help a greenie out

[ellie123]

I am about as green as they get. Just started to work about 1 month ago & here is my problem- For the first time today I had a doc speak to me like I had no brain. I had this pt. who had a ice pack on his shoulder (no big deal) but he also had this weird device to keep it on that area. He was about to be d/c and the doc was in his room. Pt. asked me to help him put this ice holder thing on his shoulder which had not been used on my entire shift and I have never seen it before. When I asked him how they had put it on previously and he was trying to me, the doc look at me and said "you don't know how to do that?" I explained this was something I had not seen before and he repiled " the pt did not go to school to be an RN, you need to find someone who knows what they are doing." Stunned I asked 2 RN with 20+ exp. and neither knew how either. To make a long story short (a little late for that!) the doc did not know how to put it on either!! I was so angrey I almost said "well I did not go to school to be an MD, maybe we should call a doc who knows what they are doing! I of course did not say this. But I did not know how to react to his demeaning attitude. Any advice from you with experience for any future run ins?

Thanks in advance-

Green- but not completely brain dead.

[ANnot4me]

I used to feel a great need to overtly retaliate in these situations. It sometimes led to even more confict. In your situation, my response would have depended on the day I was having. I have said things like "Thanks for you help" (in a sarcastic tone, this tends to really get to them) or "Don't ever speak to me like that again" and if they try to respond, I just walk away. Sometimes I'm more covert and might have said something like "How inapproriate of you." Or I just might have stood there and stared at him like he was a dog turd. Sometimes a "whatever" works wonders. Usually I try to think of people like that as rude, poorly-raised children and respond with that in mind.

Don't ever, under any circumstances, take it personally. There are a lot of jerks out there and most of the time management will not support you. Don't let yourself be pushed around , but don't go looking for trouble. It's a fine balance and a skill that comes with experience.

[CATHYW]

I would've said, "Sir, (emphasizing SIR) this is not something they taught us in nursing school, and I have not seen it before. I will get PT to show me exactly how this is done, and this won't happen again." No-excuses, just statement of fact. No embarrassment in front of the patient, and not excessively defensive. You have to toughen your "hide" a little, but you DO NOT, and I repeat, DO NOT have to take the garbage some Drs. think they are able to dish out. Do not lose your cool, or say something in front of a patient that you will regret later. Do not try to be "smart," or you will get a rep as being a smart aleck nurse. You want their respect, not a rep!

[SmilingBluEyes]

We teach others how to treat us. Teach these people nurses are not punching-bags. Take it head-on (away from the patient, at another time, if need be), and politely demand respect as the professional you are. WE ALL are AFFECTED by how we let these people treat us. It does not ever "have" to be this way! Good luck to you and hang in there!