dealing with rude doctors

Nurses Relations

Published

Good morning everyone. Need some input. We are starting a committee at our hospital.......nurses only..........for dealing with rude doctors and the way they treat us.............which isn't professional. The committee will be formed with nurses on different floors and shifts. We had a problem with a doctor a couple weeks ago who was very rude and said he was "punishing the nurses", and said it in front of a family member of a patient. Can you believe this??? Went to the head honcho that is responsible for the doctors and told him what had happened. He about fell off his chair when we told him what had happened. It was his suggestion that we form this committee. As you all know, we all have to work as a team, INCLUDING the doctors. We decided not to write up incident reports, as they usually go by the wayside. Our director was in full agreement of what we are going to do.

My question is, do any of you have a committee for dealing with rude doctors? If so, please let me know what you have done and how it is going.

thanking you in advance

niteshiftnurse

I have not really dealt with this issue myself, but I have seen some Doctors who handled themselves poorly in front of others.

One thing that helps is to be direct and honest when talking with doctors. It also helps to ask for clarification when at all in confusion. I think it is a good idea to have a committee to support nursing overall, and yes Doctors do need to be polite and respectful towards nursing, otherwise who will do all the dirty work? Doctors should realize this, but maybe some have forgotten.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There are many hospitals that have committees that deal exclusively with physician behaviour because it's impacting the hospital in terms of liability. It's not only a matter of physician's acting inappropriately in terms of verbal abuse, it's also a matter of issues such as sexual harassment, hostile work environment, failing to adher to the standards of duty of care to one's patients, etc. and that affects the hospital (negligent credentialling). I've seen both risk management and the chief of staff handle issues and the most important thing is to have a paper trail of documentation and witnesses to any incident with a physician.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

While I don't think physicans have the right I don't think you should have committee about rude mds. How about a committee about how eveyone should interact. I've seen just as many rude nurses, na's, clerks... as physicans.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Some dysfunctional facilities have a culture of arrogance and disrespect. I work in one now where the docs have been allowed to behave badly for decades, so many do. If the nurses complain WE are the problems.

A committee to address this and work on real ways to change the culture might be a good idea if there is some meat to it. If it's just a whiney coffee klatch it will be a joke.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used to work at a facility that had a Charm School for Physicians: If a nurse complained about their rude behavior, the physician's paycheck was withheld until they attended the class.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't have any suggestions...but I sure hope you will share any solutions y'all come up with. Our chief is well known for his sudden abusive outbursts, upper management is well aware of it and tolerates it. Assertiveness training does NOT solve that kind of problem.

Please let us know what comes of this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

-knocks on wood- I've only had 1 doctor (surgeon) in my 14 years that 'got to me'...Had to call him one night r/t pt pain management..aka pt pitching a fit for more/stronger meds...I had explained the situation to the MD and at about that time the pts family member walked up to the desk and was standing in front of me across the desk .This DR proceeded to cuss me out for all I was worth..using every GD,MF,SOB word he could think of..as I sat there tryin to maintain composure in front of this family member. I calmly told the family what the new order was and that I would be in a moment to give the prn. When the person left the desk I started to cry (make me mad enough to cry and I'm dangerous) and threw the chart against the wall..papers flyin, the whole works.Was that professional? NO...did it make me feel better? YES.....lmao...I reported his behavior to the super/and also in a staff meeting to the administrator..not leaving out the lovely words the MD used.Few months later he was gone..thank the good Lord...seems he had numerous bad reports from nursing and family.Still makes me a bit angry to think of it now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology, Cardiology, ER, L/D.
Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

A committee??? REALLY????? I am finding this very humorous. Surely there is a better way than forming yet ANOTHER committee with (likely) time-wasting meetings. I think Assertiveness Workshops/training for staff would be time and money better-spent than some silly committee. Check it out. Sounds like some folks could use it.

Once again Deb, ITA with you! Now, can I come work with ya, please! Come on...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

COME ON and work with me, navy. I am all for learning to deal with difficult people, taking the bull by the horns, and each of us being accountable for our own behaviors. THERE ARE WAYS TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE. I have not seen too many "committees" really accomplish too awful much but waste time and company/hospital resources. And often the abusers go on abusing those they can get away with treating so badly, period.

We all must take on ourselves some assertiveness training and learn how to deal with difficult/abusive people in stressful situations. A so-called committee won't change much-----they never do. It's up to each of us to learn how to cope with different people in many high-stress situations, period. I still say the better way would be some workshops on dealing with difficult people or assertivness training. They abound everywhere as do BOOKS, 1000s of them, written on the subject. Resources and time would be much better spent this way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Not everyone feels comfortable being assertive and every employee should have the protection of being able to file a complaint without having to confront his/her colleague. I agree with the poster who stated that their policies on sexual harrassment included physician behaviours. I would further argue that if enough complaints were filed with the hospital, it would establish that the hospital was "on notice" that a pattern of hostile or offensive work environment was occurring and that the hospital's failure to take prompt action makes them liable as well. This is not just a nursing issue, this is a workplace issue.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That can handle this situation easily without all of this documentation. Just keep your ears and mouth closed and block your mouth. TRUST ME they will run him outta town.

Louie

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My question is, do any of you have a committee for dealing with rude doctors? If so, please let me know what you have done and how it is going.

reply I have to agree with another reply I read I think that it will just be a forum for complaints. I think that this committee need to have physician representation as well as administration and risk management.

No we do not have a committe at the hospital where I work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment