Doctors vs Nurses relationship in Psych

[afl123]

Are nurses respected by doctors in psych? Where I currently work in Med-Surg, nurses are not treated as professionals at all. The doctors are very disrespectfull and management does not seem to care.

I am a very professional person and would like to be treated as such. I am sure no specialty is perfect in terms of staff relationships, but since I am going to be a psych nurse soon, I would like to get some input from the wonderful pscyh nurses out there to see if there is a difference

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Ex-psych nurse here. In most of my experiences, psychiatrists genuinely trust and respect their nurses much, much better than non psychiatrists. They typically value your presence, experience, and feedback, viewing you as a true colleague. I now currently work in med-surg exclusively...but have witnessed more times than I care to...the typical non psychiatric physician either being aloof, disrespectful/forced respectability, condescending, or quick tempered with nursing staff as compared to psychiatrists. Male physicians typically are worse at this than the woman (however, when in the company of poor male physician role models, she may often become just "one of the boys"). MD's, historically, are typically worse at this than DO's. Also, coming from a psych background, you may witness a few physicians that truly could use treatment themselves....alcohol/drugs, depression, hypomanias, anxiety, personality disorders, failed marriages, et cetera...yes, they as a people are no way exempt...for they are human too. But, much has to do with their cultural backgrounds, the Med school that groomed them, and the Hospital Admin that follows them...the physician's milieu. Some hospitals don't put up with it. However, sadly, many do...because physicians "bring home the bacon". It comes back to the all mighty dollar. And sadly, despite the battle cry for "High Press Ganey scores", hospitals may often fail to realize that the treatment of their nursing staff by physicians and/or by Admin themselves may significantly impact those very outcomes...via the trickle down effect. If found in a difficult situation with a physician, the best advice is simply "be the better man/woman" in that situation. If pushed, document...keep a paper trail. And if need be, if you are in a union, use it.

[afl123]

Thank you for your input. It is very discouraging to see how some of these doctors treat the nurses. And I do agree with you. Some of the doctors I work with do need psych treatments.

[elkpark]

Iv'e been in psych since Hector was a pup, and would generally echo what Wolfie said ...

Except that my personal experience has been that female psychiatrists I've worked with have been consistently, noticeably more dismissive and unpleasant with the nursing staff (male or female) than the males (I'm sorry to have to say that I've developed a pretty negative impression of female shrinks over the years ...)

For the most part, psychiatrists seem to have more appreciation than other docs that the nursing staff are the folks who spend all day with the clients and have the clearest view of what's going on with them. I've always been treated with courtesy and respect by the docs (again, the males more than the females, sadly) and valued for my contributions to understanding the client and implementing the treatment plan. Can't say that for any of the med-surg settings I've worked in!! :)

[NPAlby]

I would generally agree what the other posters have said. Most of the docs I've worked with have been very respectful and appreciative of nursing. Of course you got the occassional a-hole who wants to do his/her thing. For the most part they value our experience and take our opinions/suggestions seriously. Never had a problem with either gender as far as docs.

[afl123]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. It is great to see that you guys are treated like professionals. I hope to have the same experience when I transferred over to psych.

[EarthChild1130]

**agrees with other posters**