Same high maintenance scrub tech question

caliotter3 · Aug 7, 2010

Who is in charge there? Why don't they deal with her? She sounds like the textbook definition for some kind of personality disorder. I would ignore her or dismiss her interruptions as much as possible. Or you could throw her demands right back at her. It must be terribly frustrating to have her picking at you all the time.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Aug 7, 2010

Who is in charge there? Why don't they deal with her? She sounds like the textbook definition for some kind of personality disorder. I would ignore her or dismiss her interruptions as much as possible. Or you could throw her demands right back at her. It must be terribly frustrating to have her picking at you all the time.

Yep, I think you are right on target about the personality disorder. She constantly interrupts the surgeon for unusual requests. She can't stay on task for long. She has no clue that the patient is the focus. We are so short staffed that they are willing to keep her on and give her chance after chance. She uses one excuse after another to explain her behavior. I am tearing my hair out! I have tried to talk to her about it, but it's like talking to a brick wall...nothing computes. My manager has her plate so full right now that she does not want one more problem-and to her credit, she has spent a great deal of time talking with this tech about the problems that are arising daily. The surgeons don't like her to be in the room. One of them actually told me that when they walk in and see that she is the tech, they mentally prepare for some type of disruption from her. Wow. :eek:

caliotter3 · Aug 7, 2010

Enlist the help of the surgeons to get this person gone. The operating room is no place to be dealing with this type of person. For that matter, she would be welcome in very few workplaces. She appears to need some type of professional help, but it will take someone in authority to make this a condition of continuing employment. She needs to be transferred somewhere else, if not terminated, before something serious happens because of her behavior.

Scrubby · Aug 7, 2010

When this tech requests something trivial like a chair tell her in front of everyone that patient care comes first. If she argues tell her she's being inappropriate. Don't give her what she wants. If she carries on walk right up to her and give her a first warning. If the behaviour continues then report her as a threat to patient safety.

Just remember that as the scout nurse you have the upper hand. She is scrubbed and depends on you, she can't do anything she is scrubbed. If she carries on about you not getting a chair ask her very loudly in front of everyone to justify how getting a chair is more important than patient care. This usually puts them in their place because they realise how silly they're behaving.

I have seen this carry on from nurses who seem to think once they are gowned and gloved they are in charge. Um no, your there to hand instruments and can't really do anything else because your sterile. It's called teamwork.

KimGau · Aug 9, 2010

I dont have any helpful advice, but as someone who was going into nursing and is now going into surg tech, I want to thank you for sharing your stories because it helps me constantly remind myself of what to never do when I get into the field. I really hope your situation gets better, because that girl sounds like she has some serious issues.

mrsilly · Aug 10, 2010

I've had nurses that act like this tech. What bothers me the most is the fact that the tech wants to sit down (I have this issue too). When you are scrubbed in, you are not to sit down. It's a sterility issue because more than likely, the scrub person will be standing and sitting, standing and sitting, etc. Good luck. Sometimes I just grin and bear it. Or just say, I'll help you in a minute, I'm busy.

ORNurseNPA · Aug 20, 2010

I don't get it???!! How are these scrub techs employed????? I don't care if you are a scrub tech, RN, or RNFA. If your attitude is that bad, get the manager involved and fix the situation! We are all supposed to be there for the patient....if someone is not remebering that, they need to start to remember or GET OUT. There is usually chain of command one can follow if your manager isn't listening.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Aug 21, 2010

Our director is privy to what is going on with this tech and I believe that things will be taken care of now. It is only getting worse with her, not better. I still don't want my name on the same chart as hers!