Re: Docs yelling at nurses....

Originally Posted by PMFB-RN

I work night shift and one time i got to work and my patient's BP was something like 205/107 so I called the doctor and was yelled at FOR TAKING THE BLOOD PRESSURE. He asked why was I taking blood pressures at midnight. I said "But doctor, we take everyone's vital signs at midinght... it's hopital routine?!?!" He was still mad that I bothered him and told me to NOT TAKE THE BLOOD PRESSURE ANY MORE THAT NIGHT.

*** I hope you wrote that as an order and quoted him word for word.

I did write that as an order. I did repeat the blood pressure. Too bad there wasn't anything I could do about it because I didn't have any orders. I did notice the next day he really changed around his BP meds so at least it was eventually taken care of.

Re: Docs yelling at nurses....

it really feels embarassing when doc yell at u but what i always my colleagues to do what is professionally right or what is espected of them then any doc cannot yell at them.
if u know your left to right no body can drill u around, but u can report them to the managers of the facility.
keep the spirit high

Re: Docs yelling at nurses....

My impression is that most physicians are punks. I see a lot of them acting like spoiled children. Some definitely pick on women. Most won't continue their bad behavior if you stand up to them. This can be done in a calm, reasoned fashion. I like to change the subject to something about how I would have thought that the such a smart doctor would have the ability to have a calm, reasoned discussion. "The most educated and highly paid members of the healthcare team should be setting the example, right?" "Wow. You really are loosing control. I may have to call security." (By this time, the doctor's behavior may actually justify physical restraint and medication by force.) I wouldn't want to be an OR nurse. Those surgeons are almost exclusively jerks. Doctors tend to treat ICU nurses better than med-surg ones. They think they're smarter. One of the things that I like about emergency nursing is the close working relationship with our physicians. We get more respect from the attendings and consultants as well, I think. Then there are the individual factors. Do you demonstrate strong professional bearing? Are you well-spoken? Are you smart? Do you work hard? Are you conscientious? Can you justify your actions? If you smell bad or ask stupid questions, then it may be dificult to earn respect. (By the way, ER docs get abused for waking physicians up, too.)

Re: Docs yelling at nurses....

Hey Guys
I have a standard way I deal with Belittling docs. When a doc corrects me or gives me constructive critism I do not mind as I can always learn. But when a doc feels the need to belittle me. I puff up my chest and respond assertively. " I RESENT YOU TALKING TO ME THAT WAY!" usually they ignore that and keep right on. I persist " I DON'T THINK YOU HEARD ME. I RESENT YOU TALKING TO ME LIKE THAT! I stand my ground until they back down. When the dust clears and time removes emmotions it turns out that these same docs become good friends as they learn that I expect respect. Never Walk Away, Never Back Down. Always Expect to be treated with RESPECT.

Re: Docs yelling at nurses....

Sure some doctors will yell at male nurses.

My advice is to not take any nonsense. If there is a valid point, address the point. If there isn't, stare at them directly without showing any emotion. The point of yelling is to get a reaction. If you withhold this, they'll stop it.

I've never had anyone go completely nuts, but if one did and the above didn't work, I'd calmly say "If you need any more help let me know" and I'd go get a cup of coffee. Then I'd drink it right in front of them, staring at them.

Re: Docs yelling at nurses....

Originally Posted by KckStrt

I am in my last semester of nursing school. I have been in every rotation required over the last few years. The only time I have had a Dr. get "ugly" with me was one time in the Emergency Department. She was a new resident and failed to realize that the RN's where not at her disposal and quickly turned her attitude around and tried playing nice, after she was ignored and walked away from several times during my shift.

The only times I have noticed Dr.'s treating men inappropriately is when the Dr. is a women. Not sure what that is about. I wont put up with it and I don't have to.

Most of the Dr.'s where I am at are friendly and eager to teach when they have time. Everybody has a bad day, so I try not to take it personally.

see do!

hell yeah.

Re: Docs yelling at nurses....

We have one particular OB doc who was famous for having a bad attitude. He yelled at or berated everybody for everything. It turned out that he was going through a horrible divorce and his wife was really causing him public embarrassment with substance abuse, several involuntary admissions to the mental hospital, and crazy stunts like hit and run accidents. When the divorce was final, he was a much nicer guy. Now, it wasn't right for him to bring his troubles to work and take them out on his nurses, but hey, nobody is perfect. He only yelled at me once and I stood my ground and basically told him I wouldn't take his junk. Now he's one of my favorite docs to work with. Sometimes you just have to stand up for yourself. Doctors are people too, and they don't have any special rights to berate or belittle anyone.

