It's evidently too hard for others to help out.

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Sorry, i have to rant before i explode.

It ticks me off more than anything when the schedule is light, and there are people running around busting their *** to set up and clean up cases, and there's 4 or 5 people sitting on their butts outside doing NOTHING but looking through the latest Mary Kay book.

There was 2 other rooms who had the same problem we did, there was only a scrub and a circulator in the room to get stuff set up and cleaned up before and after every case. And typically this happens a lot if we're really busy, but like i said, when there's people sitting around with nothing to do.....

Common sense says go out and ask for help. I loved the response i got so much the ONE time i asked for help, that i didn't ask again. A nice little eye roll and a big sigh, not to mention glances and a grin at the other people standing there. I couldn't tell specifically what that reaction was stemming from, the fact that i asked, or the fact that i've been there since June and i'm a newbie asking for help. Yep, she actually had to put down her coffee and USA Today and DO SOMETHING for 10 minutes (by the way, she wasn't assigned anywhere, and she wasn't in the breakroom either. And this was at 0730, been at work an HOUR, and was kicked back with the paper and coffee).

Thing of it is, i can only open so much before i scrub and set up a table and tray, but some of that stuff (like DuraPrep) you can't open before you scrub, because there's no way to keep the package from falling over (gloves are another thing that's like that).

And the circulator CAN open some of that stuff, but if it's a case that has a lot of stuff to open, he or she can only open so much, because she has to interview, hang the antibiotic, etc. But like i said, when you got people sitting around with nothing to do, one of THEM can open stuff, while the circulator does the stuff she needs to do (like moving the bed, although i help with that beforehand as much as possible because it's heavy, and one person can get hurt doing that).

We shouldn't have to ASK for help. I've had days where we're done by noon, and we have the choice of going home early, or staying. I go to the coordinator and ask what's going on. Or i'll take a peek in the room windows, and see what's going on. If i see people opening packages, etc. I grab a mask and go in and ask if they want any help with anything. I've NEVER been turned down! This is because the nurse can NOW go out and take care of the interviewing, check and see if both doctors have talked to the pt., go pee, etc. Anyone who's been trained on how to open sterile packages CAN open them, and not only that, practice makes perfect. ;)

And i am going to mention this at the Director's 'Open/Close Door Monday". This is where the Director takes a whole day, leaves her office door open, STAYS in the office, an employee comes in, shuts the door, and talks about whatever. Kind of like a verbal suggestion card.

Ah, i feel better.

Hugs to you Marie,I can relate.

I am an agency nurse and run into this crap all the time now as the newbie agency dumpee...er, nurse. I don't work OR but what you are describing is very similar to what goes on in my ICU's...I have even been assigned 2 critical, unstable admits from ER and nobody gets off their butts to see if they can give me a hand settling them in, let alone answering direct questions re docs on call, doc's preferences, the more intricate facility protocols, etc.

I don't know what's wrong with people out there today in nursing. Too many seem so burnt out all they can find the energy to do is turf the work to somebody else. Doesn't make our jobs easier does it? :(

All I can offer to you is: try to find a place where teamwork is fostered. These are the places that retain nurses instead of chasing them out of the field.

As an agency nurse, I warn a facility once not to dump on me, and if they do it again, I don't go back. Its what I love about agency.

Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.

I am thankful that I work in a place where it is not like that. Sometimes, we have too many people helping (not that that is a bad thing though!!) I work in a place with great teamwork, for the most part. I am always thankful for my coworkers when I read posts like this...

I hope that your situation works out. I am glad that you are not stooping to their level by not offering to help out if you have some free time. You manager's open/closed door session sounds like a good place to talk about what you observe...My only advice would be to bring facts and direct observations, not emotional opinions that sound like you are blaming your coworkers for being lazy (even if they are...)...hopefully, everything will work out...mabye there is some way to foster the idea of better teamwork in your unit??

marie LPN. GOD!!!!I know how you feel!!!!!Sometimes it is so hard to not scream and shout and be totally sarcastic when you see your fellow work mates sitting on their ever growing behinds doing nothing when it is so obvious that your team could do desperately with another pair of hands.I understand and appreciate when a lull arrises you grab the chance to get a cuppa, but not when the **** is hitting the fan elsewhere an their help could make all the difference!!!! dont be sorry for venting!!Its not healthy to hold it all in!

I'm so glad you wrote about your experience, and so sorry that you had to have it.

