Posted on Jan 27, 2016
What actions would you recommend an enlisted service member take after being disrespected by an officer?
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I work as a medic in an army hospital. I am a specialist (p) that has been put into an E-6 / Shift Leader Position. I work side by side army officers each and every day. These officers are the nurses and doctors around me. I respect them as officers and always address them as sir or maam.
The other day I was sitting at a computer station with one of my brand new soldiers. The department was basically empty, about 5 patients. I was showing this soldier the computer system that we used to chart patient records. An army nurse, whom has the rank as a captain, comes around the corner and says "Hey, how about instead of sitting around and doing nothing, you go stock the empty blanket warmers, oh and, some of my carts are empty, and you should stalk those as well." In a completely disrespectful tone and along with agressive body langauage. We immediately stood up, and made our way to stocking blankets. I pulled the officer aside, one on one, away from everyone else, and as the shift leader i said "excuse me maam, can you instead of saying (what was said above) can you please treat me and my soldiers with respect and instead say "hey the blanket warmers are empty" or something like that, and we would have jumped up and done it without a problem. Her response was "you realize I am a captain and you are a specialist". My response was "yes, but you have to realize that i am acting as the shift leader and asking you to please treat me and my soldiers with respect in the future". Her responds was that she should put me at the position of attention.
I have spoken to my leadership... My SFC on three seperate occasions over the span of 9 months that the nurses have been treating the medics with disrespect.
I have written a patient safety report stating that patient care is suffering because the nurses are not willing to pick up some of thr slack when we are busy
I have spoken to the LTC in charge of the nurses, and her civilian counterpart about this, and that all I want is to be treated with some respect and dignity.
I feel like i have exausted all my avenues. What do I do? Do I go to the hospital commander and ask him for advice? Am I completely wrong in this situation, and just need to suck it up and drive on? All i am asking for is some respect and appreciations for me and my soldiers. Olease any advice would be great.
The other day I was sitting at a computer station with one of my brand new soldiers. The department was basically empty, about 5 patients. I was showing this soldier the computer system that we used to chart patient records. An army nurse, whom has the rank as a captain, comes around the corner and says "Hey, how about instead of sitting around and doing nothing, you go stock the empty blanket warmers, oh and, some of my carts are empty, and you should stalk those as well." In a completely disrespectful tone and along with agressive body langauage. We immediately stood up, and made our way to stocking blankets. I pulled the officer aside, one on one, away from everyone else, and as the shift leader i said "excuse me maam, can you instead of saying (what was said above) can you please treat me and my soldiers with respect and instead say "hey the blanket warmers are empty" or something like that, and we would have jumped up and done it without a problem. Her response was "you realize I am a captain and you are a specialist". My response was "yes, but you have to realize that i am acting as the shift leader and asking you to please treat me and my soldiers with respect in the future". Her responds was that she should put me at the position of attention.
I have spoken to my leadership... My SFC on three seperate occasions over the span of 9 months that the nurses have been treating the medics with disrespect.
I have written a patient safety report stating that patient care is suffering because the nurses are not willing to pick up some of thr slack when we are busy
I have spoken to the LTC in charge of the nurses, and her civilian counterpart about this, and that all I want is to be treated with some respect and dignity.
I feel like i have exausted all my avenues. What do I do? Do I go to the hospital commander and ask him for advice? Am I completely wrong in this situation, and just need to suck it up and drive on? All i am asking for is some respect and appreciations for me and my soldiers. Olease any advice would be great.
Advice
Respect
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 533
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Sometimes it's about approach, sometimes it's about TACT.
When you approached the Captain (Nurse). Did you try:
"Ma'am/Sir, do you have second? I know it may have looked like were screwing off, but I was actually conducting training there. We were doing XXXXX. When you implied YYYYY by saying, you not only undermined my authority you created a negative perception about you, the nursing staff, and the officer corps in general. I realize that wasn't your intent but I wanted to give you a heads up for the future. Next time, if it's not an emergency, can you call me, or the senior man aside and tell us what needs to get done and we'll take care of it immediately? We don't there to be any perception that the hospital is anything but a well oiled machine."
Based on your post it looks like you may have put your senior on the defensive, even though they were wrong. Yes, you are due respect, however HOW you approach things is just as important as what the issue is.
When you approached the Captain (Nurse). Did you try:
"Ma'am/Sir, do you have second? I know it may have looked like were screwing off, but I was actually conducting training there. We were doing XXXXX. When you implied YYYYY by saying, you not only undermined my authority you created a negative perception about you, the nursing staff, and the officer corps in general. I realize that wasn't your intent but I wanted to give you a heads up for the future. Next time, if it's not an emergency, can you call me, or the senior man aside and tell us what needs to get done and we'll take care of it immediately? We don't there to be any perception that the hospital is anything but a well oiled machine."
Based on your post it looks like you may have put your senior on the defensive, even though they were wrong. Yes, you are due respect, however HOW you approach things is just as important as what the issue is.
