What would you say???

[ohmeowzer RN]

A Dr from another country asked one of the nurses I worked with if she can read English? She was asking this DR. about an order !! Then I heard another DR ask why the nurse wasn't at the nurses station quicker ... Are the nurses deaf? The nurse was in the room with a patient !! In both cases the nurses never said a word back to either of the Doctors !!

What would you have said and has this ever happened to anyone ? How did you handle it? Thank

you all in advance !!

[BluegrassRN]

On the rare occasion I am spoken to in that manner, I stop what I'm doing, stand up/turn to face him/her, look him/her straight in the eye, put on my mom face and say "Did you seriously just say that to me?"

The two times I can recall having to say that, each time the doc has mumbled, looked away, and then said something like "Well, I'm just frustrated because I've written that order twice now/had to clarify several times/whatever." To which I responded, "Let's go back to the desk and enter the order in the computer so that there can be no question about what you have ordered." As we're walking to the desk, I've said "Believe me, I know the computer system is frustrating. Don't take it out on the nurses, though. I'm sure you're aware that we're required by hospital policy to clarify these type of things." I want to make clear that I am not going to take that crap, that I'm on their side, and that I am willing to help.

I've wondered what I'd do if the doc would go toe to toe with me and start berating me. My natural inclination is likely to ask him to step outside and then start swearing a blue streak that would make a pirate blush. I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep my cool and remain professional. Or at the very least just tell him "Don't fing yell at me because you don't know the basics of how to write fing orders." and walk away.

[Flying ICU RN]

What you wear and how you carry yourself also has an effect on how you are percieved and treated. Here I am receiving verbal orders from a physician.

[CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

What you wear and how you carry yourself also has an effect on how you are percieved and treated. Here I am receiving verbal orders from a physician.

Nice hair!!

[sassy_squirrel]

I've been reading lots of posts on how rude doctors are to nurses. Is this something that happens internationally? I'm in Australia that's all.

I understand that they are probably stressed out but do people really have to be so rude to each other? Work is much nicer when everyone is friendly. Where I currently work (not nursing yet) everyone has mutual respect for each other and I find it to be a fantastic work atmosphere. And dispite the fact that we are understaffed we somehow end up able to pull things off.

[EbonyBorn2Succeed]

I think if a md asks someone " Do you know how to speak English?" A good response would be "Do you know how to write in English? Bc this sh*t looks like japanese"

[regularRN]

Erilsoln, "I actually had one who insisted I was in administration but acted as a nurse. He couldn't understand that I was only a nurse."

Sometimes I wish I was only acting... !

[Leelee2]

A very long (a full minute or so) cold stare in their direction, kind of an unspoken "are you kidding me?" It is 2010, and I refuse to be verbally or otherwise abused while at work. The second time it happened, I would verbally address this individual (in private) and tell them I found that comment very inappropriate and insulting, if it happens again after that, I'm heading to HR to file a complaint.

[commonsense]

I would simply reply to the doctor that My comprehension and understanding of the english language is extensive but my understanding of jibberish is very vague. I'm still a student but as far as I understand the MD is not your boss, they're your coworkers. With any job I have ever worked I can take verbal abuse from someone above me, but I will never let a fellow co-worker disrespect me or verbally abuse me like that.

[Flying ICU RN]

Ah ladies, ladies, ladies! I'm seeing too many feathers ruffled here. Don't you know that it's great fun to chase chickens?

Any kind of a confrontational response to a guy like this is simply feeding into the egocentric persona. The absolute best way to disarm a cad, is to show him that you're very much a lady.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Ah ladies, ladies, ladies! I'm seeing too many feathers ruffled here. Don't you know that it's great fun to chase chickens?

Any kind of a confrontational response to a guy like this is simply feeding into the egocentric persona. The absolute best way to disarm a cad, is to show him that you're very much a lady.

I'll have to try it next time.

For some reason, I don't think I'll pull it off very well but...........we'll see.