Dealing with a childish coworker?

Nurses Relations

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Hello everyone.

I work in a nursing home and really like it. Basically as you all know, us nurses are usually on a med cart which is fine. I work with another Med Tech and it's hell sometimes. He's a nice person but he has ADHD and forgets to take his medicine.

He thinks it's funny throw cups, scream, and sling his keys around to make as much noise as possible. Admittedly, I could write him up, but I know some of it is not in control. Has anyone dealt with an unruly coworker? How do you handle it?

I respectfully disagree with the people who are telling you to start applying for new jobs. You have said you like this job, why should you have to try and find another job that you may or may not like, may or may not pay as well and may or may not meet your scheduling needs. I have been in a very similar situation. I was working casually and seemed to be scheduled with increasing regularity to work with an incredibly difficult and unprofessional person.

I loved my job, co workers and even liked my management but this person seriously had me considering resigning. One day I received a phone call asking me to pick up an extra shift. I asked point blank if I would have to work with Nurse ***. When they said yes I declined the shift. Within the hour I received a phone call from our unit manager who ask me to please explain and to give specific examples. Difficult Nurse was fired, turns out they were well aware that she was unprofessional and difficult to work with but they needed a formal complaint with examples of unacceptable behavior to take action.

Please don't quit a job you love without at least trying to have management deal with the person who is actually causing the problem. For the record I don't think you have to talk to him before you report him. He is an adult not a child, you shouldn't have to warn him that he will be reported for behaving atrociously.

But it seems like her supervisor likes or at least tolerates Phil and his behavior.

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But it seems like her supervisor likes or at least tolerates Phil and his behavior.

It seemed to me that my managers tolerated my co workers behavior too. I know for a fact it was well know she was "very difficult". Turns out by working with her and not making a complaint I had been allowing them to not address the issue. If I hadn't said anything there is no doubt in my mind I would still be pulling all my shifts with this person.

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Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

You must have good boundaries with this person or they will end up running everything the way they want and you will end up frustrated. Throwing items is not OK it is a sign of aggression. This is considered a hostile work place. screaming is not OK it is considered verbal abuse.

If he did this too me I would stop him and ask if this is an emergency. If he says no, then I would tell him his yelling, throwing or actions are not professional and he can speak to me when he can calm down and communicate in a professional manner.

Never let anyone act like this in the work place not even your boss or others in Leadership roles. If you are his supervisor I would give him a copy of the employee policy related to workplace harassment/communication whatever it maybe.

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This. ^^

Besides, you are too busy to "entertain" him in order to prevent him from acting out. He is obviously attention-seeking and you're just feeding that by letting him run the show. Like someone else said, he needs to be written up every time he disrupts the workflow; you need a paper trail to show management that this is an ongoing problem and not just "Phil being Phil". In the meantime, if I were you I think I would be looking for another job where professionalism is valued. There's nothing wrong with having a quirky sense of humor or a colorful personality, but one needs to tone it down at work. Of course, with "Phil" it's more of a pathological issue, but he is indeed in control of his faculties and he needs to clean up his act. Unfortunately for all concerned, he has no reason to do so because everyone is enabling him to continue his bad behavior.

I wish you luck in getting this co-worker to knock it off. Believe me, I'm sympathetic to those with mental health problems but he's sabotaging himself by not taking his meds, and he evidently thinks it's an excuse to act like a clown.

There is no evidence that Phil is not taking his meds. Phil might need a tweak. It's NOT the OP's job to make sure Phil is getting the proper treatment or following his regimen.

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He does his job and calm around residents. Gives them their pills fine. It's like having a child in the office. In 3 years, this man will be 40 and he thinks knocking over supplies is funny.

I doubt he has ADHD if he is calm around the patients. This is very manipulative behavior. I wouldn't be surprised if he was a substance abuser as well. I graduated nursing school in the late '80s. This sort of behavior would never be tolerated in the professional settings where I worked.

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I'm just trying to wrap my head around this whole scenario.

Yes, I've had immature co-workers, or socially awkward (interrupting report to talk about personal stuff, not picking up on the fact that the nurses are too busy for chit-chat, that sort of thing), but your co worker brings it to a whole new level.

Part of me wonders if we're going to be seeing more of these behaviors in the future as more people enter the work force with social deficits.

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Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
He does his job and calm around residents. Gives them their pills fine. It's like having a child in the office. In 3 years, this man will be 40 and he thinks knocking over supplies is funny. And he feels the need to point out the time and how much he wants to go home. You constantly have to talk to him and entertain him unless he'll start knocking things over. He has no concept of an indoor voice. I'm in my 20's and I have never seen an adult act like this.

I doubt he has ADHD if he is calm around the patients. This is very manipulative behavior. I wouldn't be surprised if he was a substance abuser as well. I graduated nursing school in the late '80s. This sort of behavior would never be tolerated in the professional settings where I worked.

The bold part above is in-congruent. There is more to "Doing your job" as a nurse than performing a safe med pass. (Gasp) There are nurses who never go anywhere near medication passes..............are they not doing their job?

I actually believe you that this guy is one way with direct patient care, and another with you. It's why I say you need to start setting the boundaries right away. He's obviously become very comfortable with acting a certain way with you.

For me, that's what it comes down to. In your shoes, I'd not be so worried about why he acts this way as I'd be asking myself: "Why is he so comfortable acting this way around me?". Answer that question, and you'll know what to change to make it go away.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.
Yeah that's why I haven't written him up. I don't want a hostile workplace

Yet is IS a hostile workplace....for you.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.
Yes I'm definitely looking.

And make sure you tell your supervisor, HR, and higher admins why you're quitting!

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