"I'm woke."

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Aide is on 1:1 with a client in Psych. She has her eyes closed. I say, "Please wake up, Boo Boo." She says "I'm woke" and continues to sit with her eyes closed. I say she needs her eyes open unless she has x ray vision, trying to keep it light but focused. She refuses, continue to sit with eyes closed. I go do a task and then return, she is still with her eyes closed. I have her relieved by another aide and notify the Supervisor. I ain't playing.

She calls the Sup then comes and yells loudly at me that she will tell the supervisor if she ever sees me sleeping. I don't bother to reply and plan to do a formal write-up on this, as I told the Sup, who said "ok".

If she had only not been disrespectful and not mouthed off... If she had moaned and groaned and done as asked, I could empathize and feel sorry for her but the backtalk sent me a message that she does not respect me. Machiavelli - fear is better than respect? Something like that? Ah, well, she's calling the shots. I'm just responding to her.

Am I making too much of it? Too hard-nosed? I don't want the client or staff hurt.:argue: I'm ready to quit because of all the crap I have to deal with from subordinate staff - 99% of it comes from her, too. :sniff::devil::angryfire:banghead:

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Specializes in School Nursing.

sounds like you are a bit edgy. breathe !!:imbar

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

In my opinion you did the right thing. Just keep it professional, and with a paper trail...no need to get into a yelling match with her...sounds like she would win that one anyways....I think you "x-ray vision" comment was fine as far as keeping it light, she should have just laughed and opened her eyes.

Good luck

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

Not saying you took the wrong course of action, but it does make me a little nervous when nurses cite Machiavelli.

Oh, and please don't hurt me!

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At first I thought "Booboo" was the psych client and not the aide! What kind of healthcare provider says "I'm woke" ? I think Vito did the right thing by relieving her and reporting to the supervisor (and documenting). The patient was 1:1 for some reason and deserved undivided attention from the staff (x-ray vision excluded).

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Specializes in LTC, ER.
At first I thought "Booboo" was the psych client and not the aide! What kind of healthcare provider says "I'm woke" ? I think Vito did the right thing by relieving her and reporting to the supervisor (and documenting). The patient was 1:1 for some reason and deserved undivided attention from the staff (x-ray vision excluded).

I totally agree, it took me awhile to realise that this wasn't a psych pt. Her appearing to be asleep while sitting with a pt is unacceptable. Then her mouthing off should have gotten her fired, or at least suspended a few days w/out pay.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Confused me at first too :)

How can a sitter be watching if her eyes are closed? Give me a break. I think you did the right thing.

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I praise you for a job well done....I have seen this so many times and so many times I have heard from other nurses that tech is just sleeping or watching tv, not paying any attention to the real reason they are in that patient's room doing 1:1 monitoring--for the PATIENT, the patient's safety as well as everyone else that is around (other patients, other coworkers--especially if its a psych patient)...

So write that tech up if you need to, make your point across that patient care and patient safety is why they are there!!!!! :up: :)

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At first I thought "Booboo" was the psych client and not the aide! What kind of healthcare provider says "I'm woke" ? I think Vito did the right thing by relieving her and reporting to the supervisor (and documenting). The patient was 1:1 for some reason and deserved undivided attention from the staff (x-ray vision excluded).

I thought it was the psych patient to. Sounds more like the kind of thing a patient would say then a worker.

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Being professional is always the best way to go...Good job.

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you were perfectly appropriate in writing her up.

getting paid for 1:1?

what didn't she understand?

you're being totally reasonable.

leslie

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You're right, she's wrong. Don't engage with her on her level, just write her up (as often as necessary).

(BTW, the N. Machiavelli quote is, "It's better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.")

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