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Catscankim

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Just letting you all know I'm alive and well. Work is absolutely insane.

I'm not only talking busy insane...which it always is. It's management insane. Constant micromanaging etc. Which they always did to a point, I knew that when I took on the position. But it has gotten so bad. For instance, I do the interviewing and final say on hiring. Lately I have just been told that they hired someone. And usually that someone is terrible. Then they blame me for them being terrible, when I am not the one who chose them. I'd rather hold out for a good candidate, while they hire people on the spot without even thinking about it.

We are on our second one that they pushed through. Mind you, we are super short-staffed. I got called by "the people" that they were interviewing somebody for another department and he says that his love is actually CT and would like to eventually migrate over. So they wanted me to go in and talk to him. First of all, he stunk to high-heaven. Walking into the office...the smell smacked me in the face (later my director actually marked which chair he sat in with a sharpie so she would never sit there). After this so-called, short-lived interview, I took him on a tour of the department. He tells me that he doesn't recognize the machine (but has worked GE for 18 years). The machines do not change in appearance. They literally all look the same. So I'm like, well we are getting a new Siemens installed downstairs. He tells me he knows both. HE DOES NOT!!! Again, this machine is being installed downstairs in our old ER room, so I took him DOWN the whole EIGHT steps and he is panting and sweating like crazy, and his BO is getting more pungent.

The people tell me that I cannot say no due to his 18 years experience. I'm like "he is not fit for the job, and on top of that he knows neither machine. I don't have time to teach I need someone who can hit the floor running". Next thing I know, I was added onto a long email already in progress that my manager started with HR hiring this guy. He is in his third week of training (we only get 4), and his sits in the corner doing nothing for his entire 8 hour shift. Everybody has to yell at him to come help. Now the people are like "well we can't do anything now, he is a veteran." This is not the VA, and I am 100% for giving veterans a chance more than anybody else. But the guy won't pick himself up off the chair to work.

In the meantime, I have people quitting left and right. And they are like "oh Kim, that's gonna look bad on you". No its not, its about not having enough resources to do our job, they love me. The whole hospital loves the people in our department, but hates our department at the same time because it is taking so long to get exams done because we are so short staffed.

ER doc tells me that she is sending an email to administration. She shows me the email "There were three techs on plus a transporter today. I am so happy that it was fully staffed and patients were expedited quickly through the ER. CT really makes a difference with our turnaround time and I think this is the sweet-spot with staffing." My director (who doesn't know that I know about this email), says "Oh, Dr. D said that you and Sue did such a great job today. See what happens when you put in a little effort?" I tell her that there were three of us, plus a transporter. She literally stood there and tried to convince me that there was not. Ummm. Hello, I was there. I make the schedule and I know who was there. She goes on to tell me that from now on we don't need this many people there because Dr. D said how well it worked out. I can't say that I already saw the email. Then she starts accusing me of yelling at her and not listening. I go down and tell Dr. D that her email backfired and now we are losing a tech on first shift and putting them in some weird mid-shift. Like literally this woman is crazy.

I have a million examples of the tyranny in this place. It is so unbelievable.

The other day I got a phone call from the supervisor from a neighboring/rival hospital asking for some supplies. We are corporate and they are not, so I wasn't lending supplies to a sister hospital. But I don't care, I didn't ask permission. Maybe some day he will return the favor. I already knew this guy from a long time ago, so he wasn't just cold-calling our hospital, he called me personally on my cell phone.

Anyway, while I was out there giving him a big box of syringes he says "if there is anything I can do for you EVER, just let me know you are a life-saver". I'm like BUST ME OUT OF THIS PLACE. He says ARE YOU SERIOUS? And that he is opening up a night supervisor position Monday-Thursday 10 hour shifts with Friday Sat Sun off. DO YOU WANT IT?

Hell to the yeah!!

I went home and filled out the online application. He called me the next day and said he had my app and he was going to expedite it through HR because this was an immediate position and he wants me in it specifically.

This is a rich hospital with a foundation that has all the resources they need. He says that I will be in charge of 6 techs just on my shift, plus a tech aid, a hall monitor, and a transporter. In contrast: we have 6 techs total, including me. No tech aid, and transport only when I beg and fight for one. And we are a level one trauma center/comprehensive stroke center. He tells me that he has created an atmosphere of a good work-life balance. Whaaat? Does that really exist?

