OR Newbie Bullying

[Bell13, ASN]

Recently landed an OR position. Orientation is approx 6 months. The unit is great. Everyone pretty much works as a team and offers lots of input/knowledge. After learning the basics we have begun double scrubbing and double circulating. I am not perfect at either, but I am only a month in. I do not jeopardize patient safety or sterility. For the most part everyone is a good teacher however there is one exception. One particular person denotes sarcasm whenever you do something he doesnt like- it could be the way you set your back table up or your mayo table or even how u gown the surgeon. These things are important but minuet to me. I will get a feel for things and create a better flow for myself as time goes on. I am glad the expectation is high but when there is continuous criticism it deflates ur confidence and performance. I do not get offended easily and I can easily brush off side comments and/or attitudes but this particular person has made me miserable inside. I am glad when I am not paired with him. Huge sigh of relief. All the other orientees feel the same about this person. What can I say or do to make this unnecessary bull stop? It does not help in any way, shape, or form. I highly doubt this person was perfect and knew every case one month in or what instruments to anticipate handing over. I let the behavior slide too long and I have had enough. I dont want to make the work environment uncomfortable and I am not giving up but I feel the issue needs to be addressed.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Have you said something to your manager or educator that you don't feel this person is a good fit as a preceptor for you? That would be a place to start.

Now for the devil's advocate part: Sometimes, things one person thinks are minute are kind of important in the scheme of things- such as ensuring that hands are tucked away from the unsterile side of the gown when gowning the surgeon. Having a standard back table setup on a case where everyone sets up the same means that when being relieved for a break or end of shift, the person taking over knows exactly where everything is.Some people are more particular than others when it comes to sterile technique- while the way they come across isn't the best, it could be they simply have the patients' best interests (sterility) as their goal. As for the sarcasm, that could just be how the person is- my sense of humor is very dry and heavy on sarcasm, but because the people I work with know that, they interpret me the way I intend to come across.

[Bell13, ASN]

Have you said something to your manager or educator that you don't feel this person is a good fit as a preceptor for you? That would be a place to start.

Now for the devil's advocate part: Sometimes, things one person thinks are minute are kind of important in the scheme of things- such as ensuring that hands are tucked away from the unsterile side of the gown when gowning the surgeon. Having a standard back table setup on a case where everyone sets up the same means that when being relieved for a break or end of shift, the person taking over knows exactly where everything is.Some people are more particular than others when it comes to sterile technique- while the way they come across isn't the best, it could be they simply have the patients' best interests (sterility) as their goal. As for the sarcasm, that could just be how the person is- my sense of humor is very dry and heavy on sarcasm, but because the people I work with know that, they interpret me the way I intend to come across.

All the orientees have brought it to the attn of the educator. We dk if anything was said but he seems slightly better. Nothing detrimental to sterile field or patient. Everyone basically sets up the same. Small differences here and there. But Completely diff person behind OR doors. For example idk all the cases yet and i was told to pay attn. i was paying attn but since i wasnt sure what the dr needed i was made to feel like an idiot. Im pretty sure no one can know everything after a month but perfection is expected. I can take critique n use it going forward but tone n the what is said can be unnecessary.

[Nurse Sasha]

I'm sorry that you are having this bad experience. Though you and your fellow orientees have mentioned this to the educator, things have only lightened up a bit. You said that you didn't want to make things uncomfortable; yet - this person has already made you feel miserable inside so how much worse could it be? At this point, I would address this person myself - non confrontational and ONLY about my own personal feelings. I would not accuse him of bullying every new orientees, just ask him why he seems to have a problem with you, is there anything that you have done to make him feel this way? Having a calm private discussion may disarm this bully, certainly worth a try. good luck & hang in there!! As the old sayng goes" Don't let the '*******' get you down"!!

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

One particular person denotes sarcasm whenever you do something he doesnt like- it could be the way you set your back table up or your mayo table or even how u gown the surgeon. These things are important but minuet to me.

The sarcasm isn't necessary but these things that are mine to you, aren't to him. As someone who precepts new employees, I want the new employee to set thug a up the way I do.

1. My doctors know how I set up my mayo. They know where I keep my blades and other sharps. If a new employee comes in and sets it up differently, someone could get stabbed and it will more than likely be you or the doctor.

2. If something goes horrible wrong in a case and I have to bail you (as the new employee) out, I need to know where to find things. If the set up is different, it could waste valuable time.

I'm not saying that my way is the best or that it the only correct way. What I DO know is that I am good at my job and my boss and educator trust me to get new employees trained. It's the same with this guy. He's been trusted to teach and to train. His attitude may not be the best but try to look past that. Ask him why he wants the set up done a certain way. See what you can learn from him.

[stickysidedown]

I stopped reading your post when you wrote: ... I am only a month in. I do not jeopardize patient safety or sterility.

Your a month in. I guarantee you jeopardize patient safety and sterility, not because you intend to, but because you don't know what you don't know. Stay humble, learn what you can from everyone that is willing to teach you.