Physician Bullying of Nurses Reaching Epidemic Levels

[DoGoodThenGo]

A doctor-bully epidemic is jeopardizing both nurses and patients. In news reports and hospital break rooms, stories abound of physicians berating nurses, hurling profanities, or even physically threatening or assaulting them. Doctors are shoving ...

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Doctors bully nurses: Hospital mistreatment is a danger to patient health.

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

The article was written by an author pimping her new book. This is actually the least offensive one that I have read, but it's still embarrassing. If you wanted to put together an article on vertical violence, why not cite reputable sources? Is this site somehow tied to the author of the book?

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Nurse for 14 years.

Bullying happens but in my experience it is not worse now than it was when I started. And when I started the older nurses allowed as how it was much better then than when they started nursing.

It's not acceptable when it does happen, but let's not get all het up about how it's worse now than ever. That's way too sensationalist. Somewhere along the way most hospitals figured out that it's not good PR to have a doctor who throws things and is rude to people.

On my unit the docs and nurses know each other by first names. They chat with us and show us pics of their kids. We get along fine, by and large. We're not all BFFs but we do for the most part actually like each other.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

The article was written by an author pimping her new book. This is actually the least offensive one that I have read, but it's still embarrassing. If you wanted to put together an article on vertical violence, why not cite reputable sources? Is this site somehow tied to the author of the book?

I decided not to purchase this book after reading reviews from other nurses.

My first stop in a bookstore is the shelf with books by nurses and doctors who write about their own experiences. I started that journey with Echo Heron's first book about 20 years ago.

Just about finished with Trauma - My Life As An Emergency Surgeon by Dr. James Cole. Excellent and detailed and oh by the way . . he says that during his internship, at orientation the interns were ALL told to pay attention to the nursing staff and be kind because the nurses would save their butts.

This same advice seems to be common in most of the books I've read by doctors and their time as interns.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I've seen surgeons get stroppy in theatre, but they're usually kept in line by the senior nursing staff. I've never seen anyone throw a sharp like a scalpel, if anything like that were to happen to me then the brown stuff really would hit the fan over it.

At the hospital where I had my first job (1985), there was an ED doctor who had a terrible reputation; she was absolutely miserable to everyone.

One time she got angry and threw a syringe at one of the nurses...a syringe that had been used on a patient who had HIV. It struck the nurse and broke her skin.

I don't know exactly what happened, but not long after that the doctor left to work elsewhere.

[Jules A, MSN]

At the hospital where I had my first job (1985), there was an ED doctor who had a terrible reputation; she was absolutely miserable to everyone.

One time she got angry and threw a syringe at one of the nurses...a syringe that had been used on a patient who had HIV. It struck the nurse and broke her skin.

I don't know exactly what happened, but not long after that the doctor left to work elsewhere.

Holy crap now that is what I would call a hostile work environment.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Excellent article!

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

I decided not to purchase this book after reading reviews from other nurses.

My first stop in a bookstore is the shelf with books by nurses and doctors who write about their own experiences. I started that journey with Echo Heron's first book about 20 years ago.

Just about finished with Trauma - My Life As An Emergency Surgeon by Dr. James Cole. Excellent and detailed and oh by the way . . he says that during his internship, at orientation the interns were ALL told to pay attention to the nursing staff and be kind because the nurses would save their butts.

This same advice seems to be common in most of the books I've read by doctors and their time as interns.

This article by the same author is so embarrassing. Nurse Confessions: Don’t Get Sick in July - Alexandra Robbins - POLITICO Magazine

The whole book sounds awful.

I always stop by the medicine section. Echo Heron is one of my favorites and def my favorite nurse writer. I love everything Atul Gawande touches but get a little miffed that when he does mention nurses (rare), it usually seems to be with astonishment that we do more than wipe butts.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

The article was written by an author pimping her new book. This is actually the least offensive one that I have read, but it's still embarrassing. If you wanted to put together an article on vertical violence, why not cite reputable sources? Is this site somehow tied to the author of the book?

I would like to know what ties the author has to AN as well.

[AdamantiteEnigma]

It's embarrassing in my opinion to take the cited article more seriously than satirical comedy. One only need view the author's other works. Perhaps not even go much further than skimming the article itself...

That said, workplace bullying is something I've both witnessed and experienced. It should be noted that my experiences with it over a 24 year career have shown that it almost exclusively comes from other nurses or professions ancillary to nursing. Not physicians as others seem so willing to soak in.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

We should be careful to delineate whether we are speaking of the author of the Slate.com article referenced by the OP - Alexandra Robbins - or the AN member who wrote the AN article on which this thread is based.

[AdamantiteEnigma]

I was referring to the Slate.com article. My apologies if that didn't seem clear.

[romeorn4u]

Unfortunately,this is an issue that has always been present,and sadly enough is still happening alot,not only within our nursing profession,but with the patients as well.It is a situation that we can no longer continue to deny it,or continue tolerating it anymore,and that is why we all have to be united,so we can help to stop many of these bully,and arrogant doctors from abusing,and disrespecting our nursing profession. This kind of abuse,and injustice has to be stopped,and these doctors should be required to take mandatory anger management classes,including psychological therapy,among other things.And if they aren't fit to be doctors,then they should simply resign,go work in another profession,or somewhere else,and not continue abusing,and degrading other people,just because of their medical title,and status. Our beautiful,and blessed nursing profession,is not like a horse stable,where people can trample our rights,and degrade our profession,whenever they feel like doing so.It's really a shame,and pathetic,to see many ignorant nurses out there,not having the courage,or conscience to come forward,and report all these abuses. We simply can't allow this kind of negative behavior,to continue happening in our profession,period!