A doctor made me cry!

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I am a fairly new nurse working in OB. Yesterday I was scrubbing a pts. belly for a c-section and apparently I wasnt doing it right. It was only maybe my 5th time doing it and the problem is that everyone I'm with teaches me differently. But anyway, the doctor was standing there and getting all huffy and when I was done I just went to the corner with my paperwork and I couldnt help but cry a little. The doctor didnt know at the time but unfortunately one of the other nurses confronted her and told her she made me cry!!! I'm not happy about that. Anyway, later that evening the doctor did come find me and talk to me about it, and was nice about it actually. So that was a relief. I just feel like such an unprofessional loser!!

I am a fairly new nurse ...

Anyway, later that evening the doctor did come find me and talk to me about it, and was nice about it actually. So that was a relief. I just feel like such an unprofessional loser!!

Most Drs do not mean to be personally insulting. It was actually pretty cool that the other nurse told the doc and he spoke with you. Don't take things so hard next time. Yes, there will be a next time. We all have bad days and often we blow off steam in the wrong direction. Of course there actually are rude and obnoxious drs too. Those are the ones who's comments you really need to ignore.

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Specializes in Critcal Care.

Absolutely on par, Woody436!! We TEACH all the people in our lives how to treat us. One way to stop this is with non-verbal communication. You'd be surprised how putting your hand up in a stop-this position all the while wearing a professional half-smile will stop a doc like this in his/her tracks. Then keep your voice low and controlled and say, "I hope your tone is not deliberate, because i find it quite offensive and inappropriate in front of the patient and my colleagues. If this is something we need to discuss at length, i'll be most happy to talk about it at a mutually convenient time." If the doc keeps on, use the repeat method and do not be hostile. Let them be the aggressive ones, but stand your ground.

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Specializes in ICU.

I completely understand how you feel. The best thing to do is just learn from it and learn to be tougher. I am a 23 yr old new RN, and one thing I really need to work on is not letting people walk all over me....meaning DR, residents, PA's...but yea-to totally relate...my preceptor a few months ago had me crying hysterically in a pt's room bc she told me " i just wasn't getting the critical thinking part " about working in the ICU...can you imagine....like a knife right through my heart...Stay strong, it happens to the best of us !

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Specializes in Obstetrics.

Please don't feel like a loser about this. Every nurse I know has encountered a physician who wasn't nice to them. I actually had a similar situation where I was prepping the pts belly for a c/s when I was new to the unit. The doctor was watching me and told me I was doing it wrong. So I said I would do it again, but apparently the second time wasn't any better for him. So I said, "I want you to tell me exactly how you want me to do this because I am not going to do it a 4th time." The doc was taken aback (prob not used to a nurse saying something like this) but instructed me exactly how to scrub, which BTW was exactly how I was doing it.

You may find that this doc will be more respectful of you since she knew her behavior was unacceptable to you. In the future, I would advise that you talk privately with the doc to tell them that you are open to learning but not in a disrespectful manner. I find this approach works well.

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Specializes in Obstetrics.

One MD on our unit is pretty ANAL retentive about the pitocin. He wants it increased every 20 minutes. When he wants an update, he asked when the Pit was started and mentally calculates to make sure it is at the "correct" concentration. The other day he told a fellow coworker "keep going up on the pit. i want her delivered by 7 pm" She got right back in his face and said "ok i'll write that out as an order. Increase pitocin per policy to deliver pt by 7 pm. Did u want to sign that now?"

lol

That's great!:lol2:

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Specializes in Operating Room.
Hi I am a new nurse, and would like to know what exactly is the correct way to prep the patient's stomach? It seems everyone has their own technique. Don't want to learn the wrong one. Thanks.
When you are doing a surgical prep of the abdomen, I was always taught that you never go over the same spot twice with the same swab(our prep kits in the OR have sponges for the soap prep, and 3 swabs for the prep solution). You prep in a circular motion inside to outside and again never go back with the same swab. Obviously, don't contaminate the prep swab either-if it touches anything nonsterile, throw it away.
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Specializes in Obstetrics.

I've seen the way WitchyRN describes used at one hospital. The pack used is betadine based and has a sponge on a stick and a 5x5in square sponge. The circulator has to wear sterile gloves to prep with this kit.

We use Chloroprep sticks that we just snap the little lever that breaks the ampule in the stick/handle. This releases the chloroprep solution into the sponge. We start at the incision site and scrub back and forth for 30 seconds. Then we move up the abdomen in back and forth strokes overlapping just enough to not miss any spots. After the abd is prepped, we move to the groin. Chloroprep claims that there is no specific technique needed to scrub other than the 30 sec scrub of the incision site. Which of course threw all of us off when we switched because we were used to something different.

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Hey, the other nurse thought she was looking out for you, and give the doc a lot of credit for making it right. I'm so sorry you were in that position, but by being told how you felt, the doc learned about her own attitude.

thats a very good point

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Specializes in Critcal Care.
I completely understand how you feel. The best thing to do is just learn from it and learn to be tougher. I am a 23 yr old new RN, and one thing I really need to work on is not letting people walk all over me....meaning DR, residents, PA's...but yea-to totally relate...my preceptor a few months ago had me crying hysterically in a pt's room bc she told me " i just wasn't getting the critical thinking part " about working in the ICU...can you imagine....like a knife right through my heart...Stay strong, it happens to the best of us !

Brooke1984, I cringe when I hear about such a remark. A few questions pop into my head when I hear such a story. (Understand that this head spent 12+ years in the public classroom teaching critical thinking) Firstly, where is this preceptor's head? Does she understand the adult learner? (Dignity of the adult learner is of upmost importance.) Does she use proven methodology to teach critical thinking and its application? How is she evaluating? Are there clear objectives and strategies for you to attain those objectives? Does she know what type of learner you are? Broad generalizations offered up as true evaluations are just excuses for poor teaching. All evaluations should include strengths, weaknesses, an improvement plan, and benchmarks. I'm sure that many new nurses have wondered why they just don't "get it". Yeah right.......blah blah blah

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I am a fairly new nurse working in OB. Yesterday I was scrubbing a pts. belly for a c-section and apparently I wasnt doing it right. It was only maybe my 5th time doing it and the problem is that everyone I'm with teaches me differently. But anyway, the doctor was standing there and getting all huffy and when I was done I just went to the corner with my paperwork and I couldnt help but cry a little. The doctor didnt know at the time but unfortunately one of the other nurses confronted her and told her she made me cry!!! I'm not happy about that. Anyway, later that evening the doctor did come find me and talk to me about it, and was nice about it actually. So that was a relief. I just feel like such an unprofessional loser!!

I love the nurses I work with. They don't take smack from managers or doctors. :nono:

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