Tips for dealing with techs/pct’s as a new grad

[Wright007]

I’m a new grad (October) in my unit and taking my preceptors full assignment. Literally from the minute I step in the door to when I’m leaving I’m busy for 13 hours. My preceptor is technically extra help on the floor if needed. There was a situation last week with a huge communication error regarding something that needed to be done with a patient, but I was left out of the loop which seems to happen when you don’t have your own assignment because some people tell my preceptor things and not me, etc. Anyways, one of the techs was pissed off at me (or telling me knowing I would relay it to my preceptor) because she was saying she needs help, she’s only one person, she’s not doing all this extra work because “there are RNs that can be doing it” when really it was directed toward my preceptor.

Now when it comes to me, I hardly ask the techs for ANYTHING EVER. And because of this situation the tech is STILL talking about it. My preceptor has not seen this tech since. I did mention it to my manager because the tech inappropriately was acting out in front of patients open rooms, but it does not seem to stop her from thinking I am doing nothing all day or making comments while assisting her in patients rooms saying “that’s ok I’m not afraid to work”. So I asked another tech if she thought I was just sitting staring at a computer screen and doing nothing all day, and all she said was “well I think people are mad because you don’t answer call bells, but a lot of people don’t”. And today she thought it was priority for me to help get my patient off the commode instead of getting my other patient ready to transport to the OR and giving her Ativan and metoprolol because she was freaking out. Luckily I had a different preceptor who straight up said NO find someone else, but I feel like this is all stemming from the other tech who claims nobody helps her out and now she’s spreading her sh** talking everywhere.

I’m not sure what else to do at this point. Do I even bother saying something when some people just don’t understand? The whole situation has me not even wanting to ask for help because god forbid I could’ve done it myself and I’m sure I’ll hear all about it the next 6 weeks.

Side note: my cell phone is never out. I keep it in my locker because I feel like it’s nasty having it in the clinical areas. I also don’t have time to socialize with people. So I’m not sure how this whole perception came to be. I’m not sitting there telling my tech to answer the call light while I go sit down and eat a snack and check the scores of the football game.

[JKL33]

Take this as straightforward talk, not chastisement:

25 minutes ago, Wright007 said:

Anyways, one of the techs was pissed off at me (or telling me knowing I would relay it to my preceptor)

Ignore. Don't take the bait.

26 minutes ago, Wright007 said:

“there are RNs that can be doing it” when really it was directed toward my preceptor.

Ignore.

26 minutes ago, Wright007 said:

And because of this situation the tech is STILL talking about it.

Ignore.

26 minutes ago, Wright007 said:

“that’s ok I’m not afraid to work”.

Ignore.

27 minutes ago, Wright007 said:

So I asked another tech if she thought I was just sitting staring at a computer screen and doing nothing all day

Wrong. This is a big NEVER.

28 minutes ago, Wright007 said:

And today she thought it was priority for me to help get my patient off the commode instead of getting my other patient ready to transport to the OR and giving her Ativan and metoprolol because she was freaking out.

She doesn't decide your priorities. Period.

29 minutes ago, Wright007 said:

I’m not sure what else to do at this point. Do I even bother saying something when some people just don’t understand?

You absolutely do not engage on the inappropriateness they have going on in patient care areas. Under any circumstances. Keep your cool. Make no retorts and do not engage them regarding this.

Try to very neutrally and privately bring up the topic w/ your preceptor. "What is the best way for me to handle this?" Let her know that you are being subjected to numerous snide comments suggesting you have upset someone, and it has something to do with the miscommunication last week but you aren't sure what, or what to do about it.

If there is no solution and it doesn't die down in the next...? couple of days, go talk to your manager and concisely describe what is going on and ask how you should handle it.

[maggie0, BSN, RN]

20 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

Take this as straightforward talk, not chastisement:

Ignore. Don't take the bait.

Ignore.

Ignore.

Ignore.

Wrong. This is a big NEVER.

She doesn't decide your priorities. Period.

You absolutely do not engage on the inappropriateness they have going on in patient care areas. Under any circumstances. Keep your cool. Make no retorts and do not engage them regarding this.

Try to very neutrally and privately bring up the topic w/ your preceptor. "What is the best way for me to handle this?" Let her know that you are being subjected to numerous snide comments suggesting you have upset someone, and it has something to do with the miscommunication last week but you aren't sure what, or what to do about it.

If there is no solution and it doesn't die down in the next...? couple of days, go talk to your manager and concisely describe what is going on and ask how you should handle it.

This response is exactly correct. I say this as an aide. Some people like to stir up junk. Do not engage.

[yournurse]

Hm. I work in the ICU and I barely ask for help from CNA/techs. They’re very underpaid for the things they do. They do a lot physically. That will drain anyone.
I get why sometimes they’re frustrated. I don’t take any of the things they say personally. Just remind yourself that you are doing what you are supposed to do and it doesn’t matter what other people say about you (to put you down). I feel like people talk bad about other people because they have really low self esteem and they’re miserable. they want to put other people down to make themselves feel better or make other people miserable. If they give you constructive criticism, listen. Just go to work, do it well, and no drama. Do you. Hope that helps.

