dcotor asked me to leave room

CRNI-ICU20 · Jul 29, 2007

I agree that drs. should have that confidential time with their patients if it warrants....but one thing a dr. should remember is that often in such a litigious society, it might be foolish to not have a nurse present when doing personal examinations....a patient could claim sexual assault or impropriety by the dr, and he or she would not have a leg to stand on.....having a nurse at the bedside just might be a WISE decision. crni

leslie :-D · Jul 29, 2007

I agree that drs. should have that confidential time with their patients if it warrants....but one thing a dr. should remember is that often in such a litigious society, it might be foolish to not have a nurse present when doing personal examinations....a patient could claim sexual assault or impropriety by the dr, and he or she would not have a leg to stand on.....having a nurse at the bedside just might be a WISE decision. crni

i agree, IF the doc is going to examine his pt., a nurse (or someone) should be present.

there was an incident yrs ago, that i wouldn't leave the room.

i knew how disturbed this young woman was and she had even mentioned to me how she was going to "fry his ass" (md's) r/t her being ticked off at him.

even though i refused to leave the room, the doctor got so upset w/me that he threatened to get an escort.

so i left.

and yes, this female pt did indeed, accuse him of sexual misconduct.

it went to court; i had to testify....

and still, even in our litigious society, some docs still don't see it coming.

but if they're only conversing, i wouldn't make a big deal of it.

leslie

allnurses Guide · Jul 29, 2007

Sometimes privacy is highly to be valued, and never to be found. When they took me aside to tell me my 14 yo son had a brain tumor in an inoperable area, there were over 15 med students, interns, whatever, all avidly staring to see how it was done and what Mama would do. Would she shreik, faint, cry, fall over? No, I just asked questions and explored possiblities. Seeings how dh had died just a few years before of CA, and I had done a few years of oncology..... he even said after a while "you aren't reacting the way we thought" as though to say "don't you get what we are telling you?".

And by the way, they were wrong, wasn't a tumor and he doesn't have cancer. Jerks. :angryfire

jenna_rn · Jul 29, 2007

I have never run across this. The position where I work is you are there to witness and assist the md.For example, a nurse IS ALWAYS PRESENT during a pelvic exam and other similar procedures.You are not only there to assist the physican but to act as a witness for the doctor and the patient that nothing inappropraite was done. I had a male resident once in the ER do a pelvic exam with out a RN present. After he came out I explained to him why it was essential a RN be present... and he was completely mortified he put himself in that position ( where he could be accused of inappropriate conduct).To be honest. I would be suspicions if a doctor asked me to leave the room unless it was a psychiatrist going to interview a patient. I would also chart that I was asked to leave the room if I had any concerns.

allnurses Guide · Jul 29, 2007

Sometimes privacy is highly to be valued, and never to be found. When they took me aside to tell me my 14 yo son had a brain tumor in an inoperable area, there were over 15 med students, interns, whatever, all avidly staring to see how it was done and what Mama would do. Would she shreik, faint, cry, fall over? No, I just asked questions and explored possiblities. Seeings how dh had died just a few years before of CA, and I had done a few years of oncology..... he even said after a while "you aren't reacting the way we thought" as though to say "don't you get what we are telling you?".
And by the way, they were wrong, wasn't a tumor and he doesn't have cancer. Jerks. :angryfire

Wow - what a story. So very glad about the happy ending. :icon_hug:

steph

NightOwl0624 · Jul 29, 2007

I'm not a nurse yet, but from a patient's perspective, I don't think that it is all inappropriate that a nurse be asked to leave the room as long as a physical examination is not being performed.

Not long ago, I had a consultation appointment with my ob-gyn. He had been my dr for many years, but I had not had an office visit in a while. When he came in the room, a nurse followed him. I had never seen this woman before, and let's just say that her presence was not comforting to me. She was never introduced, it was never indicated why she was following him around (I had and kept all of my clothes on for the entire visit) and she just stared at me as the dr asked me very personal questions. I was extremely uncomfortable with her in the room, and I know it is my fault I didn't speak up and ask her to leave myself. Funny, I was a million times more comfortable with my male dr than this female nurse!!!

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Aug 18, 2007

Sometimes privacy is highly to be valued, and never to be found. When they took me aside to tell me my 14 yo son had a brain tumor in an inoperable area, there were over 15 med students, interns, whatever, all avidly staring to see how it was done and what Mama would do. Would she shreik, faint, cry, fall over? No, I just asked questions and explored possiblities. Seeings how dh had died just a few years before of CA, and I had done a few years of oncology..... he even said after a while "you aren't reacting the way we thought" as though to say "don't you get what we are telling you?".
And by the way, they were wrong, wasn't a tumor and he doesn't have cancer. Jerks. :angryfire

off topic but my parents had a similar experience. It was after a surgery of mine when i was five. it was a few days post discharge and i was still lethargic. parents took me to the er. they did a CT saw a dark spot on my brain, the resedents who saw me told my parents i had a stroke. turns out it was just a drain my surgeon had left in.

turned out it was a UTI.

Parents dont trust resednts anymore.

CHATSDALE · Aug 18, 2007

OP mentioned that it was a male patient, there are thing which a man would prefer not to discuss in front of a female nurse don't take offense when none is meant..you will have enough situations when you will have just cause to take umbrage

you hae the making of a good nurse, if you feel it is importent enough as other have said look at the progress notes, if nothing is there it may have been a personal problem they discussed

MA Nurse · Aug 18, 2007

:angryfireI'm a new grad and all through my clinicals I was told to get in the room if the MD was in there. I also had great experiences with MD's who really wanted to teach. So now I'm an RN in a hospital (not a teaching hospital) and I'm in the room getting my VS and the MD comes in a asks me to leave the room so he can be with the patient. I looked at him dumbfounded and said "But I'm his nurse." To no avail.
Then it happened again with another MD; I didn't say anything but I did vent to my preceptor that it was unacceptable and the clinical leader told him that if the MD wants me to leave, then I leave "We have the pt all day, they're only in and out" which I totally get but aren't I supposed to be part of the team?
Anybody else run across this? What do you do? I'm having a hard time feeling like I don't count.

Are you working in a small area? I've noticed when the MD's work in a non-teaching rural area, they are often rude and not very warm towards nurses.

GrnHonu99, RN · Aug 18, 2007

I work in a teaching hospital. When the residents make their first rounds at 0400, yes I would abs. be offended if they asked me to leave. Work in the ICU. They are giving the pt. a quick neuro exam and its essential that our exams match...We discuss the pt. our exams and compare notes. I ask for things I need, update them on things..we work as a team...I have never had a doc ask me to leave. However, when the attendings come around and at times need to have that conversation or what not, i dont always feel the need to be in the room..Ive never been asked to leave. In my unit, though, the MDs expect you to be there when they round as they always have a million questions...

Sabby_NC · Aug 18, 2007

Yes very true the Doctor and Patient have a right to privacy.

Do not take it in a sensitive way but honor their wishes and politely leave the room.

As some one else mentioned do not take this personally at all.

Ms Kylee · Aug 18, 2007

Usually if the doctor is in the room with a patient, I will not enter. I just smile and say "Sorry, I'll come back later". Unless the doctor specifically requested me to stay, I will find something else to do and come back later.