Like I said, we worked together before. This was such a weird coincidence that I was at the point of walking out of my job and him needing supplies. Plus I know other people who work there and they immediately started texting me about how much happier I am going to be there.
 
My computer died, so believe it or not I wasnt done lol. On the ipad so my grammar might be a little off lol.

i have had to cancel all of my time off because of staffing. I am about to hit my cap on pto. I was supposed to be off this weekend, but now am missing my best friend john’s wedding because i have to work.

Listen to this… a couple weeks ago my midnight tech called out. I called around and nobody could do it. I called my director and she says that as the supervisor i am required to go in. I said, well i had off today and was out on a boat all day and i have been drinking. She says, WELL JUST DONT TELL ANYBODY THAT. Really, drinking and driving an hour to work. Sorry no. So she calls into work and convinced somebody to stay after shes already been on for a 12 hour shift and tells her that i will be in when i sober up...without telling me. It is illegal to be forced to work more than 16 hours. As far as i was concerned at this point…divert due to staffing. Its their own fault.

It was an unofficial sit-out. It all just happened perfectly that nobody could go in :). Until they got a hold of the kid who was a new grad who didnt say no.

so here i was doing time cards the next day, and Kronos clocked her out automatically at 16 hours. I call my manager and she says to clock her back in on call. We dont have call and i dont have a code for that. “Clock her back in under disaster pay”. I made it clear to this kid how i coded her just to get her paid, and told her she needs to take this to the union…which she didnt because shes new.

so much slimey stuff goes on i cant stand it. Keeping my fingers crossed that this job pans out.
 
🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

Really sounds like this new job might be real serendipity. Fingers crossed for you it comes through!
 
Just letting you all know I'm alive and well. Work is absolutely insane.

I'm not only talking busy insane...which it always is. It's management insane. Constant micromanaging etc. Which they always did to a point, I knew that when I took on the position. But it has gotten so bad. For instance, I do the interviewing and final say on hiring. Lately I have just been told that they hired someone. And usually that someone is terrible. Then they blame me for them being terrible, when I am not the one who chose them. I'd rather hold out for a good candidate, while they hire people on the spot without even thinking about it.

We are on our second one that they pushed through. Mind you, we are super short-staffed. I got called by "the people" that they were interviewing somebody for another department and he says that his love is actually CT and would like to eventually migrate over. So they wanted me to go in and talk to him. First of all, he stunk to high-heaven. Walking into the office...the smell smacked me in the face (later my director actually marked which chair he sat in with a sharpie so she would never sit there). After this so-called, short-lived interview, I took him on a tour of the department. He tells me that he doesn't recognize the machine (but has worked GE for 18 years). The machines do not change in appearance. They literally all look the same. So I'm like, well we are getting a new Siemens installed downstairs. He tells me he knows both. HE DOES NOT!!! Again, this machine is being installed downstairs in our old ER room, so I took him DOWN the whole EIGHT steps and he is panting and sweating like crazy, and his BO is getting more pungent.

The people tell me that I cannot say no due to his 18 years experience. I'm like "he is not fit for the job, and on top of that he knows neither machine. I don't have time to teach I need someone who can hit the floor running". Next thing I know, I was added onto a long email already in progress that my manager started with HR hiring this guy. He is in his third week of training (we only get 4), and his sits in the corner doing nothing for his entire 8 hour shift. Everybody has to yell at him to come help. Now the people are like "well we can't do anything now, he is a veteran." This is not the VA, and I am 100% for giving veterans a chance more than anybody else. But the guy won't pick himself up off the chair to work.

In the meantime, I have people quitting left and right. And they are like "oh Kim, that's gonna look bad on you". No its not, its about not having enough resources to do our job, they love me. The whole hospital loves the people in our department, but hates our department at the same time because it is taking so long to get exams done because we are so short staffed.

ER doc tells me that she is sending an email to administration. She shows me the email "There were three techs on plus a transporter today. I am so happy that it was fully staffed and patients were expedited quickly through the ER. CT really makes a difference with our turnaround time and I think this is the sweet-spot with staffing." My director (who doesn't know that I know about this email), says "Oh, Dr. D said that you and Sue did such a great job today. See what happens when you put in a little effort?" I tell her that there were three of us, plus a transporter. She literally stood there and tried to convince me that there was not. Ummm. Hello, I was there. I make the schedule and I know who was there. She goes on to tell me that from now on we don't need this many people there because Dr. D said how well it worked out. I can't say that I already saw the email. Then she starts accusing me of yelling at her and not listening. I go down and tell Dr. D that her email backfired and now we are losing a tech on first shift and putting them in some weird mid-shift. Like literally this woman is crazy.

