I am a nurse in an IMCU/Renal unit with almost 2 years experience. I am having a really hard time with the doctors. I work days and try to have everything ready when they come in to see their patients (labs in charts, vitals done). But they come in and are immediately demanding everything at once, not giving me a minute to collect my thoughts and focus on the patient in question. Then they treat me like I'm stupid when I don't give the answers almost before they ask the question!
I'll admit I'm not the most confident person when it comes to dealing with the doctors; I'm intimidated. Does anyone have any comments or advise to help me become less intimidated and more confident in what I am relaying to doctors? I know I'm not a bad nurse.
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
*** If a doctor does not thank me when I have done something for them or updated them I will usually say "Your welcome by the way". If they fail to say please I will ask "what do you say?", just like my 5 year old. Usually embarrasses them into more professional behavior. Also don't hesitate to point out to them if they are acting unprofessionally. I will certainly hang up on any doctor who tries to yell at me or berate me on the phone. I just talk right over the top of them and say something like "OK well why don't you call me back when you are ready to have this discussion in a professional manner, I am hanging up the phone now" and hang up the phone. Usually they are shocked and call right back still yelling. A couple more hangups and they get the picture.
Of course it goes without saying that if you are going to insist on professional behavior from them, your behavior must be professional.
My little hangup on them trick has resulted in several surgeons appearing in the ICU demanding to know who had dared hang up on them. I speak right up. They are usually shocked to see a large strong man and their tune changes instantly.
I have to admit that I have a MUCH harder time with the condecending types.
I am a woman and even when they see me with the "don't EFF with me look." They stop. Being a man helps, but don't let that stop you from developing your own "Don't EFF with me" look.
Specializes in vascular, med surg, home health , rehab,.
Jerks are jerk whatever the initial they might add to their names. As long as you have your stuff together (why your calling, latest vs, urine output, labs) have a clue what you want them to do about it. Its their responsibility to take care of THEIR patients, sorry its in the middle of the night, sorry you having a bad day, its YOUR job to deal with it. If they won't, just let them know thats what you'll document, thanks and bye bye. You don't have to put up with abuse of any kind. So don't. Don't let them intimidate you, because bullies love to do just that. Its a learned thing, still learning myself after 20 odd years. An example; a rehab unit, a pt in with cellulitis, multiple issues, 50's, one of those pts who doesn't complain, but his nurse just knew he was going bad. His K+ that morning was 5.8; the doc a notorious bully, didnt address. His nurse called, the doc went ballistic, hung up. Pts wife was standing there and heard it. 6am, pt coded, just as his labs came back K+ 7+. Pt died. In comes the attending, all sympathetic to his wife. "I didn't know he wasn't doing well, the nurses didn't call me". I don't know what came of it in the end, hope she sued him but doubt it. Docs are still gods to a lot of pts. So cover your butt, and don't take it. Draw a line; funny how just doing that for yourself, changes how they respond. Like they sense it.
Thanks to everyone who has responded so far to my post. You have all made me feel a lot more confident and hopeful that I can actually speak my mind. I am going to start being more assertive and not a doormat.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
We train people on how to treat us. Nurses who appear to be patsies or 'softies' through weak body language, subordinate postures, and low voices are easy targets.
I've observed repeatedly that these doctors target specific nurses, while miraculously leaving the others alone. This is unfortunate, but it is all about the manner in which we are perceived. If you are viewed as someone one who will not stand up for oneself, you'll be targeted for abuse from the doctors. If you're perceived as someone who will put up some sort of resistance and not allow anyone to pick at you, then these same doctors will quickly know that it is in their best interest to leave you alone.
Abusive doctors pick out the most opportune targets: the nurses who are less likely to respond in a defensive manner to the maltreatment. Also, if nothing is done, they'll continue the abusive behavior because they feel they can get away with it.
A large majority of the doctors need to be on the meds they prescribe. When a doctor gets on my nerve, I ignore them as I would my 5 year old. I don't offer any assistance.
Specializes in criticalcare, nursing administration.
More and more attention is being focused on this problem. Threre have been reports in the literature about negative nurse-physician interactions resulting in worse patient outcomes up to and including patient deaths. If fear or intimidation affects a nurses' interaction with a physician a a patient status change that should be reported may not be, with disastrous results.
I agree with others comments about being more assertive with the physicians in question. That said, if you find it is persistently the same physician this should be reported to your nurse manager. There is often an admistrative process in place to address the issue.
The problem with reporting abusive behavior, is it rarely CHANGES the abusive behavior. Therefore, you've reported a doctor, and he will know you've reported him. His treatment of you is not likely to improve, it will possibly only get worse. The nurse manager probably sympathizes with nursing, but she has to answer to management, who will almost always side with doctors. THat's the picture where I work.
Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.
Doctors...huge egos with inferiority complexes!! In reference to reporting abusive behavior by physicians, I was once a punching bag for a surgeon. Despite using numerous different tactics with this pompous "DO NO WRONG" physician, the abuse continued. I decided to keep a log of all interactions, and who was present during such. I took it to my nurse manager, even though I knew she would do nothing about it (they were best "buds"). I would not give in. I went to the director of surgical services and discussed the word "harassment," action was taken!! The director decided that the surgeon and I would meet with him in his office. This provided the perfect opportunity for the director to see this "man" in action; it worked in my favor!! The director took it to a dept. of surgery meeting. His colleagues were well aware of his lack of professionalism, but the good ole boys had to defend one of their own. The end result: the surgeon received a 2 day suspension!! It was a tough battle, to say the least, but I would not back down!! I refused to be treated with such blatant disrespect! Yes, I did get an "icy" shoulder for awhile from some of his colleagues, but in the end, the surgeon learned the definition of the word "humility!"
Specializes in criticalcare, nursing administration.
What I hear from you (imintrouble ) is that you have given up and feel powerless. You may be right, but you will continue to be victimized until you try. I've worked in many different hospitals and had multiple experiences with abusive physicians. I was always surprised when I confronted them with the response I received. I also hear some assumptions in your statement. The nurse manager will 'probably sympathize' . That means to me you are not alone in this. The second assumption is that administration will 'almost always' side cwith the doctor. How do you know, if you don't try. As both a former manager and director, I ALWAYS took these issues seriously. They are a patient safety risk.
Others such as Scoochy have, and ended with a positive result.
I've worked with MDs who make it a point to get as many nurses riled up in one visit as possible. the more nurses they leave in tears the better they feel about themselves. I had a friend who stood up to a cardiologist(the absolute WORST, IMHO). When she stood up to him, he settled down. He actually would look for her when he made his rounds. So of course we had to tease her unmercifully.
Wait until your facility gets electronic medical records and the docs can look up everything themselves!! It will save alot of aggravation.
imintrouble, BSN, RN
2,406 Posts
Do you think doctors would be amused about how we describe them? Would they even care? Sometimes I get the impression they don't even like each other.