Got Yelled at by MD.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi,

I got yelled at in front of my patient and two other physicians because my pt did not have sequentials on one of her legs. Now, I am over the getting yelled at part because as we all know we take a lot of crap in this profession. However, this is my real problem with all this. After he made a fool out of himself he said now you cant place the SCDs on pt without a venous doppler. By the way, he told me to go write myself up over this. Keep in mind, it was my first time I had this patient and I was only two hours in my shift when this all happened. The SCD had been taken off on the previous shift when pt received a bath and not put back on. From the get go that morning, I had critical labs and stat IVP etc etc. You guys know how it is. Her SCD was not foremost on my mind. So, its the weekend and doctor did not put the order for the doppler until I followed up. Order in and since it was the weekend I had to call vascular surgeon to get this ball rolling. They refused to come up on weekend to do this doppler. Resident made attending aware of this and I was told to leave SCD off. So, she went a day and half with no SCD on and I felt if she did not have new DVT before she would now. Heres the kicker, this pt had greenfield filter placed to prevent a DVT that developed prior. I asked another resident about this and was told filter takes care of both sides. So, isnt SCD contraindicated on this pt? In other pt with greenfield filters placed we leave SCDs. off.

Thanks for reading all this.

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How did the patient handle it? :redbeathe

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Specializes in Operating Room.

That's AWFUL. I don't think that its ever appropriate for anyone regardless of their job position to YELL at anyone else. Honestly, what are they, 12?

I hope they returned later on and apologized to you, you deserve one.

I work at a small Catholic hospital in rural NY. On my unit (L&D) most of the doctors are pretty demanding when it comes to petty things. They aren't demeaning but do expect to have us know their glove size, preference, how they like the supplies laid out in the patients rooms, how they like their delivery tables, etc. And we have dozens of doctors. If they have to ASK you to get anything for them, they get upset.

The worst is our anesthesia team. When they come up to our floor for C-sections and epidurals, they expect a laundry list of things done aside from all normal required aspects for the procedure. I'm talking like, Doc A wants 3 pairs of gloves laid out in such a way, with a 4th pair of this size laid over the first 3, with 2 needles laying horizontal to the gloves, 3 syringes above that 2 inches apart, etc etc.

As soon as the procedure/whatever is done, we are required to clean up their sharps/anesthesia needles/trays, etc. Most of the docs just finish whatever they were doing with the patient, stand up, ungown, drop the gown at our feet, and head out of the room.

I'm only a new grad so I don't have much experience, but to me it all seems a little excessive. I haven't been yelled at yet, but I have gotten glares from asking which size glove when the doc asked for an extra pair. I apologized to the doctor as though I had made a mistake.

I certainly hope the doc didn't yell at you. It's not right, and its not professional.

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Next time look him straight in the eyes and say, in a stern and direct tone, "Do not yell at me."

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Next time look him straight in the eyes and say, in a stern and direct tone, "Do not yell at me."

Agreed. No one has the right to yell at anyone in what is supposed to be a professional setting.

And of course you don't write yourself up. If the doctor has that much of a problem he can do it himself. Dear Lord...talk about a lazy and obnoxious PITA.

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

Uh, Yeah. I would be all over that right up. You know, the one I write the doctor up for an unprofessional and hostile work environment. Arrogent jerk.

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Specializes in Nurse Faculty, PMHNP-BC.

I am sorry to hear that you had to deal with a bully, these healthcare facilities are not doing enough to protect nurses from such abuse. Our work environment should be free from abuse and intimidation.

Some of these physicians think they are GOD that is why they treat people like that. I wonder if they treat their wives and children like that, maybe not that is why they come to work and talk down to other people because have no input at home. We need to stand up against abuse, I will not allow anyone to talk down to, yes I need my job I also want to keep my dignity. Respect me and I will respect you. There is a particular doctor at Melbourne FL hospital who likes to abuse nurses also. They cannot work without us and we cannot work without them so lets work together and repect each other. Keep your head up.

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Uh, Yeah. I would be all over that right up. You know, the one I write the doctor up for an unprofessional and hostile work environment. Arrogent jerk.

Good idea. That's what you should do...write him up for his behavior. It's warranted.

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I would definitely write an IR IF the NM/Supervisor agrees but would talk to them first. The IR won't reflect you however but the previous shift and may help in future situations between one shift and another. This would have probably been a mote point if rounds included actually going to see the patient, if you would have seen they weren't on during rounds, the previous shift could have done it before they left...this helps you and would have helped them along with the patient. Being yelled at is never pleasant, mainly I attribute it to the personality of the doctor and agree with others to calmly look at the doctor and request not to be yelled at, explain the situation, and let him/her know you will correct it. The IR if written may also point to a larger problem of the weekend wait for the doppler. Hospitals have a contract with certain doctors that practice there, they may want to adjust this contract to include weekends depending on the need of the facillity.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I would have been tempted to say something along the lines of, "Well someone is being written up over this, but not me, you."

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Did the MD appologised to u after that??:zzzzz so bad:down: i think in 1 day, we should have a right to yell them back infront of pt.:yeah:

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Specializes in Oncology.

I've never thought of SCD orders as an absolute "must" all the time. I don't consider it healthy to have something on your skin 24/7 for days on end. Also, if the patient is becoming more mobile and wants to ambulate, I'm absolutely going to take them off to let them do that.

Further, our SCD orders are confusing. They're done via computer, but no one ever discontinues them. Ever. And our patients are there for months sometimes. So they may have had an SCD order from two months ago when they were on bed rest, but now they're better and totally walky/talky. In those situations, some nursing judgement is in order anyways. Sounds like this doc really wanted them on, obviously, though.

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