She took my patients!

springchick1, ADN, RN · Aug 13, 2015

I see her point. You said your shift starts at 7:00 and it was 7:30 before you made it to the floor for report. If you have that much stuff to do in the morning, you need to get there at 6:30 so that you can be on the floor on time.

There is no reason to get in a shouting match with someone over it. You are both adults, you need to act like.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 13, 2015

You were late getting to the floor. You both need to act like adults. All patients need care. If no assignments are pre-determined then its first come first choice. You were late, you lost the opportunity to choose. I'm surprised the night tech waited around, I might have given report to the charge nurse as the day techs argued over a "turf war".

Based on what you wrote above, she was right you were three minutes late reporting for duty.

What you should have done differently? Been on the floor and ready to work at 6:59:30. Clearly arriving at 6:55 is not sufficient for you to get ready and report to the floor on time. To avoid future issues arrive at 6:45 or earlier so you can be on the floor ready to work at 6:59am. You should not have assumed you would get "first choice". Etiquette is arrive on time or be assigned what is left over. You should not have approached her again regarding who gets what hall. Apologize for arrive on the floor three minutes late and that it won't happen in the floor. You will never win this "argument", you should never have had this "argument" in the first place. Instead of saying "I'm in day 2 of 4 and should get this hall" say, "Good morning. Im sorry I'm late. I'm ready for a quick report so night tech can go home as his/her shift is over." And move on with the work day, developing a plan of action to arrive to the facility earlier so you are on the unit ready to work at or before shift start.

Weaverd11 · Aug 13, 2015

Arrived at 6:45

Clocked in at 6:55 (earliest is 6:53)

Came for report 7:03

Night tech can't clock out until 7:23

Our unit runs from 7a-730p*

SubSippi · Aug 13, 2015

Are you normally a few minutes late? Three minutes may not seem like a big deal to you, but it's the kind of thing that reallllllly gets under some people's skin after a while.

I'm asking because it seems strange to me that someone would get upset and refuse to take the other hall, after you said that you had those patients the day. Especially when you say that's how your unit normally does things.

When I read your story it sounded to me like she was trying to make a point. Even if you're usually right on time, are the other techs usually a few minutes early? Just something to think about...outbursts like that usually don't come out of nowhere.

Weaverd11 · Aug 13, 2015

The shift 'ends' at 7, but we are not able to clock out until 7:23 at the earliest.

That leaves us with roughly 20-30 minutes for report.

Weaverd11 · Aug 13, 2015

She has come a few minutes late before and I switched halls, understanding that it is the way we work as techs. Techs usually will wait about 5 - 10 minutes to give report so the other person can get their census' printed and other information for the day.

Also, I might add that I arrived to work at 6:45am, but I could not clock in until 6:53. I normally eat a quick breakfast in that time, with no issue. We recently changed our time clock policy so there is a line waiting at the clock. Hence, the 6:55.

I normally am ready on the floor by 7 sharp, if not before. Since our hospital is so large, I take a shuttle into work so my daily schedule is pretty much the same. This day I had to go to the bathroom and normally, a couple of minutes is never an issue. Which adds to the confusion.

I truly am not trying to make an immature stand. Just trying to get different points of view on the issue. I don't want to talk about it at work because I don't like the idea of adding/starting drama. The interaction bothers me because we are very lax on our unit. If you clock in and get your report before 7:30, all is well.

I asked the night tech her opinion after the fact (she is the most senior and respected tech on the unit), she said she could see both sides but it wasn't a battle worth fighting. Since the other tech wanted to fight about it, she said it was best I let it go and move on. But I have also gotten advice to stand up for myself and to not be so timid, which seems to contradict.

Sorry this situation seems draining. :down:

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 13, 2015

In my opinion, is this the hill you want to die on? Is this conflict really worth the oxygen? Is this how you want the professional staff to see you, arguing with another tech over "who took my patients" "who took my hall"? Do not all the patients need care? Is this really with taking up space in your thoughts?

Listen to the senior tech, drop it, smile and move on. Would you rather be known as the flexible, resilient tech or the stubborn, rigid tech?

Years ago I worked in a facility. I was trained on ECG by a cardiac services team. I had worked in an acute care hospital and had done ECGs on patients missing limbs. My coworker was trained by a for profit tech school, trained only in the skill tasks not the knowledge behind the tests & procedures. We had an issue performing serial ECGs and artifact. I made an adjustment after consulting with the physician. She went bonkers since it wasn't set up cookie cutter tasks like she was trained. She ranted and raved to whomever would sit still long enough to hear.

Long story short when it came for promotions to full time and lay off per diems guess which one still had a job and was commended for professionalism? (Hint it wasn't the one obsessed with a perceived slight)

RainMom · Aug 13, 2015

I'd let it go, but I'd be darn sure to get there to claim my hall asap on arrival, even if I need to do it early before clocking in.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2015

I agree with most everything everyone has said (esp. don't be even a minute late and 'is the really the hill you want to die on?'). The only thing I wanted to add...if this continues to be an issue, you have a few options:

1. Set a unit policy on how the assignment is done. For example, "If a tech was here the previous day, that tech will be assigned to the same hall as the previous day. If neither tech was here there previous day, the assignment is made by the techs when they arrive for their shifts" etc. It sounds like now there is no guarantee that any tech will get their assignment back, so if the techs want this to always happen, a policy needs to be put in writing.

2. Assign the "halls" on the schedule. This is how it was done when I was a CNA in LTC. That way there was no issues when the day came around, and no CNA could "hide" from a less desirable assignment.

3. Have the charge nurse make the assignments. When I am a charge nurse, I assign based on several factors, including having the more clinically difficult patients assigned to the stronger nurses/techs (without overwhelming any staff member, of course).

If your coworkers will not buy in to 1, 2, or 3, then you will have to continue doing assignments as you currently do them. If that is the case, you really have no choice but to bite your tongue and accept it.

stevenchambers.75 · Aug 14, 2015

Since you mentioned being adult, the other tech should have been an adult and just took the other hall. Its called professional curtesy. Since she was on her second day of four, the other tech should've took the other hall. She was being rude and trying to prove dominance. I would've took the same patients I had the day before and went to supervisor. Especially since she hadn't been employed as long.

stevenchambers.75 · Aug 14, 2015

From what I understand it's already an unwritten policy. To show respect for one another she should have been given the same assignment as the day before. Unless she is 10 minutes late, then you miss out. Three minutes late is hardly enough for any mature professional adult to get upset about. Most companies don't even count you as late clocking in until seven minutes after shift start. Technically she wasn't even late, she was on the clock. The only people who need policy written are people who don't know how to respect their co-workers. Clearly the other girl knew how things worked, hence why she stated she worked that hall earlier in the week.