How do you deal with doctors

[Mujesira]

The other day doctor came in screeming his head off about something minor. The nurse was afraied of him and didn't say anything to him. How would you guys react to this would you tell him that this is not normal behavior or what????:roll :roll :zzzzz

[capgirl]

I once had to call the first year resident for a diet order for a pt. The resident very snippy told me "you dont have to bother me with that".

When he came up on rounds, I very calmly said " don't you ever say a thing like that when the nurse calls you. The most important thing you have to learn is that the RN is your friend, and I am helping you." The next time I saw him, he thanked me for 2 things

#1 for not YELLING at him,

#2 for reminding him that we are all working FOR the same pt.

[tirramisue]

There are a couple different tactics I use, both with MDs and with other people who are abusive towards staff. If they are throwing things and doing any physical, security-stat. More than once I've asked someone who was hollering to please slow down just a bit so I can document an accurate incident report. If they become verbally abusive, I cut them off and ask if they would prefer to apologize at this time or in an open forum with the CEO and Medical Director there. That's just a few, I don't have time for adolescent BS.

[MPHkatie]

Discussing all residents rude behavior with their attending and also then, believe it or not, the head of their area. We have residents of all sorts rotating through the ED where I work, and one day I just got tired of their whiney, cursing, and rudeness. So far, it has worked everytime. Residents who are rude are first apoken to by the ED Attending that very moment or shortly after it occurs. In addition, I do write it up, and then we let the head of their program know - ie ortho or internal med or OB. I always tell the residents this, and I mention to them that they are here to further their education and that part of that education is to learn how to treat people. This actually all came about because I had a resident stand 3 feet away from the pt and ask mE "WHY IS THIS pt here?" I replied, well, he has some injuries from a MVA- a broken rib or two and his pain is not yet under control- to which the resident replied, well, I don't care, he shouldn't be here...." That resident is lucky to still have his residency. Fortunately, I have not had any trouble with the attendings at my hospital, they are all behind the treating patients and nurses with respect thing.

I never ever let the situation slide, or blow off, because it tends to get worse the nex time

[RN-PA, RN]

This is an area I confess to really struggling with. Fortunately where I work (Med/Surg), there's only a handful of doctors who are really difficult to deal with. I always cringe when I get my patient assignment and I see which of the dreaded handful I MAY have to deal with that night (or who might be covering on the "on call" list).

I'm getting lots of good ideas here and thank everyone for such good input. I have BRILLIANT, eloquent, perfect speeches for the jerks-- in my head-- BUT, when it comes time to deliver them, I'm usually caught off-guard, and just try to get through the conversation getting what I need ordered for my patient. What I HAVE been able to do is to keep my voice steady and no-nonsense; I've been able to be silent for a while or to say something like, "I'm trying to care for your patient."

What bothers me is that I tend to carry the anger and the injustice of certain doctors' treatment- with me- and go over the conversation in my head, thinking what I *SHOULD* have said. I think I posted earlier about writing a doctor up within the past few months and I must say, THAT felt pretty positive!

[Teshiee]

The way my personality is I don't worry about it too much. I had a doctor yell at me because the eye drops werent put in the babies eyes, when they should have been put in on night shift. I just looked at his little 5'2 and my stature is 5'10 need I say more? No one should tolerate behavior from a MD. I don't know why some hospitals turn a blind eye to it. It only takes one nurse to tolerate it and then he or she thinks it is acceptable. I like the idea of putting them on speaker phone! You have treat them like the zygotes they are sometimes. ;-)

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

Originally posted by Teshiee

my stature is 5'10 need I say more?

:chuckle

Being 5'10 does have it's advantages doesn't it?

Heather

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Howdy yall

from deep in the heart of texas

Have you ever noticed that the doctors who yell the most are the little short ones, their heigth that is. I dont see it often. But when I do I just stand uo straight and at 6 foot 2 inches and 230 lbs, I just look down at them, and quietly say, HELLO.

keep it in the short grass yall

teeituptom

[RN-PA, RN]

Funny you should mention the short stature, teeituptom. Did you happen to see the recent thread, "Little Doctor, Holy Terror"? Similar thoughts and experiences to this one. (It's at the link below for you or anyone else who'd like to read it. :) )

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15621&highlight=terror

[B.Wilhelm]

When a doctor raised his voice and "threw a temper tantrum" in front of me, I said, "That's exactly how my nephew acted when he was 2." I think he got the message. He never acted that way again.....At least not to me. Have a GREAT day! :)

[AFNurseRecruite]

Simply put , nurse shouldnt have to deal with Doctors who go off. Your are professionals who dedicate your time ubove and beyond the call of duty, usually a lot more than doctors.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We have a few primadonnas, but for the nasty ones, we walk away. We have also written them up. Sorry, I don't take that kind of treatment from anyone...they get up and put their underwear on the same as we do everyday :)

[BadBird, BSN, RN]

Well, I think we have all been there, I especially like when you have to page the senior resident of fellow because the resident on call is fast asleep and does not here their beeper. I work nights and one time I got fed up with their attitudes and I said, " do you think I paged you at 2am for a chat"? He shut up after that. The one thing I learned is never apologize, it is not my fault their patient is stroking or having a MI, they chose their profession let them deal with it, and cover you rear, document every page and no resposnse.