Abusive Surgeon

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A little background about me.

I am an Australian RN and have been working in the operating room for 4-5 years. My specialty is orthopaedics- specifically hip and knee joints.

The surgeons I work with are very nice, patient and lovely. However there is this one surgeon who just makes me feel so bad and incompetent. (I am not stupid and I am a very highly capable operating room nurse) The mean surgeon has a known reputation in the industry as very rude. But people tell me that he is "very nice" kind hearted and warm, it is just that when he steps into the operating room he changes his behavior.

The surgeon screams a lot he expects you to know everything he likes! there will be times where he would just reach his hand out and expect you to hand him what he wants (I've only worked for this guy for less than a year).

I would cite some examples of his rude attitude in the theatre

-As I am not very familiar with the system he uses, I am very dependent of the rep. One time the rep was trying to give some instructions to me and I didn't hear what the surgeon wanted (to make things worst we are wearing this astronaut like suits), he started lashing at me for not listening and justifies why he gets angry. (The rep and I were just trying to get the next jig ready)

-just today, he screamed at me for not knowing the next step (it's my first time doing an ACL with him) he insisted that I would have known what the next step is if I was just watching what he was doing. This is absurd as much as I want to watch what he was doing, as a scrub RN, I need to organize what he needs next.

-he lifted the patient's leg and expected me to know what to do. (He wanted me to pull the drapes) he then yelled at me for just standing there and not doing anything! He could have simply told me to pull the linen to the right so as to stop it from misaligning. (Again I have only worked with this guy for less than a year (and usually twice a week)

the abusive stories just go on and on. The management knows about it just doesn't do anything about it (they consider surgeons as customers and they need them to survive, $$$ nurses are not prioritised)

the reason why I'm posting this is I need some advice on what to do. What I have done so far, is to write down what I have learnt that day so that I would be improving next time. (Unfortunately senior nurses told me that no matter how much I perfect what I do there is no perfection for him, he would always look for a mistake, and if I would not make any mistake, he would do something so that I would make a mistake)

his rude attitude and behavior is eating me and it has affected my relationship with my partner. In addition, my partner said that I sometimes sleep talk and start cursing while Im asleep. This usually happens whenever I finish a bad day at work. Obviously, I'm having nightmares of what happened.

Any advice?

thanks.

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Make a complaint, repetitive verbal abuse is classified as work place bullying. The occasional outburst from a surgeon is expected (a lot is on the line) but constant abuse towards you is unacceptable. You shouldn't be going to work fearing he will yell at you again.

Document each time he bully's you with time and date. Be very specific. Then take it to the DON.

All the best.

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Thanks for the suggestion thenightnurse456. I will take your suggestion on a higher level, I will document using my iPhone as a recording device. I will put it in my scrub shirt pocket just before i scrub(or put it somewhere in the operating room where it can pick up the abusive comments.

I have worked with surgeons who have an occasional outburst about the situation (cursing to the situation and not towards me) however this particular surgeon directs this abuse towards me.

what makes this complaint difficult is that the surgeon initially is "nice" but when he gets to the part of sawing the patient's joints, he starts to transform into a mean monster. He would ask for an instrument while im in the middle of assembling some jigs and i would miss what he said. he would get very infuriated and yells. argh.

One time I broke down and cry because he never stops yelling at me. he is so mean and rude.

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

I'm so sorry your going through this, but the strongest advice I would start with is please do not resort to recording in theatre, this causes so many confidentiality and safeguarding concerns your likely to end up investigated under a disciplinary policy. You don't have patient consent to record their operations or the consent of the other theatre staff.

Speak to your HR team, ask about your dignity at work policy and get advice about how to register a grievance. If he's as bad as you describe there will be plenty of witnesses.

Record dates, times, incidents and who was there as a paper record only. Take this to HR if your a member of the RCN speak to your representative and get more advice.

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I'm so sorry your going through this, but the strongest advice I would start with is please do not resort to recording in theatre, this causes so many confidentiality and safeguarding concerns your likely to end up investigated under a disciplinary policy. You don't have patient consent to record their operations or the consent of the other theatre staff.

