opinions, please

[beeble]

I was working nights, two patients had severe hypoxia issues. The RT assigned to my area was really busy. He came by and with one patient switcher her high flow NC to a face trough, and switched her forehead probe to a finger probe (there was a reason for the forehead probe AND the high flow NC)...but this RT 'knows best'. And he turned down her O2,

Not long after, she was desatting, and I couldnt get a good reading half the time. I paged, no response. The the RN at the desk said that I did get a call back...but it was from the "guy at the end of the hall" (it turned out it wasnt). I went up to him, he is an RT for other areas that arent so busy, and he chooses to sit on the computer in our area, sometimes for hours, in his downtime. He is the senior RT.

I asked him if he had another forehead probe, said my pt was desatting, and I couldn't get a good read. He said he didnt. So I went to re-use the previous one, and to turn the O2 up.

He came into the pt room a minute later, and as I was describing the problem (I thought he was here to help) he said "And youre good at being passive aggressive...". I said what? can you explain that? /what do you mean? no response but a smirk and a shrug. silence. I said you need to talk to me about that statement. That was a very mean statement. nothing. I said if you cant takl to me about that, I am filling an incidenet report out. Which 'i did.

It was disturbing, and I was so upset..

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

He was probably confused when you asked for a forehead probe, yet when he goes in, low and behold, the pt has one and is using it. Maybe you should have just told him "I have one , but not sure how well it will work" or something to that nature.

[beeble]

I did tell him before that I would be re-using the old one that dosent stick now.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

He possibly felt that you were being passive-aggressive by dancing around the issue and not directly asking for his help with the hypoxic patient. You described to him the issues that you were having with your hypoxic patient, and asked for another probe, but you did not once say, "I really need your help, pal." Although you probably did not need his help or expertise, maybe he was expecting you to ask for help from him, and you never did.

Perhaps he felt that you had an ulterior motive behind your questions and description of the hypoxic patient. Of course, it's all about perception, and he apparently perceived you as being passive-aggressive. I wouldn't allow this man to get to your head. This is a battle that might not be worth it.

[beeble]

Well, I have asked him previously for help and he has

always said, "not my are". I did ask him for a forehead probe and he said he didnt have one. H

e did say during this time that "You need to talk to Bob".

So by the responses, it is okay for a staff memeber to call you passive aggressive? In my book, it is NOT. That is verbal abuse to me.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

OP, I have run into an RT or two who I KNOW like to sit at the coffee shop in the lobby a little too long... the whole thing about finding a hideout is something that happens too. Thing is, some NOT ALL act like they are running their own businesses, and just a little too much like they can pick and choose when they want to work and which patients they want to see.

I can sense where you are coming from, the only thing different I would have done is that, I would not have told him I was doing an incident report. Stealth is best.

Maybe some RTs lacking confidence feel like they are treated by some nurses as UAP. Maybe some RTs also have delusions of grandeur and feel they should be treated as if they are MDs. The whole MD falacy comes from the pager and the constant moving around the hospital aspect of their work. Both are bad, and both are reasons why conflict results. IMHO, you could say the same things about some RNs. IMHO the whole pecking order arrangement in hospitals really can cause so many problems, it's no wonder so many are unhappy.

We all are charged with the big time important task of keeping people alive, aren't we? So that makes us all important people.

[HollyHobby]

It's a waste of your time and energy to be upset about this. Yes, this guy sounds like a real jerk. It's been my experience that some RTs are notoriously difficult to get along with. Maybe this is due to the more solitary nature of their job: nurses are used to working as a team with other nurses, but RTs don't usually work directly with other RTs, so they sort of work in their own private sphere.

Some RTs have very specific ways of doing things, and they expect you to accomodate them. For example, I work with one RT who will freak right out if you leave the suction button on the vent tubing in the locked position. Other RTs that I work with prefer it to be in the locked position. So I will be careful to leave it locked or unlocked, depending on which RT is covering my unit while I'm there. Maybe your RT has a specific idea of how you should communicate with him.

Don't get me wrong: the RTs I've known are for the most part great people, and I certainly appreciate working with them. There are a few, though, who seem to think they're doing me a favor simply by virtue of their existence. I don't let it get to me.

