I have a tech at work who I'll call Sarah. She is a really good tech. The problem is that she has an attitude with me. I have reported her at least twice and nothing ever gets done. It goes like this:
I always get my own admission VS, post-op, post cath, and blood VS. I very rarely ask a tech to do anything for me. They know what they are supposed to do and they do it. Yesterday I had a new patient that the physician had sent up from his office, he wasn't even allowed to stop at admitting, dx: viral meningitis. He was 80 years old and I was told that his temp was 103 and that I was to immediately start an IV, order labs, give IV Phenergan, get VS, etc, etc..... At the same time I had another admit come up from the ER. I asked Sarah to get the vital signs on the first patient while I was starting the IV. She brought the dinemapp in the room and said "since you're in here you can get them" I said no Sarah get the VS, she said " do you want me to show you how to operate the equipment, is that the problem?" and she promptly left the room. I was not only furious but embarassed in front of the patients family. I told my assistant nurse manager and she didn't say much.
This is the 3rd such similar incident with this CNT in about 3 months time. I have spoken to her directly also with no results. Any suggestions? What I'm thinking about is asking for a confrontation in the nurse managers office.
I would like to tell her that I think she does a good job but do not appreciate her reluctance to do something that I ask her to do because I only ask when it's really needed. I would like to tell her that she needs a refresher on what her job description entails. Should I mention that I am her superior, well that's not the word I want to use but you know, I'm over her, in charge......?
I want to tell her that if she wants to give the orders that she should go to school and get her nursing license. Thanks for any advice you can offer. We both work tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks.
thank you all for your answers. I agree that what you are asking for is not assessment, but observations. When I worked LTC (as an aide) some of the nurses ridiculed me for reporting these type of concerns: I became a target. I was a real PIA... but I kept reporting anyway.
Is there a problem in the medical field with "bullies"? I mean both nurses and aides?
There are bullies in the medical field and they include both nurses and aides, the doctors, and family members. I think there are bullies in every aspect of life. Everyone needs to know they can stand up to a bully and 99% of the time they will back down. They are bullies because they lack self-esteem. They think putting us down brings them up a notch. I put "bullies" and "know it all's" in the same catagory. They both irritate the crap out of me. :angryfire One thing I cannot stand is when a child is bullied. Ohhh don't get me started.
Well, I stand corrected. I work primarily evenings and nights, so aides aren't doing baths at that time. I can see how checking skin folds would be more likely in the daytime.
Things probably are different in long term care where the aides are responsible for fewer patients than the nurses (that is correct, isn't it?).
I would appreciate aides telling me about any changes in patient status. To the poster who spoke about some nurses giving attitude when you try to let the nurses know something, I say shame on them. I had that experience when I was an aide also. Ended up sending a patient to the unit that I had been telling her about. She would have never caught the patient's condition because she was parked at the nurse's station. She offered me no thanks.
I'm glad something was said in her yearly eval...and I hope she does not slide back into bad habits. Keep up the good work Dutchgirl...it is not 'bad' of us to expect others to do their jobs. CNA's who think they can mouth off to the people they were hired to 'assist' (its in their title even) need to be dealt with.
I had a float CNA come to my unit once (I was in charge at the desk) She had a bad attitude from the start...loudly complaining she had to come, didn't like our unit, proceeded to tell me how I should run the unit. I quietly told her ' You may go home now'. then picked up the phone and told the supervisor I had an insubordinate CNA and she needed to be sent home, I would rather do her job AND mine rather than put up with her nonsense. And (in front of her) I told the supe a written complaint about her behavior would be sent to her manager AND HR. She was totally cowed, left the floor only to return later with the supervisor to apologize. I made it clear I would have preferred she be sent home, that the complaint forms would still be filed, and if she did not do her job to my nurses' satisfaction, this would also be dealt with.
What is wrong today is people don't want to do their jobs, do not want to work as a team, and bad managers/charge people don't insist this happen. OK rant over now...LOL!
Yes mattsmom!!! Great job! You are so right.Nurses need to stand up to the challenge of supervision.
