Venting...a really arrogant SOB doctor at my new job!

Nurses Relations

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Hey everyone,

I just have to vent to people who can understand this...I know nothing will fix it, but boy did I get ticked. I just started at a new clinic two weeks ago and really like it alot, and am just getting to know everyone and the Doc's/PA's. I worked my first day in triage yesterday and got a call from the receptionist that there was a woman at the desk, 37 weeks preg with contractions, and bawling like a baby, who had never been seen at our facility. My first thought was to send her to ER ( we are connected to the hospital), but the lead triage RN said we need to assess her first. Fine, so I do. She'd been having contractions since yesterday after lifting a heavy object with her hubby, and hadn't felt fetal movement in over 12 hours. She said she had just come from her regualr OB 20 minutes away where she had presented with the same probs and he was on his way out to vacation, didn't check her cervix, or fetal tones and told her to go to ER if she didn't feel better over the weekend ( her side of the story). She's crying b/c baby isn't moving, contract are worse, but far apart, etc. The head RN goes to fetch Ob on call at our clinic. I'm sitting int he room holding pt's hand, trying to keep her calm and the OB comes storming in the room with a piss-poor look on his face. He doesn't introduce himself (I myself had not met him and didn't know who he was just then), doesn't shake her hand, no measure of compassion and starts reaming her about trying to switch Dr's in the middle of her pregnancy and why didn't she go to the other ER, blah,blah,blah. He said to her, "Your a liability to me and I'm not willing to risk seeing you today. If you want to swith doctors you'd better wait until the baby is born. There is nothing I can do for you!" And he turns to leave. I have not had the chance to say anything, nor has she, and I am so shocked by him that I couldn't speak at first! Than I looked at my pt. and told her I would call the ER at her regular hospital and tell them she is coming over for increased cx and abence of fetal movement for 12 hours. The MD turned around and yelled. "She hasn't felt the baby move in 12 hours? Go get me a damn doppler!" All of a sudden his liability tunred seriouse and he proceeded to find heart tones that were weak and in the 120's. Anyway, he still turned her away and had her go to her regualr hospital for eval. Luckily her hubby was with to drive. As she is leaving ( I didn't want her to go), he asks her how long her last labor was with baby #2. She said 4 hours and he smiles and says, "Well you'd better hurry. You don't want to have the baby in the car." I still can't believe he is such an ass and I've wondered all night how she did. We ended up calling the other hospital and telling them she was on her way. Anyway, this is tool long, but thanks for listeneing. I know I will be dealing with this MD alot more..oh, and he's the medical director for the clinic. Guess I'd better watch my step! Thanks for listening!

EM

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EEWWW.........what an A--. Maybe your future dealings with him will not be of this nature? (beholding you aren't pregnant are ya??? LOL.. ).. May his future be filled with the births of many geometrically shaped KIDNEY STONES.. what goes around comes around. so they say! :p

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geez em....you DARE question a doctor?

as tho they make mistakes?

lol

ive met some very fine docs. but ive met some real assholes. seems like surgery and gynie are the worst. generally speaking.

they are gods in their own minds.

why didnt the doc just spank that patient?

they make the mess and leave us to clean it up.

can you tell that im overworked, underpaid and bitter?

lol

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I am suprised that your facility and that particular doctor was not in violation of the federal law that states all ER patients must assessed and stabilized before transfer to another facility. I think I would start going through the proper channels and have this doc reported. First of all, his behavoir toward you and the patient is downright rude not to mention unprofessional. The patient could even have a case for verbal assault toward this jerk and possibly discrimination. You can't let this jerk win. Surely other nurses feel the same way you do about him. I would document everything in a notebook and have your co-workers do the same. Keep track of everything. Then you will have proof of this jerk's actions. Go all the way to the administrator with your complaints and your facility's attorney. This guy is way out of line and something needs to be done. In the meanwhile, make sure you do excellent documentation in your patients' chart so if some situation arises your butt will be covered. Good Luck:eek:

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The jerk broke the law. He isn't allowed to do that. PERIOD. If she shows up in his office in that state w/a medical emergency, which, by definition, hers was....he isn't ALLOWED to not see her and at least evaluate her.

