[LizzyL&DRN]

So we all work with doctors that i'm sure we have questioned their judgement from time to time. And we all probably work with that doctor that we would never have as a doctor for ourselves. So what do you say when the patients ask your opinion of the docs?

[classicdame]

I say that is a very personal matter and everyone's needs differ. I try to be as unbiased as possible. Also, be careful about body language. That may tell a lot too.

[TrudyRN]

If it's my personal friend or family member asking and I have something less than wonderful to say, I'll be straight with them.

If it's not, I just say that I really am not quite sure what to say. I might say that, for such and such a field of Medicine, I have heard lots of good things about Dr. So and So. I NEVER, NEVER, EVER say anything negative about anyone, including docs. It is bound to come back to cause me no end of grief if I do. It's like giving any nursing advice to anyone. It will get misinterpreted, it will be ignored, it will be misconstrued, it can destroy you. Close family - yes, I'm straight with them.

There are ways to say things without saying them, of course.

[traumaRUs]

Even as an APN, I always tell my patients they have a right to a second opinion and they should call the nurse triage line of the hospital that they use and see about another practice.

[Elvish]

If I like the doc, I say so. If I don't, I just say "I don't really know him that well because we haven't worked together very long" which is usually true if it's resident they're talking about.

[jmgrn65]

If it is good I will sing praises. But negative, I just say I really dont know. I know of a nurse that was fired for saying something negative about a doc, it was true, but didn't matter. It is called slander and you could be sued. Of course she actually gave the patient info in writing. ooppsss

[passinthru]

" lots of people like her/him" which is usually a true statement.

[CIRQL8]

I must agree with all the above statements!! I've done them all! Sometimes I also tell a person that it would be unprofessional of me to judge and/or recommend one doc over another.

I must repeat the above statement by TRAUMA. A second opinion is always the right of a patient, especially if they have a gut feeling about themselves.

[icuwant2rn]

If I love them I tell them so, if not I say "Lots of people really seem to like him/her." Of course, my family knows my true feelings about most of them; including the ones that the mere mention of letting them operate on me would be enough to bring me out of a coma!

[wooh]

Like them, I'll sing their praises. Don't like them, my usual line is something like, "We have a lot of really great doctors at this hospital, we're really lucky."