Although we don't have the authority to send someone home (we have to call the supervisor and ask first) I think it's absolutely appropriate. In this day and age all I ever hear about is the budget, need to do more with less staff and the probability of smaller raises. It burns my butt to have someone come to the unit, complain about their assignment and then attempt to do as little as possible and expect to be paid.
I thought of this post over the weekend with a float PCT. She was given a sit case, 92 year old woman with dementia and she was a screamer. When PCT's come to the unit and they know they are going to sit, they know it is often with an elderly patient and how difficult this can be. So she had a choice. The PCT kept calling from the patients room telling the clerk she needed the nurse. After the fifth time walking all the way down there I finally told her there was nothing I could do about the woman screaming and unfortunately, other patients in the vicinity would have to deal with it. And she would have to deal with it as well. She critized most of what I tried to do to soothe this poor woman and was very unhappy that I would not give her more meds until they were due. Will the PCT be back? No. She was reported to the unit manager and staffing office. Sorry, I can't do her job and mine. If I could, we wouldn't have put out the money to have her there in the first place and maybe I would get a better raise.
I think most facilities are looking for ways to make cuts. I'm grateful to have a job and don't spend time complaining about it. You'd think most people would feel the same way. And if you don't like what you're doing or where you work - then quit!!
We all have issues at work. I know I do but the alternative is to not have a job or to have to go find another that may have worse issues than the ones I'm used to dealing with now. I love the people I work with. My job is very stressful. I do have to take a mental health day once or twice a year. After this past Monday it's good that I was off Tues & Wed because I definately would have needed a mental health day on Tuesday. I think it's just the nature of our business. Life & Death. I was in charge Monday. We started very low with only 15 patients (very unusual) It was me and 3 other RN's. Between 2p-7p we got hit with 16 admissions. We had had no discharges and I could only take 5 of those 16 admissions. Each nurse took one more bringing them to 6 each and I took 2 patients. The rest had to wait in the ER until after shift change. I had every dept and several doctors calling and fussing. I had to hold my ground. "I can't safely take anymore patients" I was away from the desk as it was admitting 2 patients and left the US to watch the telemetries. If they had let us have some nurses on call it all could have been avoided but no.......the numbers, the numbers.....I'm sick of hearing about the numbers. Depts complain about me refusing to take unlimited patients on the floor. I will not put my nurses in jeopardy nor the patients. I have told administration several times if you don't like the way I handle charge then please take me off of doing charge. They say no you're doing great it's the depts that complain. The nurses thanked me Monday for not over-loading them and for having the courage to say "no". It requires no courage for me to say "no" for me it's just common sense and just the difference between what's right or wrong to do.
thank you all for your answers. I agree that what you are asking for is not assessment, but observations. When I worked LTC (as an aide) some of the nurses ridiculed me for reporting these type of concerns: I became a target. I was a real PIA... but I kept reporting anyway.
Is there a problem in the medical field with "bullies"? I mean both nurses and aides?
I'm sorry those nurses treated you badly...yes there are 'bad' nurses out there and sounds like you are a caring CNA who deserves a better place to work. Many is the time an experienced CNA alerted me to a disaster waiting to happen..they have been my right hand in acute care, as they often know the patient's baseline better than me particularly if I've been off a stretch of nights and may be having my first look at the patients. When a good CNA tells me 'Mr. ___doesn't look right tonite...can you take a look at him". I move fast to asess the situation and have found patients having MI's, going into CHF, you name it.
A good nurse will mentor her CNA's and helps them understand what is stat-important to report and what can wait. A good nurse also does not overload her CNA with work one person cannot do. (and I've seen that happen too, sadly)
I've always tried to go by 'never ask someone to do something I wouldn't/couldn't do myself'. My good coworkers generally respond very well to this, the poor ones complain/cause trouble anyway....ther latter I cut very little slack with as charge.
I had every dept and several doctors calling and fussing. I had to hold my ground. "I can't safely take anymore patients" I was away from the desk as it was admitting 2 patients and left the US to watch the telemetries. If they had let us have some nurses on call it all could have been avoided but no.......the numbers, the numbers.....I'm sick of hearing about the numbers. Depts complain about me refusing to take unlimited patients on the floor. I will not put my nurses in jeopardy nor the patients. I have told administration several times if you don't like the way I handle charge then please take me off of doing charge. They say no you're doing great it's the depts that complain. The nurses thanked me Monday for not over-loading them and for having the courage to say "no". It requires no courage for me to say "no" for me it's just common sense and just the difference between what's right or wrong to do.