I have a million examples of the tyranny in this place. It is so unbelievable.

The other day I got a phone call from the supervisor from a neighboring/rival hospital asking for some supplies. We are corporate and they are not, so I wasn't lending supplies to a sister hospital. But I don't care, I didn't ask permission. Maybe some day he will return the favor. I already knew this guy from a long time ago, so he wasn't just cold-calling our hospital, he called me personally on my cell phone.

Anyway, while I was out there giving him a big box of syringes he says "if there is anything I can do for you EVER, just let me know you are a life-saver". I'm like BUST ME OUT OF THIS PLACE. He says ARE YOU SERIOUS? And that he is opening up a night supervisor position Monday-Thursday 10 hour shifts with Friday Sat Sun off. DO YOU WANT IT?

Hell to the yeah!!

I went home and filled out the online application. He called me the next day and said he had my app and he was going to expedite it through HR because this was an immediate position and he wants me in it specifically.

This is a rich hospital with a foundation that has all the resources they need. He says that I will be in charge of 6 techs just on my shift, plus a tech aid, a hall monitor, and a transporter. In contrast: we have 6 techs total, including me. No tech aid, and transport only when I beg and fight for one. And we are a level one trauma center/comprehensive stroke center. He tells me that he has created an atmosphere of a good work-life balance. Whaaat? Does that really exist?

Like I said, we worked together before. This was such a weird coincidence that I was at the point of walking out of my job and him needing supplies. Plus I know other people who work there and they immediately started texting me about how much happier I am going to be there.
Keeping you in my thoughts. Sending positive energies for a new beginning for you.
 
I have an online interview with HR on Wednesday at 11. They called me this morning and asked if I was available for an interview at noon today. I'm thinking "ok, that is an hour away". LOL. I didn't know it was online so I asked for another day.

Even their HR people are nice...like they should be lol. A bunch of months ago I had three techs start on the same day. I took two up to HR to get their badges...they huffed and puffed about it but finally printed out their badges (pictures were taken weeks before, so all they had to do was print the badges). When I got back downstairs I sent the other guy up to get his. They told him that they only make badges after 1:00. Now he can't clock in, can't use it for lunch (comes out of your pay from the cafeteria), no access to any doors etc, as well as wear a visitor sticker. So I'm like :mad:. I took him back up and lit a fire under their butts. Literally doing nothing but playing on their phones. I got his badge :)

I worked a 12 hour shift yesterday 10a-10p. I walked in to a crazy place. No transporter, just me and another girl who is still green. I totally bypassed all of my chain of command. This was serious, exams still waiting since 6am. Traumas and strokes being called. Unstable ICU needs to come down. I sent a picture of our mile-long worklist to our radiologist and anybody else I could think of...ER Director and Manager, Nursing Supervisor. I spoke to my manager this morning, who is absolutely peeved that I ever thought of talking to anybody else other than her. Her response...did you try calling Ultrasound? ON WHAT PLANET WOULD ANYBODY THINK THAT THE ULTRASOUND DEPARTMENT COULD HELP????

God, the bean counters in their offices with no clinical experience formulating spreadsheets and looking for outliers to delays....we are permanently short-staffed with zero resources. They just want to point fingers and keep us that way. I keep saying that they need to come down and see us work. I'm not even sure they know where we are located within the hospital without an escort.

We have a great team, I just don't think I can do it anymore. 6 people running an extremely busy 24 hour operation...We should be double that with 3 scanners, which we don't even use one. It just sits there as a backup.
 