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SFC Tom Jones
The one thing that you see from everyone is to learn TACT it is a very hard thing to learn, but I will say this if you use tact it will take you a long way. Also when you are working as shift leader then you are the shift leader. Had a CSM tell me that when I said I was acting platoon sergeant he said there is no acting you are not on the Broadway stage so you are the platoon sergeant and it is your responsibly to take charge and accept your platoon responsibly in every way from good job to bad job. If you have talk with your chain of command, and you haven't gotten anything then go see your CSM or first sergeant and request an appointment with the hospital commander and when you go and see him or her make sure you have names and dates if that doesn't work than ask for a transfer too another section.
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LTC David Sullivan
I served as a Patient Admin NCO for 8 years and then was commissioned as an officer and retired as an LTC Medical Service Corps officer. Unfortunately I have both witnessed and experienced this kind of crap. Respect goes both up and down the chain of command. Medical units are unique in that there are a lot of officers in the unit. The I am privileged attitude is a factor with some. There are more fine and respectful officers than not. Changing that officers attitude has to come from the Head Nurse.
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MAJ Rene De La Rosa
The head nurse must be brought in to weigh in on this. The CPT is wrong to continue in this trajectory; one day, she will be swamped with no one to go to, and wonder why?
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No you are not wrong. It sounds like you are being treated by a person who got their commission off the street through the direct commission process. Many medical officers go through a lite course in officership. This has been a point of contention for years. As an officer she has the authority to do what she did. However, if you were doing your job, she was wrong to chastise you in this manner. There are many courses of action to take. You can run this up the chain if you really think that you were treated unfairly. At the end of the day that may not solve much. Believe me when I tell you that this is standard managerial behavior in the civilian sector. This is probably where she may have learned this behavior.
In my opinion, your best course of action is to just salute smartly and move on and be the best med specialist in your career field. It does not matter whether your are an E-1 or an O-10 there always is going to be that person who will look down ob your stature in life. Unless her behavior becomes consistently harassing and hostile, I recommend that you brush it off and do just do your job.
In my opinion, your best course of action is to just salute smartly and move on and be the best med specialist in your career field. It does not matter whether your are an E-1 or an O-10 there always is going to be that person who will look down ob your stature in life. Unless her behavior becomes consistently harassing and hostile, I recommend that you brush it off and do just do your job.
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SP5 Tim Fenoglia
Many of them come in with an attitude because they aren't making sh!t and are killing six years to pay off their loans and hit the road.
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CPO Lou Oliver
SPC Mike Davis - There is one thing you left out, a civilian can also sue for a hostile working environment, because they do not have to put up with it.
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SGT Charles Bartell
SPC Mike Davis - Unionize ? Yes that would be just Great. Why do you think that All most all car and truck plants have gone to Mexico or any other country that they do not have to worry about a bunch of cry babies that want top pay for simple work.
For the most part Unions have been the worst thing in America.
They are not what they were started out to be.
The unions do not give a dam about the workers. It is all about the DUES paid in.
For the most part Unions have been the worst thing in America.
They are not what they were started out to be.
The unions do not give a dam about the workers. It is all about the DUES paid in.
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SGT Charles Bartell
SP5 Tim Fenoglia - Sad to say there are a great deal of them that the college debt is wiped by the military for hard to fill job's. Like M.D.'S and Nurse.
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SPC Souza I am a prior enlisted medical Soldier and currently a medical company commander. So I've been in your shoes before.
Based solely on the situation you described the officer is issuing a lawful order just not in the most optimal way possible. Unfortunately, throughout your career you will deal with less than optimal leaders. You did all you could do by respectfully bringing it to your NCO and clinical leadership. They are probably very aware that they have a less than optimal leader and may have talked to her in private, but at least are aware. However, the orders are still lawful and you need to do your absolute best to execute. As long as she doesn't cross the line and do something unlawful you've sworn an oath to execute. Take the cream off the top in every situation and try not to let this bother you. By working hard you are saying a lot about your personal character, but do your best not to fixate on this as no boss will ever be perfect.
Based solely on the situation you described the officer is issuing a lawful order just not in the most optimal way possible. Unfortunately, throughout your career you will deal with less than optimal leaders. You did all you could do by respectfully bringing it to your NCO and clinical leadership. They are probably very aware that they have a less than optimal leader and may have talked to her in private, but at least are aware. However, the orders are still lawful and you need to do your absolute best to execute. As long as she doesn't cross the line and do something unlawful you've sworn an oath to execute. Take the cream off the top in every situation and try not to let this bother you. By working hard you are saying a lot about your personal character, but do your best not to fixate on this as no boss will ever be perfect.
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SFC Jeff Ebner
I definitely like the CPT response (How did you get get so smart as a CPT....oh yea prior enlisted :) ) You will find yourself from time to time holding down a job far above your rank (SFC in a SGM and MAJ role respectively) Your have two avenues: Tact or Terror. I prefer the tactful approach, but have had to avail myself of the terror for really boneheaded officers.
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SPC Mike Davis
That man is a human being and is entitled to all of the dignity and respect that is included in such a definition. It may have been a lawful order, but, such a lawful order does not hide the fact it was a shameful order. What is even more shameful is not one officer made any effort to defend those who are defenseless. By the dignity this enlisted man showed in his response to such a shameful order brought great discredit upon all officers involved and the military in general.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Devil’s advocate position here . . . But shouldn’t you and the guy you were training have done a walk around and checked to see that priority tasks were complete before you choose that moment to provide training? Yes, she was disrespectful to you, but it sounds like her complaint was not baseless.
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