In My View
Sabotage in the Cardiac Cath Lab
October 2008
In this time of terrorism and threats of danger in all areas of our life, do we consider the possibility of sabotage occurring in the cardiac catheterization laboratory? Sabotage is a word used to describe when disgruntled workers damage or destroy equipment and supplies or interfere with the smooth running of a workplace. These negative activities can be carried out as part of an organized group, or be the action of one or a few workers in response to personal grievances. Is the cardiac cath lab a target for sabotage?
Sabotage is an old word given to us by the French to describe workers striking back at their places of work and causing damage. We think of this reference in terms of war and undermining our national defenses. Do you believe that sabotage could ever happen in your cardiac cath lab?
Why would anyone want to damage or destroy healthcare equipment? Why would anyone want to disrupt the cath lab workplace? We work in the cardiac cath lab to help people. We give. We work overtime; we take risks by being exposed to X-rays, blood-borne pathogens, and long hours, sometimes in heavy, hot lead aprons to help patients with serious cardiovascular problems. Why would anyone ever try to damage or destroy this?
We work as a team, usually with a cardiologist, a scrub technologist, a circulator and a recorder. Ancillary staff members aid us in caring for the patient before and after the procedure, turning the room around, securing needed supplies and cleaning the area. How could any member of this fellowship betray us with sabotage?
Should we ever find anyone who would sabotage the cath lab...what would we do with that person? The treatment of such an individual would be harsh and swift, to say the least. What would you think of a teammate who has been a saboteur? The very thought makes our blood run cold. There is no place for sabotage in the cardiac cath lab.
Let us examine the possible problem more closely. Who could be a saboteur? Why are they sabotaging the cath lab? Well, ask yourself, are there individuals in the cath lab who are not on top of the situation and open more sterile supplies than needed? Are fluids sometimes spilled on keyboards? Do some staff members stuff the red bag with clean or uncontaminated refuse? Is the crash cart banged off the walls carelessly? Can staff overlook stock rotation that results in expiration of supplies? Is the oxygen regulator still going at 2 liters over the weekend? How much electricity does an X-ray unit consume when left on over the holiday? Are office supplies free to use at home? Is this not damage or destroying equipment and supplies?
Or perhaps a conversation with a patient is questionable or inappropriate, or at the least, makes the patient more fearful of the procedure. The negative comment on someone’s appearance. That little teasing or cutting remark that is made about a coworker. The grumbling and groaning about the new work schedule. The new staff member reviewing and writing a policy while you have to do another right-heart catheterization. Your boss giving you another assignment when no one else has had one that day. You were sent late to lunch or had no afternoon break again. Your coworkers are going out after work without inviting you to join them. Another increase in parking fees is announced. That physician who treats you like dirt. The hospital is making millions, but you can’t even get a cost-of-living raise. Administration gave themselves another raise. Are these the types of frustrations you think about?
They ask or expect you to do things “that are not your job!” The thought that “the organization does not care about me, then why should I care about them? Am I another victim of circumstances? I have no control over my world. What can I do about all this injustice? I am frustrated. They don’t care about me!”
Uh-oh! This sounds like the mind-set of a saboteur. What are you thinking? More importantly, what are you doing? These negative thoughts keep going through your mind. Why are you thinking this way? No wonder you have a negative attitude towards work. Look at all the bad things in your environment. You work in a dark room most of the day, wearing heavy lead aprons, exposed to X-rays, blood and seriously ill patients. This is not uplifting. Why is it always such a bummer of a day?
We are not psychiatrists here, but a search of the Internet will provide many sites on negative or bad attitudes in the workplace and how to address this age-old problem. There are many people around you to help vanquish this bad attitude: family, friends, coworkers, religious leaders, counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists who can help you change your attitude. Here are some suggestions.
First, stop those thoughts! Is it really all that bad? Are you focusing only on the negative? Count your blessings. Look on the bright side. You’re not lying on the stretcher or hospital bed. You have steady employment. The patients, for the most part, greatly appreciate your service. You are saving lives and making a fairly good wage doing it. You are admired by your coworkers and family. Look around and see all the positive things in your work and life. Try to avoid focusing on the negative aspects of your job, unless you are going to change the negative to the positive.
We cannot be bright and happy “Pollyannas” every day. I am not sure some of our teammates could or would tolerate one whole day of such unbridled optimism. Too much optimism has an insincere flavor to it.
However, acting like “Eeyore" (the old grey donkey from Winnie The Pooh) is hardly encouraging or appreciated. Attitude is important! How we look at life and work affects how we perform. Just look at the 2008 Olympics — a positive attitude resulted in gold, silver and bronze medals.
The question of attitude may be more appropriately related to our feelings. The problem is the negative feelings. These negative feelings become thoughts, words and sometime unconscious or conscious deeds. When your outlook is “Why should I care?” No one else does! You could become that saboteur or at least an accomplice who encourages coworkers to talk or act in a negative way.
Perhaps you are already spreading that negativity with words and actions in the cardiac cath lab. Are you a positive or negative influence in the cath lab? Think about this: take a look at your attitude, your thoughts, your feelings towards work today. Are you ready, willing and a little bit excited about working today? Are you a positive force in the cath lab?
Read the quote by Charles Swingoll on attitude (see sidebar). You are responsible for your attitude. Outside factors can influence you, but in the end, only you can control your outlook on work, home and all the other times in between. How you react to the triumphs, the tragedies, the hurting and the healing is up to you.
Be realistic; negative thoughts and feelings plague all of us from time to time. The resentment, frustration and overpowering fear creep into the mind like an unwelcome stranger. We need to recognize this in others as well as in ourselves. More importantly, we need to help ourselves before we can help others. Take an honest and open survey of yourself and your interactions with coworkers. Ask yourself some questions:
1. Am I affected by the environment (weather, darkness or cold)?
2. Am I angry (frustrated) about circumstances at work or outside work?
3. Am I depressed (hopeless) about circumstances at work or outside work?
4. Am I worried (fearful) about circumstances at work or outside work?
5. Is it just me, or is it the entire team that feels negative about work?
6. Is this an acute or chronic negative attitude?
Perhaps you should ask others around you if you are acting negatively or positively. You may want to be specific and hear how they perceive you. Remember, most friends will be diplomatic, and then there are those who will say things just to stir the pot and get a reaction.
I’ll say it again: we are not psychiatrists here. We do, however, want to be in touch and understand our emotions and feelings. Recognize that these negative feelings you have can hurt you and others if something is not done about them. You are in control of them. You, and only you, can change them.
Your resentment and frustration may build to anger, pumping your body full of adrenaline, raising your blood pressure and making it difficult to concentrate on your work or speak with a civil tongue. You get in over your head driven by rash actions. Are you fueled by emotions that lack a solid base? Is your resentment going to make things better? You have to live with the reputation you make at work — what do you want that reputation to be? Cool-hand Luke, or Hot Head?
Your depression (or anger without enthusiasm) brings on feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, darkening and saddening your world. This malaise can take you out of action. You are not hungry. You can’t sleep. You become withdrawn from coworkers, social situations, family and friends. You have decreased energy, fatigue, feeling “slowed down” or lethargic. You are sidelined. You are not as productive. Is this how you want others to see you (especially your family and coworkers)?
Your worry is that “anxiety” that causes you to sweat, increase your heart rate and raise your blood pressure. You have negative self-talk that often distracts you from focusing on the problem at hand. Those conversations with yourself, when you are telling yourself you cannot do this, are not helping the situation. Fear of failure is a haunting fear, but heroes face their fears and overcome them. We all want to be heroes.
These faces (demons) of negative feelings — resentment, anger, frustration, depression and anxiety — have been felt by everyone. Most of the negative feelings you feel are a shade of and not the full fury of anger, weeping sadness or pathetic worry. These emotions come in varying degrees at different times. You know these feelings are unpleasant. You know they do not help, but rather hinder you. You know they are not good for your mental health. Nevertheless, what can you do to minimize the amount of time you feel them and make sure you do not act or overreact from them?