Applause Applause! You are the kind of charge nurse every unit needs...good for you for standing your ground. More of us in supervisory roles need to do the same ( I did as well and my staff AND my directors respected me as well. ) Keep up the good work!!!! :)
I'm sorry those nurses treated you badly...yes there are 'bad' nurses out there and sounds like you are a caring CNA who deserves a better place to work. Many is the time an experienced CNA alerted me to a disaster waiting to happen..they have been my right hand in acute care, as they often know the patient's baseline better than me particularly if I've been off a stretch of nights and may be having my first look at the patients. When a good CNA tells me 'Mr. ___doesn't look right tonite...can you take a look at him". I move fast to asess the situation and have found patients having MI's, going into CHF, you name it.
A good nurse will mentor her CNA's and helps them understand what is stat-important to report and what can wait. A good nurse also does not overload her CNA with work one person cannot do. (and I've seen that happen too, sadly)
I've always tried to go by 'never ask someone to do something I wouldn't/couldn't do myself'. My good coworkers generally respond very well to this, the poor ones complain/cause trouble anyway....ther latter I cut very little slack with as charge.
Thanks! and by the way I really like the dale carnegie quote: we should not focus on how things seem to be, but how they are....reputation is so fragile! But character carries us through that, and more....
I'm sure this won't be a very popular posting, but have to say it.... Why is it that the nursing profession is the only one that "eats their young"????? Why can those of us that have been in the same shoes can't help those comming out??? I know that those nursing students now are the ones that will be taking care of me when I'm old........ I want those nurses to understand what a beta blocker, and ace inhibitor are, so they don't give the wrong medication....... I have had the CNA/CNT be obnoxious with me also, and have had trouble with getting care done for me, I do what I can, and go on....... As all nurses, we have priorities and work that way..... I agree, it is unfortunate that she did it in front of the patient and family, and I would appologize all over myself to them for her attitude, and go on..... When do we stop the "one upmanship"???? Guess, as a travel nurse, I can now just leave when my 13 weeks are done, and don't have to deal with it..... Most of the nurses/techs I've met are great, but the few have made it where I won't go back to some hospitals....... And, I feel for those of you that can't move like I am...... Hang in there, do what you know is the best way to handle things, and go on....... IF you hold things in, and internalize them, you will be the one that will suffer instead of the insubordinate person....
QUOTE=Cathie]I'm sure this won't be a very popular posting, but have to say it.... Why is it that the nursing profession is the only one that "eats their young"?????
Wow! this is scary to a student to be! I hope I work with nurses whose first priority is to INFORM, correct, instruct me so I can give the smartest care possible; not ones who want to show me up to the peril of the patient! If the focus is on the pt, won't that keep us on track? From what I have read in this forum, you all put the patients first! Unfortunately, it can get to be a p------ match out there...
Wow! this is scary to a student to be! I hope I work with nurses whose first priority is to INFORM, correct, instruct me so I can give the smartest care possible; not ones who want to show me up to the peril of the patient! If the focus is on the pt, won't that keep us on track? From what I have read in this forum, you all put the patients first! Unfortunately, it can get to be a p------ match out there...
I started out as a CNA, actually, an NA, which was before we had to be certified....... AND, I hope I never forget where I started....... I'm always willing to help others, and very rarely ask for help, but only when I'm desperate for help......... *S* I always attempt to help new students, or new nurses....... As I said before it's going to be you that takes care of me in my old age....... Good luck, and there are lots of us out here willing to help you with anything you need......... Just ask.........
DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN
3,932 Posts
There are bullies in the medical field and they include both nurses and aides, the doctors, and family members. I think there are bullies in every aspect of life. Everyone needs to know they can stand up to a bully and 99% of the time they will back down. They are bullies because they lack self-esteem. They think putting us down brings them up a notch. I put "bullies" and "know it all's" in the same catagory. They both irritate the crap out of me. :angryfire One thing I cannot stand is when a child is bullied. Ohhh don't get me started.