Scrub tech breaking scrub without permission

[nmred]

I recently had an altercation with a CST in which s/he provoked, and admitted provoking, a response from me (the circulator). The surgeon reprimanded her/him for the behavior. S/He broke scrub and exited the room without mine or the surgeons permission. The hospital is saying that s/he had permission to leave the OR from another ST who was in the room as an assistant, not to relieve her/him. The hospital has placed me on administrative leave saying I provoked the incident. They are investigating me. The CST is still working. Apparently no one is collaborating my statement. Any thoughts?

[nmred]

I'm not a "Newbie". S/He didn't have anyone in to relieve her/him. The hospital is only saying

they had permission to leave to CYA. As a matter of fact the surgeon told s/he to stay and the individual continued to walk out. Let's see, that's insubordination, pt abandonment, failure to complete duties, creating a hostile work environment. All of which are unacceptable.

PS: This individual has hit me in the face with instrumentation in the past... Why are they still employed?

[I love the OR]

I am likey to be do very sorry for posting this... But this is exactly the type of situation happening in the OR every single day, and each and every person who works in there knows it, whether it is happening to you or your co-workers, doesn't matter. I have, for years, been trying to figure out WHY, I am getting yelled at by the surgeon for not having instruments???? Did we have the right bed, correct headlight, favorite pump up stool, tower, room, medications and irrigations? Yes, DR. Surgeon Sir/Madame, we did. Did I not dot my i's and cross my t's, translation: make you mark the patient, sign the consent, update your H&P, verify the blood you ordered, or SHOULD, have ordered, because GOD knows we are going to need it! I fight to get the time to pad the patient according to the standards, adhere to policy and procedure, DO MY JOB AND THEN SOME!!!!! And what do I get in return, surgical techs that are passive aggressive, disrespectful and thrive on making themselves look good while I look stupid to the surgeon.

Please know that the vast majority of surgical techs are very proffessional and share in taking responsibility for the safety and well being of the patient. I work with those, and leave the room rarely. Everything goes smoot, even when it doesn't. Other's I don't even have to describe because we all know what they do!!! Yet, invariably, because they get in good with a particular physician, seem to be respected and held in high esteem, even though they are difficult, make our job difficult and in doingo's so, I believe, put the patient at risk for harm with the turmoil they create. To speak up, defend yourself, your patient, protect your license, only serves to further our jepordy because of the "attack one attack us all" attitude creating a disturbance by documenting the obvious creates.

SINCE WHEN DID THE OR TECH RUN THE OR SUITE? Oh, I get it. We are only in charge of the room when you need us to police, capture charges, answer phones, scrub floors or just need someone to blame!!!!! I realize this is also institution related and there are other places to work. And frankly, I don't want to hear or read how wrong I am or what I need to do. BECAUSE I DIDN'T ASK YOU. just stating my experiences and hopefully they are not typical. But the poster of this thread, has Been exposed to some of this behavior and the ability to make a living, support and feed your family has been jepordized.

[nmred]

I'm glad some one gets it. I still can't return to work (my time off is on my dime), and this guy is still working. He's making money. What about my financial obligations? What about his abuse? Apparently it's being condoned. Abuse is never acceptable....

PS: BTW... Writing the incident report is what got me in trouble....

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I'm glad some one gets it. I still can't return to work (my time off is on my dime), and this guy is still working. He's making money. What about my financial obligations? What about his abuse? Apparently it's being condoned. Abuse is never acceptable....

PS: BTW... Writing the incident report is what got me in trouble....

who objected to the incident report? If you know anyone in risk management, perhaps contacting them directly

would be something to consider....... and as i noted earlier, you have been assaulted, and apparently batteried on a previous occassion......there are legal remedies for that, if it can be proved.

[nmred]

who objected to the incident report? If you know anyone in risk management, perhaps contacting them directly

would be something to consider....... and as i noted earlier, you have been assaulted, and apparently batteried on a previous occassion......there are legal remedies for that, if it can be proved.

My supervisor objected to the incident report, and I'm being punished for it. S/He was angry about the write up, not about the situation. It was clear S/He was angry that the report was seen by her/his supervisors not about the hostility. Alos, it's clear I'm not wanted in the unit.

[FlyOR]

If everything that you are saying happened, and you have corroboration from other people, you now need a lawyer. You need to make an appointment with HR, and tell them that you're bringing your attorney, preferably one with labor law experience. I think that in itself will make HR look more closely at your case. You are being financially hurt by the actions of this person, and there are a couple different things that will affect the hospital. First, assault is harassment, second, they're not going to want the PR that patients are in the middle of a "throw zone", and third, the tech was insubordinate and works under YOUR license. Did the instrument have bodily fluids on it? If it did, that makes it a doubly bad situation.

Think about going back to work and having this person there. Think about the environment if you don't stand up for yourself. Focus on yourself and what you need. The only person you control is you, go after what you need and not what you want to happen to the tech. The emphasis should be on your safety and your position at the hospital, not theirs. This is your career and your livelihood, but you are going to need some help. Attorneys are expensive, but not as expensive as losing your job. You are also going to need the lawyer to make sure you don't have anyone messing with you down the road, either other co-workers or management.

[nmred]

The hospital is saying the individual does not work under my license, no matter how many pages from AORN, DOL, ASPAN, Federal Code are placed in front of them. I have already thought about having to return and be around all of these individuals. Not a nice thing.

[dianah, ASN]

Just a reminder that this BB is very public and to be cautious in posting potentially damaging information.

Thank you.

[jessrene, LPN]

I agree with previous caller that said to focus on the throwing instrument part of the incident. This sounds like assault loud and clear to me.

[Tiffany, RN, BSN]

I agree with everyone who is saying that you need to focus on the throwing. If I ever IN MY LIFE AND CAREER AS AN OR NURSE have an instrument thrown at me, Security and the Police will be in bunny suits headed to the OR before the jerk could think straight and I would not settle until somebody left in cuffs. Had that been an AIDS pt and that instrument hit you, you could have lost your life. I'm sorry but I have more to live for than just circulating cases! This is serious business. I would be meeting with HR (with lawyer present) before the end of this week if I were you. And they could forget about me signing a counseling slip for a curse word. It enrages me that this type of thing happens. We're supposed to be professionals!!

[tewdles, RN]

Most of us learn that you get into trouble for throwing things at others...somewhere during our kindergarten experience. There is a reason that elementary schools focus on safe behavior in group settings.

One must wonder if this scrub tech also runs with scissors or eats the paste...

Honestly, it sounds like management is ready to cut you loose...you should prepare yourself for this possibility. Bottom line is this...you do not have to dodge objects in order to do your job, you are entitled to a safe work environment.

I personally would be speaking to the tosser face to face...letting them know that there will be NO REPEAT of that behavior...giving them fair warning that any "next time" will result in security and potentially the police being notified in response to their attack. Heck, I had a surgeon throw something at me in the ICU once...just once...the hospital didn't appreciate that level of temper tantrum and apparently communicated as much to him after my report...of course, I was clear in how this outburst put patient and staff safety at risk...

I am wondering if your supervisor was upset about the incident report because this is not the first verbal altercation between yourself and this tech?