I agree w/deespoohbear that you should be documenting this stuff. Names, dates, times, DIRECT QUOTES, etc.. Then nail him and report him to the state board. Ugh.

Speaking as an OB nurse, I'd crucify the creep. He'd be eaten alive in no time by me AND my co-workers for pulling that crap.

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Specializes in OB/GYN,L&D,FP office,LTC.

I agree with Dees and Kday. That is definately an EMTALA violation! Don't let him get away with that!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I don't think I'd be able to speak, think, much less sleep after such an encounter. If anything happens to that patient and her baby, ANY adverse outcome whatsoever, it's lawsuit time--and YOU are involved.

Document everything that happened, if she was placed on a fetal monitor, what YOU did, what she (the pt) said, etc. Make copies. Keep one for yourself--for a very long time. Report the incident. It is definitely a violation of EMTALA, and other such regulations.

She probably has a lawsuit now against both her regular OB and the OB at your facility, for assault and mental anguish, and a lawyer could probably think of lots more.

If this idiot is the Medical Director of the clinic, I'd sure be looking elsewhere for a job.

Why the husband didn't deck the guy, I'll never know. Whew, what an a*****e.

:eek: :eek:

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I agree that your doctor made a HUGE EMTALA violation. I just hope when he needs a doctor one day , he gets the same treatment. As a ER nurse i would have written he up so quick that the ink would not have had a chance to dry.:)

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

EMaas, I agree EMTALA may very well have been violated.

Here is a case not exactly like yours but similar enough, where the doctor "associated with" the hospital was fined for EMTALA violation in an OB case. Read past all the names etc. down to about 1/2 way.

http://plague.law.umkc.edu/cases/EMTALA/Burditt_v_HHS.htm

Let me ask you this, do you have ? Not to frighten you, BUT I'd wager that this "Prince of a Doctor" would say you NEVER informed him it was an emergency. I can see it now.

Frankly, I wouldn't want to work there for someone who would treat another human like that. You say the clinic is connected to the hospital? What are the chances you could get a transfer?

This is a nasty situation all around.

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It all depends on how gutsy you are--but I think I would find a wquiet moment, and after notifying the hospital management in writing of this incident, which is ILLEGAL-I would speak to the doc and tell him that you are aware that refusing that patient violates federal law. No more--just that.

I would be willing to bet this happens at this facility all the time, tho, and you only just saw it. If it does--and other staffers can tell you that--GET OUT OF THERE RIGHT NOW!!! The place is a timb bomb, and you are going to be in the lne of fire for sure. Is it a for-profit hospital? If so, then there is nothing you can do, because they will not change policies until the feds make them. Believe me, if the director/doc acted like this, then the other docs follow his lead--because its good for the bottom line.

You have nothing to gain here--and a whole lot to lose.

Sometimes we nurses want to fix everything to save the world--and sometimes, you can't fix it. I know your heart hurts for that patient-so did mine-and by leaving you think you are "giving up" Let me tell you--you cannot fix this, its vaster than your clinic, and nothing you do is going to change it, I fear.

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I agree - MAJOR EMTALA violation. Huge fine could be assessed. I'd write both an incident report AND a letter to the department manager cc: risk management. Don't be surprised to get a letter from the receiving hospital re: EMTALA violation. I would jot down some notes now - he said /pt said/nurse said etc. while they are fresh in your mind. Put them in a safe place AT HOME. CYA.;)

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Just curious about "MAJOR EMTALA violation". The original poster said s/he worked in a clinic, not an ER. Does this law only cover ER's or all out-pt. clinics and MD's offices.

Unfortunately sometimes patients do dumb things and then want us to fix it. It is true this patient should be in an ER. Who knows why they did not go to the ER. At 37 weeks gestation maybe she was ready to deliver. Good luck to you because your name is on the chart. :cool:

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