I was working on a trauma and had to leave my assigned section because I am also assigned to traumas. Was in the trauma room for 30+ minutes. One of the nurses in my assigned area came to the trauma room and said, word for word "when you're done I need to do some stuff." [emoji58][emoji58][emoji58] who does that???
I found that extremely rude but since I was busy I brushed it off at the time, but after I'm just like ***. I honestly can't believe it. Then I come back and there are 6 dirty beds, an almost hour late EKG on top of other things.
I'm still upset about the whole situation and was going to let my manager know but she had left for the day.
Continuous monitoring may not be appropriate for a tech if it is what I think it is. Chest compressions is a different story because I would assume the patient wouldn't have a heart beat and more staff would be in there (if you were doing chest compressions correctly).
I don't do things during a trauma that I'm not supposed to do [emoji58] I am aware of when I become unnecessary, then I leave. And if I didn't know how to do chest compressions why would anyone (doctors, nurses; etc) allow and trust me to do them? Thanks for your nonsensical input
I'm certainly not mad or upset with anyone's comments but for the nurses to come to the tech section and try to belittle me or put me down, get a life. There's a reason I posted on this section and not the general nursing, workplace, or even pre nursing section. I'm not the type to be affected by anyone's negativity but it's very counterproductive and just a waste of your time. And if you need any clarification you can read all the comments instead of just the original post. I generally don't have a problem with anyone, especially a nurse. I enjoy most of the nurses at work and don't care if people are demanding or "bossing" me around. I stay positive and keep a genuine smile on my face because I enjoy my job and I enjoy helping the licensed and professional staff.
I think there needs to better communication by both parties. There can be a lot of misunderstanding about the roles of each party. I think both the techs and nurses need to communicate with each other, the shift will go on much better.
I've been a CNA, LPN, and RN, and I've worked in Home Health, Skilled Nursing, and Acute Care. Across this entire spectrum, communication is what it frequently boils down to. HOW you communicate, not WHAT you communicate, is often the key. You can say just about anything to just about anyone, if you say it just right.
On the surface, I don't see anything wrong with what or how this RN communicated with you. As you know, in the ED, we are often less concerned with people's feelings than we are with getting the job done. It's part of our "tough" ED personas- a survival mechanism that most of us who have spent any time in the ED are familiar with. Sometimes we are brusque with one another, or we snap at one another- but we cut each other slack because we understand. Sometimes we might talk it out, other times we just let it be and move on. In the end, we have each other's backs.
I know the kind of nurse you're talking about- the "tech hog", or "needy nurse" who delegates to the tech more than their fair share, while the other nurses just do things they could be asking the tech to do, and just suck it up. When these nurses ask for your help, you know they really need it. And then, when you have to say no because you're doing something the "needy nurse" has asked you to do, they are crestfallen.
I'm certainly not mad or upset with anyone's comments but for the nurses to come to the tech section and try to belittle me or put me down, get a life. There's a reason I posted on this section and not the general nursing, workplace, or even pre nursing section. I'm not the type to be affected by anyone's negativity but it's very counterproductive and just a waste of your time. And if you need any clarification you can read all the comments instead of just the original post. I generally don't have a problem with anyone, especially a nurse. I enjoy most of the nurses at work and don't care if people are demanding or "bossing" me around. I stay positive and keep a genuine smile on my face because I enjoy my job and I enjoy helping the licensed and professional staff.
I worked as an aide (no "C" back in the day-we were "Nurses' Aides") while I was in school. It was hard work 40 years ago, and I can't imagine it's gotten any easier.
There's nothing wrong with venting-personally, it keeps me from biting people lol.
If it was an isolated incident and you normally don't have problems with this nurse, chalk it up to a stressful shift for both of you (the reasons don't really matter-it was a bad day). If it continues to happen, the two of you may need a sit down.
I worked as an aide (no "C" back in the day-we were "Nurses' Aides") while I was in school. It was hard work 40 years ago, and I can't imagine it's gotten any easier.
There's nothing wrong with venting-personally, it keeps me from biting people lol.
