Specialties Emergency
Published Apr 24, 2003
ScarlettRN
116 Posts
I wonder how common this is in small hospitals. We have a 4 bed ER and a doc comes in and stays in the lounge when there are no patients. For the past few nights, a patient will come in, and if I have no clear direction that I can do before the patient is actually screened by the doc (draw blood, order X-ray for r/o fx) I have to call him and let him know there is a patient waiting to see him. This one doc will interrogate me over the phone about the patient's history, symptoms, onset, etc, which is okay to a point, but some stuff he is having me ask the patient while I am on the phone with him....instead of HIM coming down and actually LOOKING at the patient. Is this common or am I running into an annoying doc?
petiteflower
230 Posts
You are not alone!!!!!!!!!!!
susanmary
656 Posts
Originally posted by ScarlettRN I but some stuff he is having me ask the patient while I am on the phone with him....instead of HIM coming down and actually LOOKING at the patient. Is this common or am I running into an annoying doc?
I but some stuff he is having me ask the patient while I am on the phone with him....instead of HIM coming down and actually LOOKING at the patient. Is this common or am I running into an annoying doc?
Tell the doctor this in very simple terms. He needs to come and assess the patient. Period. Common or not.
canoehead, BSN, RN
6,890 Posts
He needs to assess the pt before any orders will be carried out
(except in emergency) See if you can get your manager to back you up on that too.
gwenith, BSN, RN
3,755 Posts
Whho is HIS Boss? I would talk to him about a good way to proceed and if he does not comply take it up the chain of command.
Do not forgetyou have the right to pull a "white mutiny". Work to rules "Oh doctor - I can't do that!" Co-operation works both ways.
TazziRN, RN
6,487 Posts
I work in a 6-bed ER with docs who do a min of 24-hour shifts. Some of them are real good for interrogating over the phone and then saying "Okay, I'll be right there." I learned to stop after the third question and say "Why don't you come in and ask the patient that yourself?" As for orders given before seeing the pt, I weigh the seriousness of the pt's problem before deciding what to do: if I know the doc will probably only spend a few minutes with the pt and I know what he would order, I'll go ahead and take the phone order and call him when the results are in. If I feel the pt needs to be eyeballed first, I'll tell him "You need to wake up and come see the pt first."
kevro1013
33 Posts
Maybe you guys could agree on a set of protocols, ie: things you could order and then give the doc a call (obvious deformities get x-rays, fevers give APAP, etc..) they are a time saver for us, but of course the emergent patients we call the MD to the room as we are starting the obvious things