A hospitalist's clash with a PA and NP

Nurses General Nursing

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I've been reading some of the blogs here and I truly love them. They are funny, insightful, and sometimes humbling. So I would like to share my story of an event I had with a PA and NP.

It was 2 years ago.I got my first hospitalist job when I was 26. I've been working as a hospitalist for 4 years now and I truly love it. I work 12 hours a day in a hospital and get the following 7 days off. So my schedule is basically 7 on/7 off. I make about 225k a year and I can moonlight during my days off. (Wanted to inform you of what a hospitalist is since people always ask me what I do and how much I make) :rolleyes:

It was my first year of being a hospitalist. I was 26 at the time and I worked with absolutely AWESOME NP's and PA's that made my job so much more easier. Normally I would see about 10-18 patient a day, spending about 40 minutes in total with the hospitalized patients. They were 2 PA's and 2 NP's in our team, each of which were atleast 5-20 years older than me.

At first I felt insecure to them-with good reason, seeing as the men stood at about 6'2 ( with the women an exception of 5'6) and I almost seeming to be squatting at a 5'11.haha. But they were experienced and very sweet and caring, except for a certain PA and a Certain NP. These two men were close to eachother and shared their beliefs. I honestly did not care much as long as we were doing our job and getting good results. The two would always want to argue with me instead of trying to come to an understanding, this bother me but again they were good at their jobs, but I also felt like they should let me do mine.

Ofcourse in the end, I had the final say and they were angered that someone the age of their children told them what they could and could not do. At the end of the his shift he would leave furious with his grey beard swaying with the wind. Ofcourse he would order uneccessary tests for patients who didn't need them to somehow make me angry at him. Haha I would however stay and still look over the tests and sometimes even find interesting things. Thanks!

So one day, a patient was hospitalized with severe pain on her foot. We saw what seem to be a sore, and they NP's and PA's just dismissed it as a mild infection but I was eerie and told them to run some blood tests and Blah blah blah. The PA and NP were just about 100% sure they were correct and we were wasting our time with the patient, but once again, it was not their place to decide. After reviewing her xyz tests, I went home.

The next day I came to the hospital abit late- My wife was getting lonely :D. So when i got there a nurse informed me that the the patient was given the dose of blah blah I ordered, and I did no such thing. 20 mins later the patient had a complication with the drugs they had given her and went into shock. After some paddles and resuscitation she was stable.

I asked the nurse exactly who asked her and she said "Dr.****, and Dr. ****. I asked her to describe what they looked like- and I guess I was abit angry seeing as she looked like she was about to pass out from my presence. She described the NP and PA in my team. So I went to them and asked them "Did you give her the drugs I told you specifically not to" And this is what I got.

" You f**** doctors think your the ***** huh?

"I have an infinite amout of experience, and because you wasted your life doing the MCAT, Medical school, and residency, you think your better than me?"

The second man went on to say:

I am just as skilled as any god ***** M.D. I know more about patient and medicine than you will ever know, and you and all the ******** so called "doctors" out there. You f******* idiots just walk in so proud and smug of your damn M.D. degree. We are just as smart. We are just as knowledgable and we should be paid just as much."

Mind you while this was happening the other two NP's were just in complete awe at what these men were saying.

I looked at them and said "Are you finished with your temper tantrum. I do not care what you view me as. I am a Medical doctor, my only concern is with the patient. You are a Physician assistant. I am liable for your actions. You DO NOT have the authority to do those test without my consent and you lied to the patient by claiming to be a Do-

He interupts me by saying " I AM A F****** DOCTOR. I HAVE MY DOCTORATE"

I continued by saying: Doctor of Medicine. They both quieted down after that.