If I were in your place, I would try to talk to this guy (again, as you've already made one effort). Since you've already written him up, though, don't be surprised if he hates your guts. I've had good results from having a candid chat with difficult people like this; in every situation I can remember, I've been able to forge an understanding and mutual respect. Our patients then benefit from this improved professional relationship.

Writing someone up, or just threatening to do so, is the one sure way to destroy any hope of improving your working relationship with this person. I'm not saying you were wrong to do so (in fact, you were well within your rights and I can totally see how it was justified), but I'm afraid the results of your doing so will only make your life more difficult.

[beeble]

Thanks for your replies.

As far as writing up, I value myself more than I do that of this other guy hating my guts. I have tostand up for myself not to be abused while doig patient care. I dont go to work, and work my butt off, to be abused.

He dosent work "in my area"mas he has told me in thepast, so other than walking arond him to the kitchen while he is on the internet, that is the only contact I expect from now on. He dosent want to be bothered.

And I feel good that I did lay my boundaries....both with him, and with the hospital as a whole. I think we should be able to work together without name calling.

and BTW, I have NEVER in my life EVER been accused of being passive aggressive, so I dont think it is a character trait of mine.

[beeble]

PS sorry for my typing, the keyboard I am on is so tiny that I can barely touch the buttons.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Well, I have asked him previously for help and he has

always said, "not my are". I did ask him for a forehead probe and he said he didnt have one. H

e did say during this time that "You need to talk to Bob".

So by the responses, it is okay for a staff memeber to call you passive aggressive? In my book, it is NOT. That is verbal abuse to me.

Who's passive aggressive?...........those aren't my patients!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the one single phrase in the medical profession that should be made grounds for immediate termination. They are all our patients and if someone is hypoxic..........GO CHECK ON HIM!! He is the RT....... next time tell him to act like one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! then report him to your manager and his manager/director..........if he continues on this path request and "open table disscussion" to come up with a "plan" for communicating with him................let him know you will no longer allow his poor work ethic and attitude affect your patients outcome and well being!!!!!!!!!!!!! can he spell BURNOUT!!!!!!!

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

I have never understood the phrase 'passive aggressive'. It's a contradiction in terms. It was probably coined by some psychology professor for a new paper he was working on or Freud maybe.

The RT was disrespecting you girl; putting you in your place. He was fobbing you off saying to talk to someone else, and yes you are right, it is abuse. People should never make personal comments to you in front of others; it's extremely rude and condescending. And 'shrugging and smirking' is rude too.

Ensure his manager knows and if nothing happens from that, make reports for the managers and CEO/head of your department and the hospital. The patient's welfare is what matters most, not his pathetic ego.

Remind him next time we are all supposed to be working together for the patient! Just keep all the documentation of what happened to back yourself up.

That RT is just a loser!

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

This RT is lazy because you guys have let him get away with surfing the net or whatever he's doing on the computer for 4 hours at a whack. Prima donna, burned out, whatever his problem is, he needs to shape up or ship out.

His actions (not helping you with a pt in distress, however mild) are inexcusable. I doubt the employer likes paying someone who thinks he's supposed to be goofing off instead of helping.

It was another RT's area? Where was that RT? Legitimately busy? Goofing off? It sounds like the Computer RT has forgotten that he is supposed to lead the department. If he expects other RT's to cover too heavy a workload while he plays, I'd say he isn't needed and/or he needs to be reminded that he is at work to work.

I don't know the dynamics, the alliances, the politics at your place of work. Going up against another worker is always fraught with peril. however, letting him continue the way he is now is not acceptable. You've already written him up, so I guess you will have to see how it all plays out. Just watch your back, maybe start thinking about scouting out another job or another shift where you don't have to work with this guy. Good luck, I hope your actions don't work against you.

Another way to handle it would have been just to give him a gentle reminder that, "C'mon, John, you know you're not suppossed to be on the 'puter for hours on end and that the right thing to do is to come help this pt before she goes south." Then, just walk away and he'd likely follow.

Ah, well, I hope it goes well.