The health care employee with an "attitude"

Health care managers may encounter employees who seem to have an "attitude." The employee may have a pattern of ingrained, inflexible, maladaptive responses to anxiety indicative of a personality disorder. When the employee has a pervasive sense of self-importance, is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, and requires excessive admiration, a narcissistic personality disorder or traits may be present. Although this individual can cause havoc in the workplace, an alert manager who uses specific management techniques can enable the narcissistic employee to be productive and to be an asset in the work setting. This article provides a look at the etiology, symptoms, and management of the narcissistic employee. When the employee is willing to be assisted, the behavior can be modified and the necessary level of adaptation can occur. This can result in a more productive, less chaotic workplace.