You two are no longer needed today. Go home. I then called security and they screamed at the security office saying they were doctors but then the security noticed their badges and rightfully took them out of the hospital. :rolleyes:

I went back to the patient and called a dermatologist because I believed the sore to be skin cancer. The dermatologist confirmed my diagnosis and thank god, was able to save her life. Funny thing is after I sent the two men home, they came back to the hospital so sue me for "Degrading and harsh treatment and language". No so suprising they lost the case and even lost their practicing rights.. Sad seeing as I just wanted them to take a break and get their minds right. Talk about karma?. :cool:

I was very shocked at the language used by those proffesionals but glad I was able to remain calm in the situation. Have any of you guys had similar stories?

you are a Nurse Practitioner.I am liable for your actions.

I'm a nursing student who makes $0 a year and even I know that you were in no way liable for the NP's actions. S/he was practicing on his/her own license, issued by an entirely different board than the one you report to.

Nice try troll.

Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I have to agree with the others.. This does not sound "right" coming from a MD...

Well, if you are really a super busy, super rich hospitalist, why are you hanging out with us nurses and trying to start a fight?

And why do you feel the need to define what a hospitalist is to a bunch of nurses who presumably understand what you do better than the average cocktail party crowd?

Well, if you are really a super busy, super rich hospitalist, why are you hanging out with us nurses and trying to start a fight?

And why do you feel the need to define what a hospitalist is to a bunch of nurses who presumably understand what you do better than the average cocktail party crowd?

Again, what? Never said I was busy. Like I said, I work 7 on/ 7 off. Never said I was rich. Starting a fight? I gave a post about something unproffesional I experienced. Is it ok for a nurse to do so but not for a doctor? I'm sorry for assuming otherwise.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
*sigh* How is this a troll attempt? The liability was towards the PA. I guess I should have made that more clear

Explain to me how you are a hospitalist at the age of twenty-six. Your writing is poor for someone with so much education. What's the problem...not enough action over at SDN?

Again, what? Never said I was busy. Like I said, I work 7 on/ 7 off. Never said I was rich.

From your first post:

I make about 225k a year

The next day I came to the hospital abit late- My wife was getting lonely :D.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
*sigh* How is this a troll attempt? The liability was towards the PA. I guess I should have made that more clear

1. Doctors don't care what we think, that's why:lol2:

2. Doctors don't come here whining about other MD's. Usually they are too busy.

3. An MD would go through the Chief of Staff to fire an associate. Md's just can't fire each other. PA or NP as well

4. Now go be a good troll and go back to your wife.;)

Explain to me how you are a hospitalist at the age of twenty-six. Your writing is poor for someone with so much education. What's the problem...not enough action over at SDN?

I was skipped from high school and was a Junior in college when I was 17. Ahh so we judge people by writting now. I'm a fast typer and its the internet. I honestly wasn't trying to write perfectly. I wanted people to read this and to think I was sometime of ego driven doc. There are ways to be a doctor at 26 now. Collegiate highschools and such and BS/MD programs. Any other accusations?

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
I was skipped from high school and was a Junior in college when I was 17. Ahh so we judge people by writting now. I'm a fast typer and its the internet. I honestly wasn't trying to write perfectly. I wanted people to read this and to think I was sometime of ego driven doc. There are ways to be a doctor at 26 now. Collegiate highschools and such and BS/MD programs. Any other accusations?[/quote]

Umm, we called you a troll?:lol2::lol2:

From your first post:

You based your assumption of me believing I was rich based on my salary. I'm married. Wonder If this would be different If i was a nurse. Sorry, Is talking about your wife a troll thing these days? God, half of my friends are trolls then.

I was skipped from high school and was a Junior in college when I was 17. Ahh so we judge people by writting now. I'm a fast typer and its the internet. I honestly wasn't trying to write perfectly. I wanted people to read this and to think I was sometime of ego driven doc. There are ways to be a doctor at 26 now. Collegiate highschools and such and BS/MD programs. Any other accusations?[/quote]

Umm, we called you a troll?:lol2::lol2:

Yes I know, but yet all the accusations are based on your assumptions of the things I said. :lol2:

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