tech thinks they would get by with that they would be dead wrong...Sounds like they are being disrespectful I would write them up...or have them written up...Never appear to be weak...

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I am working as a tech right now in a neuro intensive care unit. I know exactly how you feel, as I see other techs (not myself of course ;) ) give the same attitude. Giving us a 10 min warning is appreciated, especially in the morning when we have 10 people to bathe! I think it really depends on the people. We have a CNA and he is under union contract and seems to think he can go on 5 hour breaks whenever he wants! UGH!

Stick it out as much as you can, if not, move to a different unit, unless you truly love the unit you are working on now.

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You left out 1 bit of info. 1. What was the tech busy with? Techs have to prioritize also. From not leaving a patient in a wet bathroom alone, feeding a patient, 2 different patients passed a BM, and they need to be cleaned. If she was busy with someone who needed immediate care than you need to take the patient down. If she wasn't busy with someone who needed immediate attention ask her to take the patient down before or after depending on the situation. Respect is needed from everyone. Tech are nurse assistants, but also a part of a team to good health care for a client. Everyone is a team in the health field and respect from every person is needed. Respect is not important your degree is not important the patient is important! If you are working as an RN than you don't need to remind anyone what special things you have done, because that has nothing to do with what you went to work for. If it is an issue with the staff talk to them first. If it continues go to the next person in the chain of command, but be fair! Don't abuse your power, because when you treat a person good you'll get the same treatment. However, if that's not the case take to the manager. I have been a tech for 3 years, and I will be a RN next year. Use the johari's window when you are in a situation. "Things others don’t know about me, Things others know about me, Things I know about myself, and Things I don’t know about myself." Respectfully try to figure each and every window, so you can make a better approach to a situation. Hope I helped. :-)

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