"I know, I know"

[Scrubby]

Just want some advice on an issue I've been having at work lately.

I have been working with this older nurse who has had lots of past OR experience. However the past 10 years has been in management positions. Recently she's come back onto the floor and working as an RN.

So anyway this nurse has clearly has been out of the loop for a while. She has the knowledge of surgical procedures, remembers instruments etc but struggles a lot with the technology as it has changed over the years and there is a lot for her to learn.

Every time I try and show her something she keeps saying 'I know, I know' but she clearly DOESN'T know. I know she doesn't know because I know that she's not getting it. I don't know how many times I've heard her say 'I know, I know' but it's getting annoying. Another nurse has already had a go at her and told her that she needs to stop saying 'I know' because it's obvious she doesn't know and we're not mind readers. It stopped the 'I know' for a while but it's back in force again.

I respect this woman's knowledge and I know I can learn a lot from her as she's been in senior positions. Management have not done her any favours at all by telling everyone on the floor that she's a senior nurse because she's still got a lot to learn. I'm wondering if it's insecurity that makes her keep saying 'I know'. But I really just wish she'd just shutup and listen to me instead of interrupting with 'I know, I know' and five minutes later does the wrong thing. I just want to :h sometimes. I don't want to be disrespectful about it but I'm concerned that if she's with other people who will assume she knows when she doesn't then this may harm the patient.

Any ideas?

[PetiteOpRN]

Is she on orientation and scrubbing by herself? In my facility, orientees circulate or scrub with another staff member, who could take the stapler or drill and show her how to use them correctly and then let her demonstrate back how to do it.

[Scrubby]

Is she on orientation and scrubbing by herself? In my facility, orientees circulate or scrub with another staff member, who could take the stapler or drill and show her how to use them correctly and then let her demonstrate back how to do it.

I have unsterile staplers that I have shown her how to assemble. I have brought reps in as well. Guess what she keep saying? I think the problem is that once she's at the field she gets all flustered. That's fine, the surgeons can put it together but when she's forcing the cartridge in and I'm saying 'turn it the other way' and I get 'I know I know' it's enough to make me want to scream.

She is capable of scrubbing, knows her general instruments it's just the technology like the harmonic, CUSA, staplers, laparoscopic equipment that trips her up. If she just listened to people instead of interrupting them all the time it wouldn't be a problem.

Maybe I am interrupting her train of thought but her train of thought is quite frankly too slow. OR is a fast paced environment, if you can't work it out in time then you just have to listen to people with the experience until you learn it.

Anyway guys thanks for the advice. I have to do something about it because if I don't then someone else is going to really have a go at her.