It's Your Fault

[Zee_RN]

A cardiologist stated "It's your fault he died" to the ICU nurses because we had no empty (staffed) bed when the patient needed transferred to ICU from the floor. The patient came to us and coded 20 minutes after arriving in ICU and he did not survive (so he had an EF of 15% to begin with...it was still our fault he died, ya know).

The cardiologist came to the unit (after the code, of course) and stated it was our fault that the patient died; we should take SIX patients each if that's what it takes...if a patient needs to come to ICU we should just keep taking them regardless of the nurse:patient ratio....

I think I'm burning out fast here.....don't know how much longer I can take this s***, ya know? And we have signs all over the hospital now regarding "Service Excellence." Angry-looking patients glaring out at you from these posters with the admonition "Letting them know we care is by showing them we really do." These posters are in the hallways, in the cafeteria (life-size poster!), everywhere there are these patients glaring at you.... ACK. I can't stand it.

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

I don't know who is worse, cardiologists or neursurgeons! Many doc in these depts, but certainly not all, are a-holes!

I remember once in out Pedi CT ICU, we coded a child for over an hour, cracked the chest, tried everything possible to save that child! When the cardiac surgeon came in, he said to the surg fellow who was the smartest doc I have ever ever worked with, in front of everyone, "YOU killed this child!" And turned and stomped off. This fellow actually broke down and sobbed. It was horrible.

So, telling them off is ideal, but after a code, emotions, of everyone, are running high, it's not always the best time, but I would follow up with a letter, have all the nurses sign it who were there, ask for an apology IN WRITING, and submit copies to you manager, risk manager, emphasize how this is verbal harrasment, and to the Medical Director. I did that once, a resident told the doc the pacemaker stopped capturing b/c I had not secured the swan. HELLO, the chest was open, and this stupid doc was manipulating the heart, THAT is why the pacer lost capture, it wasn't the first time they had repacked the chest and lost capture, like WHEN are you going to put in the PPM?? Anyway, long story short, I c/o to the surgical director in writing. HE apologized profusely to me, he knows I am a conscientious nurse, but I never got a written apology. He did have the resident apologize publically, in the middle of the unit to me, which felt pretty good for a change.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Let's not tar and feather ALL MDs because of a few or even one. ALL neurosurgeons are not arrogant. ALL cardiologists are not hateful.

If we heard a doc say ALL nurses are ***** fill in the blank, we'd be the first to holler!

It's a shame that this doc projected his own failure on the nurse. In psych we learned the "kick the dog" response. Unfortunately this nurse was the first he saw. There are poor coping skills on his part. He needs to be reported.

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Just wanted to clarify this sentence again from my post...

"Many doc in these depts,but certainly not all, are a-holes!"

I am speaking from my personal experience only.

[JennieBSN]

sorry for the late reply...been on vacation...but just had to reply to this one.

i worked in nicu. neonatologist king a**hole of the universe was the medical director. believed in saving anything w/a pulse, even if the kid had no lungs, jell-o for a brain, no skin, etc...you get the picture. anyhoo, at a staff meeting, this butthead actually said (and i quote...), 'these babies (22-23 weekers...) are dying because the nursing staff don't believe they'll live.'

uh, exsqueeze me? a baking powder?? yeah, that was the straw that broke the camel's back. my resignation went in the next day.

zee, if i were you, i would be sooooooooooo out of there. my resignation would be flying into my nm's hands. and i would tell him/her exactly why i was leaving. i can only hope and pray this cardiologist gets a very embarassing, itchy, tenacious rash on his genitals in the next few days.

bleah. get outta there, man.

[leesonlpn]

I wonder how he treats his mom:rolleyes:

[BeeStrong]

Definitely report this guy. It needs to be written up for administration and QA to make a difference. Nurses' fault because the hospital does not attract, retain enough staff? What hogwash. And if you had six patients, the guy would have died anyway, and it would still be your fault because you couldn't do twenty things at once. Blowing up in his face does nothing and neither does resigning. Reporting his comments will bring the issue back to him via administration which needs to know this kr**p is going on. He probably went and complained to administration himself, so they need to know your side.

Years ago I saw a Dr. accuse a resp therapist of killing a pt. The dr. had TOLD the therapist on the phone to adjust the pts trach. The therapist told the dr. she could not do that. (I was on the other line and heard the whole exchange). When the pt died, (after chest tube insertion, code, the whole nine yards) the dr. came to the rt and told her " now I have to go and tell that family that YOU just KILLED their mother". The therapist asked her (female dr.) what she was talking about. dr. said" you adjusted her trach" and the therapist with us nurses supporting her said" No, dr., I told you I could not do that, I am not allowed to do that" The therapist then called the administrator of the hospital to come in to the hospital (actually she asked the supv. to call the administrator) It was 11 pm at noc.

The dr was not aware that there were two other nurses listening to the phone order because we had been warned by others about this particular dr. She had to apologize to the therapist and admin. made a policy we had to get two nurses to listen to this particular drs.phone orders because clearly this dr.could not be trusted. Was the dr. disciplined? Of course not. Was the dr. fired? of course not. The dr. eventually left the hospital but is probably still practicing her particular brand of "medicine". Like that dr. swango who got away with killing pts for years and years because the administrative medical system covers very well for its docs. Make an incident report which has to go to the hospital's attorney and keep a copy for yourself...in case the other gets "Lost". Hang in there. We know how tough things can get, but the only way to make changes happen is to stick together.

Bee