advice from nurses for a new physician

Katnip, RN · May 20, 2004

Listen to the nurse.

plumrn, BSN, RN · May 20, 2004

Interact with nurses as valued co-workers, and they will make your professional life much easier, and happier.

Dixiecup · May 22, 2004

Don't jump down the nurse's throat when she calls you in the middle of the night. It's your job!

stsdoc · May 22, 2004

Money or a Littmann Cardiology III might serve him better:uhoh3:

NeuroICURN · May 22, 2004

Here's my words of wisdom.....

Don't tick your patients' nurses off...they TRULY have the ability to make your life miserable! :chuckle

BRANDY LPN · May 22, 2004

Listen to the nurses, listen to the patients, and for heavens sake wash your hands.

gwenith, BSN, RN · May 22, 2004

Desiderata of Health Care

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in keeping your mouth shut. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons even the cleaners and the receptionists. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the nurses and patients for, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are known as consultants.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself and they are known as nurses and administrators respectively. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans for the first may feel all too few while the last my never see fruition. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time when all too many have lost theirs.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery especially the internet. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection and particularly in the childrens ward for verily they will catch you out. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth but be careful of the aggressive granny with her walking stick.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings - just because you are working in oncology does not mean you have cancer. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness and believe us your residency will be filled with both. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the health care system, no less than the nurses and the receptionists; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the human condition is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · May 22, 2004

Money or a Littmann Cardiology III might serve him better:uhoh3:

The question was asked of nurses. You are a student doc. I am an experienced nurse. Many nurses are leaving various areas of nursing, because of the way they are treated by docs. Nurse abuse and disruptive physician behavior are real issues in healthcare today. Google it, and read some atricles and studies. If docs don't want to end up caring for their pts all by themselves, they should be aware of these problems.

After years of working with verbally abusive docs, I now work for two great docs. They own the facility where I work. They know on which side their bread is buttered. They know that they could not have a clinic without us, and they show their appreciation.

I have made more money at jobs where physician behavior went unchecked, and it wasn't worth it.

Sarcastic comments won't help- they will only serve to alienate us even more.

moia · May 22, 2004

Be yourself...even if you aren't all that happy with the self you are...nurses have enough stress to deal with..we don't want to have to guess which one of your many personalities we are working with today.

Maintain at all costs your sense of humour even if it is dark and morbid...if you watch Dead like me you may remember anything seen at a far enough distance can be funny as hell..it's when you get too close other peoples tragedy can eat you alive...your job is to stand close enough that you can see the tragedy and far enough away to laugh until you pee.

great example from trauma (TLC) illegal immigrant hired to do work on house and garden falls off the roof and has limb of tree enter the orifice and allll the way up....he survived with NO problems but it was horrible and hysterical at the same time....the man literally had a stick up his a**...what if he had died? How do you tell family what happened? How does family explain to anyone else?

Do you think he gets teased all the time?

zenman · May 22, 2004

They should all read Dr. Bernard S. Siegel's books...so should every nurse!

nursbee04 · May 22, 2004

Realize the value of good nurses...and please write legibly!