Fingers crossed for the new position. 🤞

I would like to hope that you leaving might make your current workplace take a long hard look at themselves and allocate some appropriate resources but unfortunately from what you described it doesn't sound likely. 🙄
 
My old boss from another hospital from years ago just texted me asking if I knew a person that just applied. I'm like, yeah, he's my lead. I explained to her that I was 99% leaving and encouraged him to do the same, and gave him a nice recommendation. I texted him..he's like "how the frig did you know about that it just put in my app. LOL...I know people dude.

i'm sure he is stuck in a conundrum between me leaving and him moving into the supervisor position (nice notch on your belt only 4 years into your career), or me leaving and so is he. He sees how the people yell at me constantly and stuff. They think I have unlimited resources to just walk away when they have a unscheduled meeting. With me as the only person on the ER scanner, I can't just walk away for a meeting. One time I called somebody in to cover me for a meeting, then I got yelled at for having too many ppl there, yet they called the meeting mandatory, which meant I had to attend, which meant I needed somebody to cover me.

All of the other supervisors have offices that they sit in all day doing menial stuff. I have an office that I can count on my fingers how many times I have been in it. I'm the only one considered a "working supervisor" and am one of the FTE....so it's me and 5 other techs, 6 total. Their thinking is so backwards. I could do so much with that department to make it more productive and get shot down on every turn.

For instance...I'm like we can do cardiac scoring or lung screenings...self-referred for $300 cash. Nope No No....Why? We are not doing a scan for $300!! OK Why??? We get less from payors (insurance co). Sometimes pennies on the dollar. We can fill up the non-existent outpatient schedule in our OUTPATIENT scanner that sits idle for most of the time.

I will tell you why, because they like to play a shell game with the cost centers. They only need one or two scans per day to justify the scanners existence, because every scan goes under MRI's cost center. Stacking up outpatients out there would require us to hire another tech.

They say I am "in the red" most of the time...seriously? With only 6 techs? Then I saw the paperwork...they have nurses and transporters under my cost center. This should be illegal!

I'm so over this place.
 
Glad to see you are back. Sorry about your woes. Prayers and crossed fingers that the potential new job pans out.
 
I hope the new job works out and it’s everything you want it to be. When you commented the new guy was a veteran and they couldn’t let him go I wondered if you work for a military hospital. I retired from an Army hospital almost 3 years ago and it was/is an awful place to work. I wasn’t even clinical which is much more difficult. About 4 years ago, a friend left to go to another hospital and loves her new job. Anyway, I hope you get the new job and it’s wonderful!
 
I hope the new job comes through and that it’s wonderful! It’s so frustrating to see hospitals try to get by on the cheap when it comes to ancillary services and staff. (Ask me how I know…). I work in healthcare too and I’ve been to enough hospitals to know how short-staffed CT is practically everywhere…..you’d think it’d be in the hospital’s best interest to NOT make your workplace hellish and chase away all their staff. 🤔 Especially when you’re level 1 trauma and comprehensive stroke! Anyway, you deserve better and I’m glad you’re finding it!
 
I had my online interview today with HR. It went well. When she asked me what my salary expectation was, I gave her a figure that I know is the going rate in the area, and she went over it by $2. So I am happy with that. It is still less than what I make now by a few dollars, but I am stepping down from supervisor to lead so I expected the cut.

And I think I convinced at least my current lead tech to come with me and take the other lead position they have available. Still working on others lol.

I have told my manager and director in the past that things need to change or people will leave. Sad to say, I thought that I was going to be the change. I worked there for 8 years and knew what I was getting into. My former supervisor said that they don't like when people have a mouth. Well, I have a mouth, they the louder I speak the more they push back. I spoke to our trauma dr and he was telling me that my coworker has had it, nothing to do with me. I said, "yeah, you are about to lose us both, by the way I put you down as a reference" LOL

I forgot to mention earlier...my midnight tech of 30 years just quit. On the spot with no other job lined up. He simply texted me that he is resigning effective immediately. Why doesn't anybody see this??

Back to the job. After my online interview today I was set up for an in-person interview with the supervisor, two leads, and the director for June 6. It had to wait that long because the director is currently on vacation. But it is all a formality. Unless I somehow really turn off the director when we meet, it is a done deal. Otherwise, I already know everybody :D. We live in a small world LOL.

I have to play it smart in the end though. I have 250 hours of PTO that I don't want to risk them messing with. We have an option to cash in PTO at 100%, but not accrue for 3 pay cycles, but I won't have to worry about that because I won't be there LOL. So boom...new storm proof windows and french doors for me LOL. In my exit interview I will be sure to mention why I have so much pto accrued...because I never get a day off, ever. And that's even before I became supervisor.
 
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