slacking co-worker

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2003

Document, Document, Document.

Make sure that you are not just seeing her through your own preconcieved expectations. i.e. YOu expect her to be a slacker therefor you see things that reinforce that opinion.

Be objective in your documentation and only write what you actually witness.

It might be a good idea to also discuss exaclty how this impacts you. If it does not impact you i.e. increases your workload and unless it is a patient safety issue I would be careful. You do not want to come across as "picking" on her.

storey · Sep 3, 2003

I agree with Qwenith. I would get it on paper for the permanent record, however... I would NOT document something that I did not witness first hand. I would make sure she really did not assess her patients before accusing her of this. Good luck

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2003

What do you mean "assigned with"? She's a coworker, or is she working under your license.

If she is a coworker you should just report it upwards to management and let them handle it. If they aren't handling it, then go up further.

We have a private line where we are allowed to anonymous report unsafe practices. Usually it's reserved for fraud and things like that and it rarely used. But charting assessments without assessing is fraud and a violation of the nurse practice act.

Report it to the manager. Keep a journal.

But if it doesn't affect your license, and you aren't her supervisor try to let it go and trust management. (Trying not to spit my coffee out as I type that last sentance. :) )

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 3, 2003

Originally posted by InAPickle
Please help, I need some advice. I have a co-worker who seems to "get away murder". There have been many complaints from others, that she does not do anything. For example, she runs up & down the hall looking for the CNA to help one of her patients instead of doing it herself, among other similar activities. The other day I happened to be assigned with her, and saw her after report sit down and chart her assessments without actually assessing her patients. I can not completely varify this, as I too was assessing my own patients. My supervisor has talked to her about the previous complaints without any corrective action noted by the other staff members. Can anyone offer some suggestions?

Sounds like that LPN i work with who will take 35-40 minutes to wait on me, outside the door of a pts. room, who's enema just hit them, and i'm cleaning up a huge mess. There are several times i have swung the door open and there she is, standing there tapping her foot and says "well, HERE you are" like i'm her personal flunkie. All of that because one of her pts. has a wet pad and if i don't "get in there right now and change it" you're "getting reported". Never mind she'll let someone lie in urine or such for another 30 minutes until I'M the one free to change it. Hello, skin breakdown??

Pointed this out several times, and, here comes my favorite line "it's not MY JOB to do that". Really. I look it up in the job description refence book, and, gee, it's under her job title about 2 paragraphs down . Went to the NM about it last week, i'll find out if anything was said to her when i come back and she's being even more rude and hateful than usual.

MandyInMS · Sep 3, 2003

"it's not MY JOB to do that"

Isn't it funny the people always saying that are the ones not doing @#$% .....lol

snoogans · Sep 3, 2003

Has she always been like this? If not something could be wrong outside of work.

The nurse that works on my unit on my days off takes all day to do am meds, she isn't capable of doing much else. She may seem to be a slacker. but for her to make phone calls unless it's an emergency takes an hour, and the help of the supervisor. I've worked along side (our skilled unit has two nurses) a slacker nurse. Managment and everyone else used to come to me because they know I'd get it done. Even if it wasn't one of my patients. Finally started speaking up. Things changed for a while then I was accused of not being a team player?!?!?!?

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2003

Sorry but anyone who uses that phrase "not my job" unless it is outside of your scope of practice shouldnt be in nursing. Thats a cop out and deserves repercussions. However, i do know some who will let their RN do everything if she doesnt draw the line someplace.

Nurse89 · Sep 3, 2003

Is this co-worker a licensed nurse? I found the post a little confusing... If she was charting assessments, I would say so, unless there is a CNA flow sheet you are referring to...

In any event, someone like this should be documented on, since it seems to be an ongoing thing...surprised she hasn't been called on it yet...

if she keeps up those "phony" assessments though, it will surely come back to haunt her

I hope your working environment improves soon. I would document all that you "actually see" or "dont see" being done

good luck

InAPickle · Sep 4, 2003

Thanks to everyone that replied. To clarify, YES-she is an RN. She is assigned her own patients and I have mine. She also is one that takes long breaks and lunches. Other people had stated that they have also seen her do this type of thing, regarding assessments also. In the future, I will remember to document what I see, but remember not to go looking for things. :rolleyes:

ktwlpn, LPN · Sep 4, 2003

Originally posted by LPN2Be2004
Sounds like that LPN i work with who will take 35-40 minutes to wait on me, outside the door of a pts. room, who's enema just hit them, and i'm cleaning up a huge mess. There are several times i have swung the door open and there she is, standing there tapping her foot and says "well, HERE you are" like i'm her personal flunkie. All of that because one of her pts. has a wet pad and if i don't "get in there right now and change it" you're "getting reported". Never mind she'll let someone lie in urine or such for another 30 minutes until I'M the one free to change it. Hello, skin breakdown??

Pointed this out several times, and, here comes my favorite line "it's not MY JOB to do that". Really. I look it up in the job description refence book, and, gee, it's under her job title about 2 paragraphs down . Went to the NM about it last week, i'll find out if anything was said to her when i come back and she's being even more rude and hateful than usual.

I am a charge nurse in LTC-and -dad burn it-if I spent all day doing the resident's ADL's and cleaning them up when they are incontinent I would never get my other work done-You know what I mean-the stuff that the cna's can not do...The stuff that I am rushing to get done at shift change while all of the aides are waving goodbye to me.....And if a resident has an emergency while I am in the middle of my med pass no cna can handle it for me-or finish passing the meds...Nothing wrong with delegating-I can not kill myself all day doing 2 staff member's jobs-sorry if it pizzez anyone off....That said-I will take someone to the bathroom if no-one else is around-I have often filled in as an aide in a staffing crisis....One thing I have learned is that everyone has different standards and we can not judge others by our own....Unless we feel a co-worker is placing a patient in peril...My boss says-"Hundreds of aides have come and gone over the years-I need my good and dependable nurses to stay" She has worked the floor and she well knows what it's like...and they don't want to pay me overtime if I stay to finish up...I have to draw the line somewhere.....

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 4, 2003

Originally posted by MandyInMS
"it's not MY JOB to do that"
Isn't it funny the people always saying that are the ones not doing @#$% .....lol

I know especially when i go in the pt. room to do vitals and she askes me how they are doing, yet weird how i never see her going in that room for her shift assessment. Never knew Dear Abby was that gripping for someone to ignore her pt. Drives me nuts, i keep remind myself "i won't be like her, i won't be like her...."