If it was an isolated incident and you normally don't have problems with this nurse, chalk it up to a stressful shift for both of you (the reasons don't really matter-it was a bad day). If it continues to happen, the two of you may need a sit down.
The good thing is that she's not a permanent employee within our hospital. And it was very isolated but her personality isn't the best either so I'm not sure if she has had problems with other employees. And yes, like I said before, it really isn't a huge deal but at the time I was upset about it and needed to vent to someone/something. Don't really have too many people to talk to about stuff like that
I don't do things during a trauma that I'm not supposed to do [emoji58] I am aware of when I become unnecessary, then I leave. And if I didn't know how to do chest compressions why would anyone (doctors, nurses; etc) allow and trust me to do them? Thanks for your nonsensical input
Chest compressions is a skill that dispatchers can walk people through over the phone. It's not completely hard however you're bringing it up in a trauma as if you were actively doing it. I had to question it.
As for monitoring, you would not be monitoring a patient. It would be the RN's job. Once again, I have to question whether you are overplaying your importance in the trauma.
Most of us were techs. Now we're nurses. If anyone has insight to both roles, it would be the people who were both.
Chest compressions is a skill that dispatchers can walk people through over the phone. It's not completely hard however you're bringing it up in a trauma as if you were actively doing it. I had to question it.
As for monitoring, you would not be monitoring a patient. It would be the RN's job. Once again, I have to question whether you are overplaying your importance in the trauma.
Most of us were techs. Now we're nurses. If anyone has insight to both roles, it would be the people who were both.
As an ER tech (EMT), I've done compressions in the ER more times than I can count. Every ER is different and the scope of practice is different in each ER that i've worked in. I think it's wrong to assume that you know her role in the ER and belittle her for being a "lower level". To the OP, I hope your day gets better, we have ALL have them, some days are stressful!
I can't believe some nurses are so defensive about a tech venting in a tech section. I bet these are the same nurses who vent their frustration when doctors do the exact same thing (belittle) to them.
In all honesty, I've ended up in a trauma for more than thirty minutes multiple times. Between chest compressions, EKGs, assisting with getting equipment, restraining, and various other things, it happens. Of course, we aren't the bread and butter to making a successful trauma, but it does happen. I've also had numerous traumas where I'm not as readily needed and I just keep an ear out if I am summoned.
With that said, OP, you'll have to let this one go. It's frustrating, yes, this one will happen inevitably. Take your duties in stride, do what you can, be pissed on your way home, then let it go when you step out of the car. We're ALL stretched too thin, but the weights of those higher than us are heavier than us having to change beds and do some late EKGs. Document why they're late if your system allows you to. Keep rollin'. We have to be flexible in our line of work. I'm sure that traumas take priority, but we don't necessarily always get to come down from that before we're ushered to do more. No one does. Do what you can and keep rollin'. :) You got this.
I have been a tech in the ED before so I understand your complaints. BUT: -its the ED. There are worst things that could happen, yeah? As for the dirty beds, it sounds like with all the trauma alerts that your ED was bumping. Maybe they didn't have time?
And as for the EKG, that nurse was probably busy too. If you saw them on their phone sitting down while you were assisting with the trauma, that may call for a friendly conversation like "If you see that I am tied up and you have a free minute, would you mind completing the EKG?" I will be honest, RNs don't like doing EKGs. Now that I'm a nurse you will hear other nurses say "Where is the tech, I don't want to do this EKG" or things like that. I am not that way, but many are. I'm not sure why, but nurses have taken this stance against them it seems. So, just talk with the nurse. And when I was a tech, I found that if I was on-top of my job (putting all patients in a gown, getting urine sent to the lab, quickly completing orders, etc...) that more nurses would be inclined to help me since I always made their job easier (as techs should).
Good luck and always remember to take a step back and breathe in those kinds of situations. Don't let emotions get the best of you!
mindofmidwifery, ADN
1,419 Posts
I don't do things during a trauma that I'm not supposed to do [emoji58] I am aware of when I become unnecessary, then I leave. And if I didn't know how to do chest compressions why would anyone (doctors, nurses; etc) allow and trust me to do them? Thanks for your nonsensical input