Nurse tech unwelcoming to other nurse tech

[esrun77]

I truly don't understand why someone would enjoy making someone else feel unwelcome. Why in all heck did you enter the field of nursing if you have those kind of intentions in your heart? I am a new nurse tech in a short-term rehab facility--I administer meds and take vitals and that's it, and the qualifications for the job are that you must be in a nursing program and you must have already taken pharmacology. Anyhoo, there's another nurse tech I work with who is incredibly unfriendly, told me I'm not good at pushing the C.O.W., said on my second day of training "ha, we're gonna have to work on what screens you pull up at the beginning of her shift" and whenever I ask her questions she gives me a "really?" look and uses as few words as possible to speak to me. She's worked as a CNA and then a nurse tech at this facility for a total of 2 years, and she's one semester behind me in the same program at the same university, for reference. Someone please explain to me why a nurse-in-the-making would act like this to someone they don't even know, and how I'm supposed to deal with it professionally...it doesn't make me question my abilities but it does cause me to get anxious in the moment and it makes it difficult to focus

[caliotter3]

One word, jealousy.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

One word, jealousy.

Oh, for pity's sake. Does anyone actually believe this jealousy claptrap?

Most likely it's just a matter of the other tech having poor social skills and both techs misunderstanding the dynamic of workplace relationships.

Focus on the positive. There must be something likable about this other tech -- focus on that rather than how unfriendly you think she is. It's not about you or your feelings. It's about taking care of the patients, doing the job for which you were hired.

[caliotter3]

I saw enough of this behavior when I worked as a CNA to know it has nothing to do with workplace dynamics. That would require that everyone involved gave a rat's behind about doing the job or making patients comfortable, clearly not the situation in most cases. The OP states she is one semester ahead of the other. Somebody wants to cut somebody down to size so they can maintain their 'here first' status. She will be a pleasure to work with when she becomes a nurse.

[JKL33]

I administer meds and take vitals and that's it, and the qualifications for the job are that you must be in a nursing program and you must have already taken pharmacology.

Well that's rich!

Anyway...I'm getting off track. Don't worry about what intentions other people have in their heart. Just figure out how you're going to deal with it without taking it personally and without stooping to that level. Do your best, focus on your studies and on taking the best care of your patients that you can. Be friendly, even. Keep calm at all times. This is to protect your own attitude and emotions, not to "cower" or "kiss up" to her.

You can do it!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Someone please explain to me why a nurse-in-the-making would act like this to someone they don't even know[/Quote]

Because ugly people exist in every profession.

[Davey Do]

I truly don't understand why someone would enjoy making someone else feel unwelcome.

Low self esteem. A person who doesn't like themselves is incapable of liking others. Anyone who challenges their self worth will be attacked. And anyone who challenges their self worth, the people they attack, will be the amalgamation of everyone and anyone who has ever done them wrong. They are not attacking the individual, per se- they are attacking monsters from their Id.

Why in all heck did you enter the field of nursing if you have those kind of intentions in your heart?

There are those who believe they can fix themselves as they fix others. Or they believe if they work in a caring profession, they will become a caring individual.

My mantra at times like this : "My happiness is not the result of what others do or say or what happens around me. My happiness is the result of being at peace with myself."

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

Some people are just prickly. You will have all kinds of prickly coworkers or people who are short with you. I try to be friendly to everyone but at times I am stressed and I might not come off at my best. Don't look to her for validation of your skills. If you're unsure, ask someone else if asking her is going to create problems for you. Sometimes people keep you at arms length until they know they can trust you, that happens in any job. Offer to be her second person when she needs an assist. Ask her for help when appropriate: "Please help me boost the patient in room 7." If she says no, don't waste a second on it, find someone who will help you.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

This kind of behavior towards newbies is very common. The reasons are very varied and complex. But here are some possible reasons in addition to the ones that have already been mentioned:

You being hired will negatively impact her schedule or she perceives that it will. For example, she may get less hours or less desirable hours or she may imagine that this is going to happen even if it isn't going to happen. So she resents your existence.

Someone treated her that way when she started and now she thinks that this is the way you break someone in.

She doesn't want you bossing her around since you are one semester ahead, so she's trying to get the upper hand.

She was told to help you out, but she doesn't feel like she knows enough so she's pissy every time she talks to you without realizing it.

She hates change.

She heard they are only keeping one nurse tech on the floor so she feels very competitive and/or worried and is always trying to prove herself.

There will only be an RN position for one of you (or she thinks that) so she is very competitive and doesn't want to help you

More reasons around competition whether real or imagined.

You look like the tart who stole her boyfriend in 10th grade.

A billion more reasons stemming from ordinary human hang ups and failures.

No one knows except maybe her psychotherapist, mother or best friend. Just assume it has nothing to do with you and do your best at work. Also, if you start getting a bug in you that makes you feel competitive around her, remember that being pleasant and helpful to her shows that you are a good team player which is gold. Don't stoop, and she will hang herself with her own rope.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

What is the relationship between the two of you on this unit? Are you equals or is there a power issue? What type of questions have you asked that have caused her to give you a look? Some people will always have a certain look, and that is just their personality.

With regards to the screens... have you not been able to pull up the correct screens, or is there some other issue? How have you approached her? How do the two of you relate outside of the hospital.

There are many other factors that i think are left out.

[JKL33]

Who tells someone that they're not good at pushing the COW/WOW?! Can't say I have EVER heard that particular criticism...Sounds to me like a classic jr. high method of trying to induce another to feel self-conscious...self-doubt and "lesser". OP, as I said, don't waste time over-analyzing this. Just make up your mind not to be incited by it.

[NurseLife88, ADN, RN]

To put it bluntly some people are just simply a**holes. Not worth the time, effort, frustration, and hurt feelings to deal with people who have no intentions of good for you. Best is to avoid the negativity as best u can and jus keep on keeping on. Do your job and do it well and don't worry about others and their opinions of you in the process. í ½í¸Š