NT Scan Tech - Rude Comment

TerryGDesign · June 2015

Need some advice on whether to report my ultrasound technician or not. I had my NT scan and during it, I felt like she was very cold. I made comments like "oh wow, the baby is moving around!" To which she responded "um yea, all living things move."

But, the worst was at the end if the scan she said "well your numbers are good so everything is looking fine. Unless your blood is screwed up..." I was so insulted and taken aback by this comment.

Should I report this woman to my Dr for lack of bedside manner?

FemShep · June 2015

Yes, she has a bad bedside manner, but there is nothing actionable in her comments. I'd just let it go.

wassuphoes · June 2015

mac-n-cheesy · June 2015

Yes, I would tactfully mention it to your OB. Maybe when she/he asks how it went you can work in there how her incredibly unprofessional comments took you aback and would hate to see if other women were treated the same way.

thegingeravenger · June 2015

I'd let it go. Possibly while singing the song from Frozen. Everyone has off days and nothing she said was report to her supervisor worthy in my opinion.

jasbaby2 · June 2015

I would have said something to her at the time. I don't know if I'd bother mentioning to anyone else unless you could end up with her again. Techs at my obs office know their schedule way ahead. I'd make a point of letting the person scheduling know I would prefer not to be scheduled with that tech again.

nicolefuentez · June 2015

Dang. I would have said something and I definitely would complain. I know the techs see babies all day long but after losses and being anxious about my own, I would have said something. For SURE, don't let that person get to you but I still would tell someone at the office.

missemmawoodhouse · June 2015

Team get over it. Not everyone is going to be super pumped about your baby. What if her previous scan was for a serious medical issue and she was still reeling from that?

pink*sheep · June 2015

I am in a profession where attitude is everything and we don't have the luxury of not realizing that the current person we are dealing with is different from the last, the next, etc.

So I don't necessarily buy the whole "rough day" aspect. With that said though, there are constructive ways to address it without sounding like a whiny self absorbed needy patient. A pp mentioned it, just ask for a different tech next time. If, and only if, they want to know why, would I mention that the previous tech appeared to have had a difficult day. The further they delve the more specific I would be, otherwise just let it go.

In most cases those appts are so limited so having someone on a different level than you'd expect can seem like a bigger deal than it really is.

mariposa08 · June 2015

You're paying for a service. I would let the doctor know. That's not your problem she is having a bad day. Wahhh.

sentoriam · June 2015

There is nothing wrong with what she said. Maybe the way she expressed it was wrong. She is doing a difficult job and she has 20-24 patients like you everyday. So no, she does not need to be sweet and cuddly. Oh and she's a technologist not a technician.

shaunahf · June 2015

I work in the medical field and if any ultrasound tech treated one of our patients that way they would be written up. We have to use absolute professionalism and that's not it.

beccraar · June 2015

I agree, I also work in medical profession and no matter how bad a day you're having, how many people you have to see or how many scans you have to do one after another, you still have to maintain the same high level of professionalism for all. A comment like that isn't professional. I doubt I'd report it though, i'd just grumble for a bit then let it go, as I know how difficult any complaint made against you can be. Asking to see a different person next time should make the point subtly.

MariahOBrien · June 2015

sentoriam said:
There is nothing wrong with what she said. Maybe the way she expressed it was wrong. She is doing a difficult job and she has 20-24 patients like you everyday. So no, she does not need to be sweet and cuddly. Oh and she's a technologist not a technician.

"Sweet and cuddly" is not the point at all. She needs to be professional and respectful.

jenboston22 · June 2015

I'm not sure if I would report it (as I can be a bit passive), but I certainly believe that the tech was completely unprofessional. So sorry you had to go through that!

PrimRoseMama · June 2015

I'd have to hear the rest of the conversation to make that call. If you were chatting her ear off while she was trying to take measurements it could be irritating. What she said was a little curt, but I'm not willing to say report her.

Even though you are paying for a service-- that doesn't make the staff your cheerleaders or therapists. They are there to perform a task, not make girlie chitty-chat as she does her work. It sounds like she was trying to get her work done while you made small talk.

That's the vibe I get from your post.

SaltyMcNulty · June 2015

mariposa08 said:

You're paying for a service. I would let the doctor know. That's not your problem she is having a bad day. Wahhh.

Yeah - the service is having a properly conducted u/s. The tech had poor bedside manner. Nothing the tech did/said impacted the actual service (doing the u/s) provided.

Ceridwen77 · June 2015

SaltyMcNulty said:

mariposa08 said:

You're paying for a service. I would let the doctor know. That's not your problem she is having a bad day. Wahhh.

Yeah - the service is having a properly conducted u/s. The tech had poor bedside manner. Nothing the tech did/said impacted the actual service (doing the u/s) provided.

----quote fail---
I have to agree with this. It's not like you're getting a pedicure and they should be super friendly/chatty and offering you wine and warm towels.

ajkelley24 · June 2015

I also had a rude technician (paired with a less than impressive OB), and I felt strongly enough to switch practices. This is my first baby and I think it's important enough to expect to be completely comfortable during this experience.

amberrmariee20 · June 2015

Maybe she was having a bad day. Or maybe saying it joking around. Regardless I would just leave it be ! Our techs here aren't aloud to tell us anything at all to do with the baby.

nofrogs · July 2015

I would gently tell your OB. How can she improve her bedside manner for other moms, if she isn't made aware of the problem?

tetchy · July 2015

Couldn't do that where I work! I'd complain. Tho, I complain a lot. I am pregnant damn it!

missemmawoodhouse · July 2015

tetchy said:
Couldn't do that where I work! I'd complain. Tho, I complain a lot. I am pregnant damn it!

Can't tell if serious...

Being pregnant doesn't mean you are entitled to be treated like a princess.

JandJ62914 · July 2015

She probably hears it all the time. I know when I had my second ultrasound at 11 weeks and saw the huge change between week 6 and week 11 I was amazed. Baby was dancing up a storm in there and I exclaimed something along the lines of, "Wow look at that! They're moving like crazy! That's amazing!" (More to DH than the doctor.) But the doctor just kind of responded with a "Mmhmm..."

I don't necessarily think that you were trying to make small talk when the tech when she was working. It sounds like you were just amazed and thrilled to get a peek at what baby was doing in there! On her end, she probably hears this all the time, and I'm sure it gets old but she should be understanding of the patients' excitement and consider the fact that maybe it's the first time they are seeing their baby move. She didn't have to engage you in a conversation, but she also didn't have to be sarcastic. She could simply say, "Yep!" and acknowledge what you said in a professional way.

CarrieOct15 · July 2015

I probably wouldn't complain, unless I thought that in addition to being a bitch, she also did a lousy job. I'm not always sunny & happy when I'm at work, so I try not to take it personally when other people aren't, either.

whit3183 · July 2015

I would say something. Most hospitals/healthcare providers have certain standards for patient care and would want to know about an employee acting in that manner. Whether the tech was having a good day or a bad day, or whether she cares about your pregnancy or not is completely irrelevant -- as an ultrasound tech, she's not the one who determines how patients should be treated.

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