Hello,

I was wondering if anyone was able to help me. I work nights as a veterinary nurse. I work from Weds to Weds and I get every other week off. I also have a night assistant who works with me and mainly does the cleaning and occasionally helps with the animals. The assistants work from Mon to Mon.

My problem lies with one of the care assistants who I finish my week with. She is basically lazy. I don't mind helping out with the cleaning (and I often do), I see us as a team and we help each other out to get all the jobs done. The thing is I seem to be doing most of the cleaning as well as looking after my inpatients. She sits, chats and complains about how tired she is. I know I finish my week as she is starting hers and the fact I am already in the swing of working nights. I understand that, but I'm not like that when I start my week.

We get a 2 hr break each in a 12hr shift. Last week I went upstairs for my 2hr break. When I came down I had found out that she had only mopped the prep room floor. In 2hrs!! I so had to rush round and do the rest before the day staff come in.

I try and talk to her about it but I bottle out. I am rubbish at giving orders. She knows her job. Shes been there 6 months longer than I have. I know she is not like it with the other nurse, as the nurse has told me.

Its really stressing me out and I am starting to hate my job. What do I do?

I have started to feel really depressed about the whole thing. It seems so stupid. Why can't she just do her job.