Facing Off with Someone About Lack of Medical Skills

Facing Off with Someone About Lack of Medical Skills

 

Maybe you’re fresh out of paramedic school, and you’ve been instructed to take a new EMT in your department under your wing.  But you’ve got a real problem at hand.  The EMT is making you nervous.  You know that he or she does not have adequate medical skills. 

 

You know you could report this person, but first, you’d like to talk openly with him or her.  Maybe your co-worker is 99% okay in patient care, but you know there are one or two important areas this person could use some coaching.

 

Try these communication tactics:

 

·         Ask if her or she feels comfortable performing a certain task.  This opens a dialogue about your areas of concern.  For instance, you might say, “Do you feel confident about your intubation skills?” 

 

·         Praise this person’s other skills.  Then, target the problem area.  You might state:  “You are so competent in many, many areas.  But, to be honest, I’ve noticed intubating patients seems stressful for you.”

 

·         Suggest someone to help.  You might state that a certain co-worker who coached you in the early part of your career might help your co-worker.  Say, for example, “Ronnie is a great coach in this particular area.  I think you should talk to him.”

 

If your co-worker becomes offended, try a more focused form of honesty.  Say forthrightly, “I have to be totally honest here.  I am worried your medical skills need some improvement in this area.  I’d rather hurt your feelings than not confront you about it.”

 

Give the other person time to think about what you’ve said.  Don’t go overboard in criticism or apologize for bringing up the issue.  Stay calm and grounded.  If the co-worker avoids both you and the issue, this is your signal to sit down with a supervisor with more authority than you.  Insist that the supervisor confront the employee about the lack of proper skills.