As a nurse, how do you perceive that physicians feel toward you?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 28, 2011

just like an has threads lamenting some docs and med students, this website does the same to our nursing profession. same as nursing students have rants, so do docs in training. long ago both websites decided to not permit cross postings to keep our mod team bp's within control so links deactivated.

after med students graduate , get into their internship, residency and fellowship years they learn to appreciate the value of great nursing care and how our eyes and ears can prevent adverse patient event..and we work well together overall. family physicians especially appreciate homecare rns often writing "wound care per rn's recommendation."

joint commission has heard nurses pleas re occasional physician arrogance -- expectation that we all play together nicely in the healthcare sandbox as part of patient safety.

jcaho: "behaviors that undermine a culture of safety" (316159

effective 1/1/2009, hospitals will have to have a code of conduct which, "defines acceptable and disruptive and inappropriate behaviors."

susan m. davis, dnp, mph, rn, nea-bc presentation at aone 44th convention:

patient safety culture, nurse physician collaboration and structural empowerment

over my 30+yr career, last 4 years seen increased attention and physician counseling including loss of hospital privileges re inappropriate behaviour--just not tolerated. our health system wrote into doctors contracts code of behaviour + cooperation with colleagues/signing orders so could effectively sanction few docs with issues.

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Apr 28, 2011

In the very large number of interactions I have had with physicians they are respectful and pleasant.

However .... and this is a big however; sometimes I have to just swallow it. It's not nice.

It does happen because I'm a nurse.

And to a lesser extent - my gender may be a factor.

Those docs are clever .... subtle and outwardly 'pleasant' and 'non-offensive' often means no recourse

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2011

As another poster suggested, respect is a two way street. I have felt "blown off" by a few docs, but I didn't let it get to me. All I want is what is best for my patient, so I leave my ego checked at the door. That is not to say that I won't be assertive...it just means that their opinion of ME doesn't really matter much as long as I get what I want for my patient.

Arrogance in the medical profession tends to take care of itself.

allnurses Guide · Apr 28, 2011

I believe that website in particular is known for being populated by a few too many arrogant asshats. :)

Exactly! We had a long one here recently from someone who engaged with the same crowd of immature Bart Simpson types - you know-after they trash you they put plastic spiders in their mom's sink and have fart-noise contests? Ignore.

Butterfliesnroses · Apr 28, 2011

As a new nurse I'd often feel scared calling the doc (I work LTC) and sometimes I still get a little bit of nervousness in the pit of my stomach but most of the doctors are really pleasant to deal with. I've had 1 or 2 unpleasant interactions but I'd have to say the doc was ticked off at the situation NOT at me. I was just the person on the other end of the line. Now I work nights, so I always feel nervous calling and i be sure to be respectful and find I generally get the same in return.

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 28, 2011

SDN is full of kids remember they are just kids. AN also has a good sized group of kids. Some of these on both side have totally unrealistic "TV" views of what the respective professions will be. As they move forward in the process of learning they become disenchanted and act out. Lots of maturing needs to happen, and sometimes I think of how ridiculous it is that we have very, very young people in this business.

Jules A, MSN · Apr 28, 2011

Remember something -- all of these bitter arrogant folks in that chat room were brave men sitting behind a computer protected by the anonimity of a screen name and probably were pale white, shriveled with fear, and saying something like the following -
"You think this order is wrong ? Ok, I will check with my resident, Mame and get right back to you" On the days when in they are in on the floors and a RN challenges their order.
Marc

ROFLMAO!! I have definitely worked with a few that aren't the most respectful although imo it is largely that I am female and nothing more. For the most part I love my Docs and am fortunate to work with physicians that are good at their job and interested in input from those of us spending a majority of time with the patients.

hecallsmeDuchess · Apr 28, 2011

The docs I work with are pretty much ok, the students and residents are pretty much humble and pleasant(96% of them). I don't go about giving great thought about what others think of me. My deal is I show up, give my 100% to my patients and job and then go home. I respect everyone and expect same from them.

noahsmama · Apr 28, 2011

In my limited time working in a hospital, I found nearly all of the doctors to be respectful, professional, and appreciative of the work that nurses do.

The two exceptions I can think of were both female residents with chips on their shoulders (I have no idea why). One of them didn't respond to pages in what I considered to be a timely fashion, and would get PO'd if I paged again. This did NOT stop me from paging again if I felt it was necessary. The other could be very snippy if you asked her any questions, particularly if she got the idea you might be questioning her orders (which wasn't always the case when I asked her questions). I learned to only ask her questions if I absolutely had to, and then ignored the snippy attitude if it appeared -- it didn't always, and I think the snippy-ness may have come partly from stress. If it had interfered with my ability to work with her, I would have complained, first to her, and then, if necessary, through the appropriate channels. Thankfully this never became necessary.

As others have said, there's a big difference between the attitudes you encounter in real life between working professionals, and in internet chat rooms with people who aren't yet working in the field, have no idea what they're talking about, and are venting because they can.

MsApricot · Apr 28, 2011

If nurses work so hard at the hospital, why do their asses tend to grow along with their seniority? Seriously, like 80% of nursing students are these hot, little 20 somethings that I see. Then they become nurses and get bitchier and pear-shaped.

^This... makes my blood boil more than I can possibly express..

But generally speaking, in my limited experience, I don't really care when a Doc is rude/dismissive towards me or other nurses, what really gets me is if they are rude, gruff, or intimidating towards the patient.. :mad: Patients are worried and scared enough already, and a Doc totally lacking in social skills does NOT help. That said, alot of Docs appear gruff but you can tell from the way they speak that they really care about their patients, and that's what matters to me. In general I find the more senior Docs remember their hellos, pleases and thank yous, it's the more junior ones like the students and interns that often totally ignore you, or else make comments such as the one quoted above, grr.. :mad: But I like to think that time will cure them of their arrogance... :nurse:

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2011

As a new nurse I'd often feel scared calling the doc (I work LTC) and sometimes I still get a little bit of nervousness in the pit of my stomach but most of the doctors are really pleasant to deal with. I've had 1 or 2 unpleasant interactions but I'd have to say the doc was ticked off at the situation NOT at me. I was just the person on the other end of the line. Now I work nights, so I always feel nervous calling and i be sure to be respectful and find I generally get the same in return.

Yeah, they are USUALLY ticked at the situation, and you are just the target for the moment. Lord knows this happens to me ALL THE TIME when I am in charge. When they start screaming and yelling and throwing in a few choice words, I just tell them that they have officially been denied their Princess Card for one week. That usually stops them in their tracks and then they apologize.

It is hard to get up the nerve to call a doc in the middle of the night as a new nurse. You are just now beginning to get your priorities straight, and unfortunately, we must learn from experience. It is GETTING there that is the hard part. If you have all of your info right in front of you and report things in a concise and efficient way, they really can't do anything but be grateful that they have a vigilant nurse looking out for the patients under their care. It doesn't always hash out that way...but if YOU have your ducks in a row, they can't fault you for that. Their reaction is not your responsibility. So if a doc starts reaming, CHECK THEM!

JeneraterRN · Apr 28, 2011

I was once told of the "gentle art of manipulating" an MD. Our small hospital has a wide variety of personalities among the MD's, and really only one is regularly a problem. There are a few of us that are "MD whisperers" that know how to get things done with that dr without drama. If you can find a way to set them at ease without raising their hackles, your Pt can get what they need without you getting a lecture or worse.