Techs don't like to be asked to do "scut" work

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Specializes in L&D.

Hello everyone!

I work Labor and Delivery, but this topic is not specific to what we do on our unit. Our support staff had a meeting last month, the minutes from which I just read, and I am blown away by what I read.

Our techs are designated as "OBTs," because, in addition to regular tech duties, they scrub in for surgeries. I have noticed since I have worked on this L&D unit that the techs are very different than on other floors. I noticed that most of them sit around a lot between surgeries--they don't do anything unless you ask them to. When you do ask them, you often get attitude, mostly from two of them. Only a couple others will actually pop into rooms and ask if the nurse needs help with anything. They backstab, hang out with the docs, get coffee, etc. If they are in a "good mood," they might do something without being asked. Oh--and on the backstabbing--they said that they are sick of nurses gossipping about them. What??? They are the perpetrators of the gossip!

In the meeting minutes, they said that they feel "disrepsected" by nursing staff. (Maybe it's because those nurses are sick of their shananigans). They said they feel disrespected by being asked to do "scut work." I guess this phrase refers to all things bloody, mucousy, poopy...I don't know. HELLO!!!! Um, scut work is a PART OF WORKING IN A HOSPITAL. Even the nurses do it! In fact, I try to do as much of my own scut work as possible. I don't overthink what needs to be done or attach some emotional or mental stigma to it--I just DO IT. I mean, believe me, I am NOT bashful about delegating or asking for help when I need it. If I need help with the scut work, I will ask them to do it if necessary. I do not "save" the scut work for them.

Furthermore, at the meeting, the techs said they would like to be asked to do blood draws, Chem BGs, etc., BUT only SOME of them want to do this because only SOME of them LIKE to do these things; the others consider it degrading. What? Excuse me? Since when are people able to select which parts of their jobs they want to do? Let me clarify--I do my own doggone draws because that is the only way I can make sure they are done and done on time. On my very busy floor, I don't have time to ask my techs which part of their job they want to do, then later hunt them down to see if they've actually done it (because that's how it rolls on my floor). There's no accountability on the tech's part if the blood draw doesn't get done on time--it comes back on me, because it's the NURSE'S job to make sure it actually gets done. So, why would I ask a tech to do something that they arbitrarily may or may not do, that I am ultimately responsible for? Asking them to do it turns into a 4-part process as opposed to a 2-part process if I do it. So that's why I don't bother to ask them.

Let me tell you, this post only largely applies to a couple of techs on our floor. However, these two have been there a long time and spread dissention and frustration to the other techs who are doing great jobs. I have worked with some FABULOUS techs in my life. I think good techs are a treasure.

I'm just wondering what you all think about this. I couldn't believe the bit about "scut work."

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Specializes in LTC.

Your manager needs to get together with a couple of "techs" and nurses and come up with a job description. I hate to break it to them, but if they took a position that involved nursing tech duties on top of scrub tech duties scut work is apart of the job.

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The inmates are running the asylum and your management is letting them. They need to be told their job duties and do them. Failure to do so should lead to their termination. We don't just get to decide what we will and won't do daily for patients and neither should they. Patients shouldn't suffer because some workers are lazy.

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I work in my L&D unit where I function as the ACP, Tech, and HUC. I am a Medical Assistant by training. I am so sorry that you have individuals like that on your unit. My duties include everything from answering phones to assisting with postpartum care. I draw labs, place the moms on the fetal monitors, clean the 'scut', etc. Basically, I do all that I can within the scope of my practice. If a call bell goes off, I will go in the room and if I can take care of it, then I will. I have gotten the mom up post delivery and helped her to the bathroom. My nurses that I work with will let me do a fundal assessment, and they will tell me if I am correct or not. I have not taken a fetal monitoring course because my manager feels I don't need it. However, the nurses are not always at the desk. They have taught me enough that I can get them if the baby is having a decel, or a variable. We do not run our own OR, but if we did, you can bet I would be there trying to learn about that as well. I have observed a few ceserean sections because I want to learn what the nurses do over there.

I do all of this because I want to be the best labor and delivery nurse that I can. I want to be as good as the nurses that I work with. Also, after having 5 kids myself I still remember the excellent nursing care I received. I also remember the nasty nurses who acted like it was a burden to be taking care of me. Guess which nurse I want to be remembered as :) It's sad that your techs are not using the oppurtunity they are being given to try and learn as much as they can now.

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Specializes in Occupational health, Corrections, PACU.

it sounds like you have obvious trouble makers on your floor. the management should nip it in the bud, and now. personally, i would work with hr and tell them about the problems that are going on. in the interest of "cross-training" (and that term will carry you far), i would request that these two be rotated to two separate other floors, and new techs assigned in their place. training can then be provided to the new techs so that they increase their skill level. techs mean just that-not a licensed professional. all of us handle all the work when we need to (as you stated). it sounds like your hospital could benefit from splitting these two up and getting some "new blood" on board your floor, and that is the way you need to sell it to hr. seems to me as if they have become "buddy, buddy" with the docs because of their scrubbing-in duties. that's fine...if the doctor wants to hire them as first-assists, then let the docs hire them. they can be their employees and their problems! just because you first assist, doesn't mean you are above the other duties. if the doctors squawk about losing experienced help, then management should honestly explain the situation, and get them on board with helping the work environment. i know this sounds simplified, and is much easier said than done, but i have seen a lot of people "moved" in the interest of "cross training", and everyone knew what the real "back story" was. also...by the way...tell them that there is no such word as "disrespected"!

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I'm just wondering are the "tech's" in your hospital CST's or CFA's??? You said they assist in delivery and in my area you basicaly need to be a certified Surgical Tech in order to do that. We have patient care tech's, and surgical tech's in L&D

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

You need to take it to the manager and let the uppers know what you have been informed by the techs. It may very well be that they ARE scrub techs and not floor techs.

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I'm unemployed and would love to be able to work with you. You wouldn't have to ask me to do my job and I would be more than happy for all the scut work on that ward as long as I got my paycheck. I know several nurses in my shoes who would love to join me. When can we apply?

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Specializes in L&D.

Actually, none of them (as far as I understand) are Certified Scrub Techs. They all learned how to scrub via on-the-job-training. Our hospital calls them OB Techs, and they are paid more than "regular" patient care techs but less than CSTs. Their job description includes "regular" tech duties. I LIKE the idea of having CSTs and regular techs on the floor! Nice! Management does need to lasso in this wild horse of a situation. I will do my part to make appropriate suggestions for improvement.

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Specializes in Emergency, CCU, SNF.
I'm unemployed and would love to be able to work with you. You wouldn't have to ask me to do my job and I would be more than happy for all the scut work on that ward as long as I got my paycheck. I know several nurses in my shoes who would love to join me. When can we apply?

Yeah! What calliotter3 said!:yeah:

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Yeah! What calliotter3 said!:yeah:

Totally agree. Being an ABQ native, I'm curious which hospital this is at (and completely understand if you choose not to divulge this info)... UNMH, Pres, Lovelace?

Sounds like they don't appreciate having a job, which is completely disgusting to me, especially in these times when those of us trying to enter the profession are finding it nearly impossible d/t lack of resources (teaching, funding). :down:

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Get the job descriptions and bring to management.

Management has to get involved and stop the dysfunction.

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