Are physicians that thick?

[nynursey_]

This is not by any stretch a constructive thread, but more of a rant ...

Why is it impossible for *some* physicians to understand the plight of the floor nurse? Your patient is *not* a critical care patient and I have a 1:5 ratio on a 33 bed unit with 2 PCA's. Yes, I see his H&H weren't drawn post-procedure, but I'm waiting on phlebotomy and have failed twice to retrieve his draw. There is no one else available at this time to try. If you're that concerned, please, feel free to grab some tools and try yourself. I'll assist you to the supply closet.

Please do not speak down to me at the nurses' station and rattle off to me what *my* responsibilities are when the H&H order states "q6hr." Furthermore, if your patient requires such timely and strict monitoring, perhaps they ought be on the CCU. Additionally, you are the consulting service. The primary MD wishes to stick to the q6hr schedule.

[VANurse2010]

I was not replying to you comment when I wrote what I wrote....I was replying the person who said they cannot drop everything to tend to his/her patients, when, in fact, sometimes that is a necessity.

I understood whom you were directly it toward, but as I felt its sole purpose was to antagonize, I chose to ignore it.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I understood whom you were directly it toward, but as I felt its sole purpose was to antagonize, I chose to ignore it.

And I was directing that comment to someone other than you.

[Crazynut]

Hmmm yea everyone can be judgmental at times. Even people on juries. But that's the thing about good old Merica. Juries have to follow the law. I think you should research medical malpractice a little more before you speak. At the end of the day the MD is ultimately responsible. If the lab was that important he should have done the stick himself. MD's are required to do a certain amt of IV sticks foleys etc in med school. Because if the RN cant get it they have to step in and get it done. Really what did you expect the RN to do? Call the DON or Medical Director to stick the pt for a timed H&H on a stable pt?? you really need to regroup on your prioritization skills. Your lack of prioritization skills is will cause more harm than not getting that lab on a stable pt! Just yesterday had q6hr H&H on stable GIb. Hgb 12.5! Lol dropped to 12.3 probably from so many repeated sticks! hahaha

[Crazynut]

You know I had a surgeon go off on a rant yesterday. She ended it by saying "I guess common sense isn't so common anymore". Yep she was a brat but she has a point. Use your head people! God gave us brains for a reason. Use it!

[idialyze, BSN, RN]

I personally have always imagined them to be sitting on the commode with their pants around their ankles, i have even giggled about it, and that makes them madder!

[VANurse2010]

I was honestly dumbfounded. The conversation literally went like this:

Uro Attending: Can you tell me a bit about Patient X?

Me: Well, he's just returned from [insert procedure here] on [insert fluids/medication here] and his vital signs are stable. The patient has family at the bedside. Presently, he's on [insert number of liters of O2 here] and appears comfortable. We're waiting on his H&H draw right now ..

Uro Attending: (cutting me off) When was it due?

Me: 1400 (it's now 1430) but ...

Uro Attending: (cutting me off again) Well, what's the hold up? It's kind of important we know his H&H at this juncture.

Me: The attending has been notified and I've paged out for the phlebotomy supervisor. He's a difficult stick and I've tried and clinical support ...

Uro Attending: (cutting me off YET again) So what now?

Uro Resident: Well, honestly, if phlebotomy can't get here then it's the NURSES' job to make sure it's drawn. You know that, right?

... all of this transpiring AT the nurses' station.

Come on, now.

Depending on hospital policies - Um, no, actually it's NOT the nurses responsibility to magically ensure it's drawn. Dick.

[EmergencyRN22]

Missed quote

[EmergencyRN22]

I don't really enjoy my ER job too much, but I've got to hand it to ER docs...if you tell them you can't get blood or can't get a line many of them are willing to take a try at it.

In our old group, there was one dr who routinely did his own ekgs. Oh how I miss him.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I always think of these things after the fact! I really wanted to put an IV kit in her hand and point her in the direction of the patient's room.

That's where experience starts to come in handy. After a while you start to get good at thinking these things on the spot. You'll get extra points if you can do it with a smile on your face and a sincere offer to help while you are putting the supplies in her hands.

Eventually you'll start to give off "Don't screw with me" vibes, (while smiling and cheerful all the while) and these situations become less and less frequent.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I was not replying to you comment when I wrote what I wrote....I was replying the person who said they cannot drop everything to tend to his/her patients, when, in fact, sometimes that is a necessity.

When I drop everything to tend to one patient, it is due to the condition of the patient, not the drama queen behaviours of the MD.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

personally, I don't consider an arterial stick appropriate for a law draw for a stable patient on a floor. (Edit: I read the original as wanting respiratory to draw an arterial sample for this lab)

OP, the only thing I think you maybe could have done differently is paging the MD sooner rather than later - but even then it really depends on the policies and unit culture as to whether that would even be appropriate

I was referring to calling the rapid response RN--not necessarily calling *a* rapid response, but "hi RR RN, is there any chance you have time to get a lab for me?" Ours will help out with difficult tasks if they're not swamped with actual rapid response calls. Not suggesting that the RRT--respiratory therapist--come to do an art stick.

Upon reading the followup info though, I agree these MDs were being more than a tad hysterical.