Speak to your HR team, ask about your dignity at work policy and get advice about how to register a grievance. If he's as bad as you describe there will be plenty of witnesses.

Record dates, times, incidents and who was there as a paper record only. Take this to HR if your a member of the RCN speak to your representative and get more advice.

Yes completely agree, you will be the one who gets in trouble if you bring a recording device in to the theatre.

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Whilst I am not condoning the behavior of the surgeon, I am still of the opinion that perhaps both of you (and anyone else involved in the working team) may benefit from a chat.

Obviously, working in theater is like working in a pressure cooker and whilst everyone has a role to play, the surgeon is under considerable pressure.

I have worked with doctors who cannot even take a break because there are so many patients to see (ED). Some will work a full 8-10 hour shift without so much as a cup of water.

The nurses on my floor often supply lunches and coffee for the doctors because we know when "the bus arrives" none of the doctors will be taking a break, particularly if we have 4 or 5 trauma cases on the same shift. Yet, they are expected to be professional.

Personally, I would not escalate the matter......Perhaps, both of you may benefit from a chat over a cup of coffee.

Your continued calmness will hopefully enlightened him.

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

If your NUM doesnt do anything going to you DDON. Also call HR. Also the ANMF or whatever your state calls the union. Don't put up with this. Your org may have access to EAP which your can use for some counseling.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I have to agree with the above - under no circumstances take a recording device into theatre.

What is your manager doing? Surely they should be protecting their staff. If not, go to HR. as has been said - if it is that bad then their will be witnesses.

Regardless of whether the surgeon earns ££'s for the hospital, employment law takes precedence. What are your union doing? This is bullying behaviour of the worst kind. No-one should be made to cry at work.

Whilst I am not condoning the behavior of the surgeon, I am still of the opinion that perhaps both of you (and anyone else involved in the working team) may benefit from a chat.

Obviously, working in theater is like working in a pressure cooker and whilst everyone has a role to play, the surgeon is under considerable pressure.

Personally, I would not escalate the matter......Perhaps, both of you may benefit from a chat over a cup of coffee.

Your continued calmness will hopefully enlightened him.

I'm sorry, but this behaviour needs stopped immediately, having 'a cup of coffee' will not reduce the aggression. What is next, does he hit you for a mistake? He needs to act professionally and moderate his behaviour.

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Specializes in CVICU, RNFA.

I agree with Joeldew…

I worked as a CST for 12 years and have had my fair share of "mean surgeons." I have found over the years that it is best to NOT escalate the issue if you can avoid it. It is always best to confront the surgeon him/herself and explain that you are not comfortable with the environment. You should try to gear the conversation toward the fact that you enjoy working with him/her and would like to know if he/she would be willing to take the time to sit down with you and explain where you could do better. I would be willing to bet that once you have a private conversation with this surgeon, he/she will look at you differently and think more before speaking to you in the way he/she has in the past. You will gain more respect from this surgeon (and other surgeons who know about your situation) in trying to resolve it yourself in a professional manner than you would if you were to make a complaint against the surgeon. Making the complaint could cause other members of your team and other surgeons to be leary of working with you for fear that you may deem their actions inappropriate and thus file complaints against them too. I have seen this happen over the years….so that is just my personal advice based on experience. I really do hope that this situation can be resolved so that you can continue to enjoy your job. If it so happens that you are not able to resolve it, I would consider looking for another position, either working exclusively within another POD or for another hospital altogether. Good Luck!

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Well, the best option is to have a chat with the surgeon and reach a compromise if possible as another poster have suggested. Another option is to improve the way you work. Scrub early and try to finish the jigs of TKR/THR/ACL before the case even starts. (If you are in private, then time is truly a luxury...) Pay attention to the phrase of the surgery and assemble the jigs during surgery yourself without relying on the rep, if you have not already done before the case starts.

Yes, I understand the spaceman suits make surgeons' voice become muffy and hard to understand. If you cannot hear them, just make a guess on what they are doing and pass them the equipment they need. Take it as a challenge. =)

No matter the system you use, the principles of the jigs for both TKR and THR should be the same. They may look different, but they serve the same function.

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if you seem to be having more trouble hearing this surgeon than other nurses, get your hearing checked.

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