[caliotter3]

4 hours ago, JKL33 said:

Take this as straightforward talk, not chastisement:

Ignore. Don't take the bait.

Ignore.

Ignore.

Ignore.

Wrong. This is a big NEVER.

She doesn't decide your priorities. Period.

You absolutely do not engage on the inappropriateness they have going on in patient care areas. Under any circumstances. Keep your cool. Make no retorts and do not engage them regarding this.

Try to very neutrally and privately bring up the topic w/ your preceptor. "What is the best way for me to handle this?" Let her know that you are being subjected to numerous snide comments suggesting you have upset someone, and it has something to do with the miscommunication last week but you aren't sure what, or what to do about it.

If there is no solution and it doesn't die down in the next...? couple of days, go talk to your manager and concisely describe what is going on and ask how you should handle it.

JKL said it. Pay particular attention to each “ignore”.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

When approached by a tech for assistance, look them in the eye and tell them YOUR priority. The trouble maker should be dealt with in a write up. That is not up to you while you are in orientation.

"There was a situation last week with a huge communication error regarding something that needed to be done with a patient, but I was left out of the loop. " It's up to your preceptor to KEEP you in the loop. "My preceptor has not seen this tech since. I did mention it to my manager because the tech inappropriately was acting out in front of patients " . Manager does not want to hear anything from an orientee. That's what the preceptor is there for.

Thinking your main problem is a crappy preceptor.

[Golden_RN, MSN]

In the past I worked in a team environment (CNAs, LVNs & RNs), and both CNAs and LVNs would complain that the RNs were "lazy" because the LVNs/CNAs did not realize that charting, noting orders, organizing care/communicating with other depts. and physicians is work that is just as important as their patient care tasks. I worked with LVNs that later became RNs and then verbalized that they didn't understand the RN's responsibilities when they weren't an RN.

I wish your preceptor could be with you more on the floor and help advocate for you to the tech, when you have to prioritize tasks that are all coming at you at once.

I did work as a nursing assistant for years and I do understand how incredibly difficult & demanding their job is.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

It seems like this PCT sees 2 RNs with one patient load and has decided that one of you should be doing more. It's not her place to do that.

For the most part, I agree with JKLL that some of this behavior should be ignored. However I think that the pct venting in front of patients should be addressed, and I agree with been there done that, that this is the preceptor's responsibility, though I wouldn't go so far as to say you necessarily have a bad preceptor.

PCTs really should be supervised by the RN they are working under, and this is usually not the case in the hospital. RNs wind up being responsible for people they have no real authority over. That is the cause of the problem you are having.

[beachbabe86]

6 hours ago, FolksBtrippin said:

PCTs really should be supervised by the RN they are working under, and this is usually not the case in the hospital. RNs wind up being responsible for people they have no real authority over. That is the cause of the problem you are having.

This is also true in LTC. When I was a surveyor and had a question about a patient, I would ask their RN who the PCT was. Often, they did not know and that , to me , was very concerning.

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

I work with an MA who, this week, kept making comments about “I wish I was a nurse, I should have gone on to get more schooling” as her way of implying that she didn’t think I (the nurse) was working as hard as she (the MA) was. It is HARD to ignore it, but that’s what I did, and you should too. For the record, people who talk like that often are pretty good at avoiding work themselves, so they’re hyper-alert for any opportunity to put down someone else. Ignore it. Your work will speak for itself.

[nursex23, BSN, RN]

While I respect all of the work that aides do (I was a CNA once), you have to remember that your education and license is above theirs, therefore, they cannot look at what you're doing and make the determination that you need to be doing something else.

Everything that they do is within our scope of practice so you have to look at it as though we can do everything they do plus a lot more that they can't. They are there to take the work that can be done under a certificate so that we, the RNs, can do the nursing stuff that they cannot. If you have a minute, yeah absolutely help out your aides and ultimately your patients, but if you do not have a minute, you cannot let them bully you into questioning your priorities.

Ignore their comments but also stand firm that you are the RN. Remember, you went to school to learn how to prioritize nursing care. Between taking someone off the commode and prepping to transport a patient to OR, you as the RN can clearly see which one is the priority. Next time feel free to tell your aide yourself that their priority is not yours right now. Of COURSE be respectful about it; the better respect you and your aides have for each other, the better your lives at work will be.

tldr; ignore their comments, help out when you can because it will be better for everyone, but don't let them bully you into forgoing your priorities as an RN.

[Just me.]

I agree that you need to ignore the comments. You know your own work ethic.

I sometimes feel I have to justify why I'm asking for help, and that is wrong.

We delegate not because we are lazy ( in most cases), but because have to.

Be direct and polite, always say please and thank you and do your job well.