Psychologists recommend that we take the time to examine the situation causing the negative feelings. First, one must determine if this is the problem or if it’s a carryover from last night’s argument? Second, is this a real problem or are you making a mountain out of a molehill? Third, is this a long-term problem or will it be replaced by something else tomorrow? Fourth, is this a reoccurring problem that has not been resolved? Do not rely solely on your vantage point. We all have limited problem-solving skills; involve others to help find positive solutions.
If there is a concrete circumstance, a real problem causing the feelings, give it some good hard thought, and then do something. Solve the problem. Get the monkey off your back. Some may wish to only talk about their problems to others for the sympathy or to show their suffering. Be strong. Resist the negative words and actions. List your accomplishments and added responsibilities, go to your supervisor and present your list, then ask if they merit an increase in salary.
OK, what if there is absolutely nothing you can do about the situation? You are stuck with this lousy equipment or coworkers or supervisor. Then get involved in something else that engages your mind, and forget about it. Start working on a college degree, get involved with your church or temple, prepare a presentation to the ACC, or plan a vacation to Disney World.
Do not try to stop thinking negatively. You do not have to spend the energy. Simply get absorbed in doing something constructive. You will find that purposeful activities occupy the mind and put less emphasis on the problems you’ve been stewing over. Thus, getting involved in a positive activity or participating in something absorbing outside of work will diminish the mind-space to think about the negative situation. The result is no time for negative thoughts or actions.
Thinking about a negative situation feeds and increases the problem, just like smoking increases the number of nicotine receptors and results in more smoking. Thinking about a negative situation propagates the negative emotion. For example, you can distract a crying child by telling him to look for the bunny rabbit by the fence, and he will forget his skinned knee. You, too, can distract yourself with something interesting or challenging or important, and your mind will stop thinking about the current, unsolvable problem, and reduce your negative feelings.
Think about writing an article for Cath Lab Digest, organizing the supply room, clearing the clutter in the cath lab, or planning a social event for the cath lab staff. When you are no longer fixated on those negative feelings and thoughts, they will dissipate. You control your mind and thoughts. Do not let outside situations control you. Make your world a better place in which to live. If you think you need help, do not hesitate to ask a professional to help you overcome these negative feelings.
In summary, to avoid a negative attitude (sabotage...I just used that word to grab your attention!) at work, be positive in thought, word and deed. You will find that with a positive attitude, work and life may just get better. Try to be complimentary to your coworkers by telling them three things they do well everyday. Try to be helpful, and when there is down time, keep busy and see what you can do to assist your coworkers. Actively perform good works and you will feel better about yourself. Don’t sit around and stew...get busy and do! Seek to escape from unnecessary negative feelings by attacking them with a positive purpose. This will take your mind off the negative aspects of work, giving you a healthful break from those negative feelings or actions. The side effect of this prescription is that something positive, purposeful and productive gets done. That benefit will also give you something to feel good about. Make the effort to spread positive feelings in your work place. If you need professional help — get it! We will all benefit if we have a positive attitude.
Post Script: While discussing this article, my buddy, Mark Long, RT told me to forget about all this attitude stuff. He said some people are just lazy. That got me thinking about motivational skills. Kathy Pietragallo, RN remarked that you just can’t change people. With aging, we are all changing, and the equipment and techniques are in constant evolution. But there is another vantage point. Then, Tim Powell, RN said that some people are just not trained correctly and do not know how to do a good job or lack the skills to do so. However, that is another topic I cannot address here. Then again, I could, but I will save those ideas for later articles and end this instead on a positive note:
In 1962, four nervous young musicians played their first record audition for the executives of the Decca Recording Company. The executives were not impressed. While turning down this group of musicians, one executive said, “We don't like their round. Groups of guitars are on the way out.” The group was called The Beatles. They had a positive attitude about themselves. “All you need is Love!”
The author can be contacted at: marshallritchey@mac.com
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