[yannadey]

I usually start off charming them "oh I'm so sorry to wake you at 2am doc but as you know its the policy " then i tell him/her what i need & suggest (if its a recurring problem e.g. injuries r/t falls) to make it a standing order they usually agree.

[P_RN]

Originally posted by sixes
I had a Doc like that once.
I kindly said Thank You DR.so&so, I'll document your comments and say that you refused to give orders.
Never happened again> (LOL)

PERFECT!!!!!

[fab4fan]

Yes, I've noticed that is seems like you get barked at less in the ED. I usually do one of the following:

1. "Excuse me, I didn't hear you...what did you say?" (Never had anyone repeat himself.)

2. Bark back

3. Some variation of, "I will be happy to talk to you when you can behave professionally."

I have no patience for this kind of behavior; do they perhaps teach docs in med school that they can use nurses as their personal punching bags?

[RN always]

Originally posted by yannadey
I usually start off charming them "oh I'm so sorry to wake you at 2am doc but as you know its the policy " then i tell him/her what i need & suggest (if its a recurring problem e.g. injuries r/t falls) to make it a standing order they usually agree.

although I agree with starting out by saying "oh I'm so sorry to wake you" or "I'm so sorry to bother you" or whatever, we learned in school to never start out by saying that. The rational is that we are doing our jobs and it is THEIR job too so we shouldnt have to apologize for calling them, even if it is the middle of the night. When they decided to become a doctor they knew they would be getting calls at midnight so what do they expect? Or even calls during the day, they are the docs. They are the ones that need to be called. Oh I get so frustruated with this subject. I just don't understand why docs have to be like that.

[deespoohbear]

Originally posted by RN always
although I agree with starting out by saying "oh I'm so sorry to wake you" or "I'm so sorry to bother you" or whatever, we learned in school to never start out by saying that. The rational is that we are doing our jobs and it is THEIR job too so we shouldnt have to apologize for calling them, even if it is the middle of the night. When they decided to become a doctor they knew they would be getting calls at midnight so what do they expect? Or even calls during the day, they are the docs. They are the ones that need to be called. Oh I get so frustruated with this subject. I just don't understand why docs have to be like that.

Ditto! I refuse to apologize for calling a physician unless I called in error. (Had wrong doc paged or some such thing...that don't go over too well either ). Otherwise, I just say "Dr. So & So, this is Becky from the hospital. I am calling about"...and depending on what the pt needs/wants tell the doc what I need. Most of the time our docs are pretty decent but we are a small facility and know our docs pretty well. I will not tolerate rude behavior from anyone...fellow co-worker, doctor, patient, and visitor. I am a human being and demand to be treated like one. I will be nice to the docs but if they reply with an attitude Ms. Sweetness turns into Ms. Hell-On-Wheels.

[fab4fan]

Yeppers...we were taught the same thing: Don't apologize--you are doing your job, the doc is doing his job.

Depending on the doc, I'm not at all sorry to wake him up at 0300!

[liberalrn]

I agree with the 1st post, but I will admit that I jump to, "This is the problem and I need orders." fairly quickly with some docs. And then I shut up. Usually they just start reeling them off. I once had a doc tell me (in ICU) that he was taking his Dad to church for Father's day and he was not to be paged for the 2 hours the service lasted (he was on call). I waited for him to finish and said, "I'll just document that, and let the chief of staff know, so that ICU has coverage for Sunday morning." He cancelled the order........ some docs I am friends with and have known for forever and so I'll joke a bit with them--but they are not the ones that are swearing etc.!

[Nurse Ratched]

I like to start with something like, "Wouldn't dream of calling you at this hour except I knew you'd want to be aware that (Mrs. Patient's BP is 210/130, O2 sats are 70%, whatever) She's our x-year-old patient admitted Tuesday for (brief rundown just in case this doc has no clue who Mrs. Patient is.) We've already (whatever interventions have been tried) with no luck. I'm sure open for suggestions ."

It acknowledges the suckiness of having to call him/her at that hour (and I know they're being paid a lot of money and they knew what they were getting into in med school, but they're human and any human deserves a little courtesy at that hour .) Also gives them a second to wake up. And I always thank them, again out of common courtesy.

[nursesrthebest]

ROTFL

[joyflnoyz]

Oh Gosh...I just got this hilarious vision of nurses actually barking (woof, arf, yip) into the phone at the docs LOL