What to do about coworker not pulling her weight

Nurses Relations

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My job is to triage the patients. There are two of us scheduled at all times to handle patient volume.

i have on coworker who EVERYTIME I work with her NEVER does any work. She spends her time staring at the computer and then never pulling the patients back. She will fold laundry or sit around chatting instead of getting the patients.

They could be out there with chest pain, arm pain, and jaw pain as the complaint and she will not budge to get them. I feel this is a safety issue. If I'm in the restroom and someone comes in with a heart attack she won't know because she doesn't freakin move and check on them.

this leaves me triaging 90/100 patients that come in during my short shift. I leave work worn out and angry because I'm still getting paid the same rate and she's getting paid for doing nothing.

others have brought it up to management and nothing is being done.

what do I do? Should I approach management about it? I work weekends so I never see my direct supervisor. I hate that this will be our first real interaction but I cannot take it anymore.

How do I approach management? Email them or should I come in on my day off to speak with her?

Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

What if, what if, what if... you can't live your life by what ifs. What if speaking to management does nothing and the situation gets worse? What if the other co-worker starts bullying her?

I get it, the grass isn't always greener on the other side but as someone who used to live her life according to what ifs, sometimes you just have to move on. I was just offering my two cents, everybody's situation is different!

Specializes in ICU.

Be very clear that this is not an interpersonal issue, it's a clinical issue. Ask your manager to meet with both of you privately. State your case in a calm factual manner.

When someone dies in the waiting room, she will blame you. They will say we didn't know anything about this in the RCA.

You will need to have an email that documents these issues. Forward it to your private email account.

I would suggest having IT track her hospital internet use. IT can limit access to just the intranet in the triage area.

Ask for CCTV. If there already is CCTV well there's your proof.

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Sounds like you and I are literally in the same position. I work UC and I love my job when there is a certain staff there. However, there are two people there who try to make my life a living hell. When my boss isn't there, I'm "in charge" but that doesn't hold any weight. I've literally asked them to do something and they have said to my face, "You are not my boss. I don't have to listen to you." My boss didn't listen and hasn't been in the office in a month. When I did try to speak to him, he sent out a generic "be nice to everyone" email instead of tackling the issue. I got fed up, and applied to another job on a whim. They called me back the next day, and in two days I have the final of three interviews - I think I really got the job! Keeping my fingers crossed.

Sometimes you just have to move on. It is their loss. I keep feeling guilty that I'm putting my boss in a bind if I leave but HE should have listened to me - this could have been prevented.

Don't feel guilty. By not backing you, he is doing his job about as well as your coworkers are doing theirs. They all deserve one another. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your new job.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Sounds like you and I are literally in the same position. I work UC and I love my job when there is a certain staff there. However, there are two people there who try to make my life a living hell. When my boss isn't there, I'm "in charge" but that doesn't hold any weight. I've literally asked them to do something and they have said to my face, "You are not my boss. I don't have to listen to you." My boss didn't listen and hasn't been in the office in a month. When I did try to speak to him, he sent out a generic "be nice to everyone" email instead of tackling the issue. I got fed up, and applied to another job on a whim. They called me back the next day, and in two days I have the final of three interviews - I think I really got the job! Keeping my fingers crossed.

Sometimes you just have to move on. It is their loss. I keep feeling guilty that I'm putting my boss in a bind if I leave but HE should have listened to me - this could have been prevented.

No, no, no, no, no...he's the one who is putting himself in a bind if he chooses to play Casper Milquetoast and allow a few bad actors to make a good employee look for work elsewhere.

I totally agree with the above. Jot down specifics, i.e. dates, numbers, severity of pt illnesses in the waiting area. Not only would I email your concerns, but I would hand deliver a copy to the mgr. it totally breaks my heart that someone like this is in the medical field with her lack of empathy and compassion for people. God forbid one of our loved ones was in the waiting room with a massive MI, dissecting aortic aneurysm, or such!

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