I've worked in situations like that myself, and I, like you, am a "doer." Oftentimes I don't realize that others are just hanging out until the sweat is dripping off me and I'm puffing away because I've been going at it so hard.

It's no surprise I am also the one to say "yup" or something like it, when the call goes out for another pair of hands, although usually, unless I can't see the situation, I don't wait to be asked. It may be because I love working.

And still, there are people who don't particularly like working with me, so go figure.

Next time you have a unit meeting or maybe privately without naming any names, maybe you can get the NM or whatever the OR equivalent is to put out some guidelines about that line in job descriptions that usually reads something like.....

"and other duties as the need arises."

Good luck!

Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

They are lucky to have someone like you. If you didn't do it, it just wouldn't get done in a timely manner. Personalities and work ethics are two traits that are hard to change in someone. Once lazy, sometimes always lazy. I am like you, a doer, and would rather just get it done than wait for someone else to do it. Hopefully your work habits will become apparent at eval time, if not your NM isn't paying attention. Good luck and remember it is how you feel at the end of the day that matters. Patients are always number one and if you feel you made a difference in their care, good for you! Mike

"That's not my job" is such an ugly phrase, and yes, I have heard it too much at work. I know what you mean completely. The only thing I can offer is empathy, since the above has given good advice. I lied. The other thing I can say is that it is NOT the lazy peoples fault. Why? Because there is obviously poor management. If the management would keep an eye out and crack down on this stuff(by actually paying attention to these things), this wouldn't be such a pronounced problem.

. Why? Because there is obviously poor management. If the management would keep an eye out and crack down on this stuff(by actually paying attention to these things), this wouldn't be such a pronounced problem.

So very very true Sharann. The managers too frequently turn a blind eye to it, and/or some of their 'pets' and 'snitches' are the worst abusers. :uhoh3:

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Ah, spoke to the director.

The new policy that'll be announced is no sitting ON anything that's not a chair, and if you have nothing to do, ask for something to do. If the coordinator doesn't have anything, go to the director.

Despite the fact that there's a few "chair warmers" at work, luckily the majority isn't like that, at least.

And the manager took notes about what i said while i talked (it wasn't a crossword puzzle, i looked lol). THAT felt weird.

(Three of the 4 chairs at that desk i refered to the other day mysteriously disappeared an hour later ;))

Good going Marie! Sound like someone was listening. Sometimes they get caught up in admin duties and forget to look around.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

WE use computer charting, etc. for EVERYTHING now, nothing is done on paper in our OR. And, of course, there's been quite a few problems with it lately, and the director's been pretty involved in it, so i think that has a lot to do with the slack going on.

Gosh, wherever I've worked, we have the opposite problem--too many people in the room falling all over themselves in an attempt to "help." I hate it when someone opens my prep tray or worse my Foley kit and lays it all out--and, "tests the balloon"--GOD---I HATE THAT!!!!!!---for me in an attempt to "help." It's such an unnecessary step; a true "sacred cow," and then I have to worry that now my Foley is contaminated, and open another pair of gloves.

I do know what you mean, however, Marie, and I empathize. There are always the boss's "pets" who seem to do little more but stand and stare at the board and occasionally get up to erase it; or supposedly they are "getting ready" for tomorrow's cases (how about getting TODAY'S cases done, first?!) or "ordering," or they are gossiping among each other and the boss, or they are listening in on other people's conversations and reporting every detail back to the boss, in an effort to stir up some sort of disharmony and ensure their place within the boss's hierarchy of "favorites."

Then there are the social butterflies who always seem to be planning the next baby shower or picnic and can't be in a room. Or, those who have their favorite anesthesiologists to whom they bring coffee and tea--to the rooms!

Or those who have "bad backs" so are just "there--" they can't do any real work, but they are there taking up space.

Or those who are "sick" but came to work anyway, sitting in the lounge and whining about how awful they feel, but they came because they are convinced the place could not run without them.

Then, there are those who seem to do nothing but go to "meetings." They are all on various "committees--" all, of course, hand picked by the boss, to make decisions for the rest of us--the worker bees.

I can't stand to be idle, so I make a practice of just popping my head into room after room, as you do, inquiring, "Need any help?" They are free to accept or decline. It makes the day go a lot faster if you're busy. I just ignore the lazy people--everyone is on to them. They are everywhere. Most of them are either on the way to retirement, disability, or climbing their way up the management ladder--so they won't be around forever.

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