Re: Docs yelling at nurses....

Surgeons are their own kind of arrogant and have yelled at me a number times usually when they have to take a patient back to the OR because they did not fix them the first time.
One broke scrub to come out to the unit and tell me that "YOU KILLED THAT WOMAN!!!" I had given a prescribed drug (nipride) and she just dropped and never came back. I was shocked for about 1/2 a second when he was yelling and then just said "are you screaming because you feel so bad, or because your trying to make me feel bad?" His jaw snapped closed and he walked away. He later told me that I was an excellent nurse and that if I ever needed anything to call him.
I think it was kickstart that said something to the effect that we all have bad days and not to buy into it. I totally agree, if a doc gets in your face staying calm and detached is the best policy, they have the right to their opinion, does not make it right.

Re: Docs yelling at nurses....

you will most likely get yelled at by a doctor at some point... ive been yelled at.. cussed at.. had things thrown @ me.... it toughens you... i just wish i was in tweetys feathers... to never deal w/ a crazy doc!
of course, i have always pretty much been in the emergency dept. and some on call docs can get really mad @ 3am! .... you get to know certain docs ya work with and stuff... one of the best moments of my medical career was kicking over a tray for this plastics doc that was called in to the ER... i had sat up his trays many times and he was just pissin me off that night.....he always threw stuff.... no one would work w/ him cause he was such a pain..... well.... long story short... i kicked the hell out of the tray, spillled the suture kit all over the floor, gave him a look like he could go to hell, and said... HEY *INSERT HIS FIRST NAME* and yelled *SET UP YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT YOU PRICK!*...
i came really close to gettin fired.. that was WAY before i was a nurse.. i was a emt... and just working as an ER tech...
no kidding... from that day on.... he requested me when he came to the ER.. over the nurses and the er docs to be his assistant...
he taught me a lot... and i learned a lot from him...
he's old and retired now, but he still keeps in touch w/ me.....
he's a stubborn old man... but one of the best plastics docs i have ever worked with...

Re: Docs yelling at nurses....

Originally Posted by nghtfltguy

you will most likely get yelled at by a doctor at some point... ive been yelled at.. cussed at.. had things thrown @ me.... it toughens you... i just wish i was in tweetys feathers... to never deal w/ a crazy doc!
of course, i have always pretty much been in the emergency dept. and some on call docs can get really mad @ 3am! .... you get to know certain docs ya work with and stuff... one of the best moments of my medical career was kicking over a tray for this plastics doc that was called in to the ER... i had sat up his trays many times and he was just pissin me off that night.....he always threw stuff.... no one would work w/ him cause he was such a pain..... well.... long story short... i kicked the hell out of the tray, spillled the suture kit all over the floor, gave him a look like he could go to hell, and said... HEY *INSERT HIS FIRST NAME* and yelled *SET UP YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT YOU PRICK!*...
i came really close to gettin fired.. that was WAY before i was a nurse.. i was a emt... and just working as an ER tech...
no kidding... from that day on.... he requested me when he came to the ER.. over the nurses and the er docs to be his assistant...
he taught me a lot... and i learned a lot from him...
he's old and retired now, but he still keeps in touch w/ me.....
he's a stubborn old man... but one of the best plastics docs i have ever worked with...

OMGosh that had me giggling. I bet he had the deer in the headlight look after that? LOL

I had a Doc who got VERY hot under the collar in ICU over something that was not done as he requested, so he had a valid complaint BUT I was not the one on the previous evening that this order should have been carried out.
He ranted and raved, got really red and hot under the collar IN FRONT of the pt.
He tried to rip me a new one so I just politely asked to see him outside where I dressed in down in a very professional manner but made him look so sheepish by the time I had finished with him.
My collegues said it was hysterical because he was 6ft 6" tall and I am a mere 5ft tall. I just told him that we were both professionals and to act as professionals meant NOT yelling at a person in front of the patient.
I sorted the problem out and phoned him back to inform him why his orders were not carried out.
After that we became great mates and he always did rounds with me!