Awful Doctors

[JKimRN]

As a newly graduated nurse, I am still in the midst of trying to grow in self confidence and improve my critical thinking skills. I have only been working as a nurse for four months now and there is this horrible doctor that works on my floor. This is not the first time this same particular doctor has chewed me out but this time, this was by far the worst.

Early in my shift, I received a critical potassium level of 2.8 and reported it to this doctor. She ordered me to start an IV 60meQ of potassium and to draw a potassium level stat after the IV was completed. To start off complications, the patient's IV site was infiltrated and I wasn't able to take the time to start a new IV until three hours later. She complained that the site was burning too much so I started it off at 50ml/hr instead of the prescribed 88ml/hr.

Later in the day, this doctor comes up to the floor and demands why the potassium level hadn't been drawn yet. I explained to her the situation and it was just horrible. This doctor raises her voice at me in front of the whole nursing station and says, "Then you should have called me and I could have easily written an order for KCl po! That her potassium was this low and that it's taking this long to get her potassium is ridiculous. This is just unacceptable!!" Silence fell from the whole audience and I just nodded my head and walked away. It took all the strength I had to not burst into tears.

Quite a few of my coworkers came up to me to hug me afterwards and it's well known that this doctor has a tendency to be this rude. I understand my mistake and it was a learning experience. If she had a problem that needed to be addressed, she could have easily taken me aside and I would never make the same mistake twice.

My day just went downhill from there. I had a new admit and a million new orders for my other patients. As soon as I clocked out for the night, I burst into tears. I dread going back into work tomorrow.

[tewdles, RN]

MDs do not have the right to verbally abuse nurses. A potential disaster does not require the type of "guidance" this nurse received.

The patient was not harmed.

A stern discussion in a private setting would have achieved a great deal more.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I'm sure no one is disputing that, tewdles. However, when posters are allegedly "missing the point" when the reality is that something WORSE could've happened...2.8 K is CRITICAL, that was where posters decided to go...doesn't make it right or wrong. Again, since most of us were not there, the FACT remains us that she had a potential issue that even if her feelings were hurt, the gravity if the situation that could've went DOWNHILL.

Pardon me if for me, addressing a critical issue and giving someone strategies to promote success is waaay more important than a MD who we have no idea whether the MD was "bullying" UNLESS I personally know the MD, and since I do not, like many have stated before, could the MD did it better, absolutely. Are we going to virtual hug the OP without giving her important pearls of wisdom for her success?

I can only speak for myself...a resounding NO.

[kanzi monkey]

The fact that a physician may or may not know the correct chain of command does not give them license to verbally abuse a nurse.

Didn't say that it did. Also don't know that there was verbal abuse--I wasn't there.

In the interest of ensuring that the potassium was repleted, a conversation between the nurse and the OC was certainly warranted. If the MD was inappropriate in her exchange with the nurse, someone should look into that after the patient is cared for.

Obviously no one is advocating for perpetuation of MD-->RN abuse. Not handing out licenses, just pointing out that critical labs are the priority over interprofessional personality dynamics.

[tewdles, RN]

So, some of you seem irritated with my response.

This thread is about awful doctors...thus my response.

Of course I wasn't there...I am responding to the description of a verbal altercation that was not cool as described.

I get the whole thing about the critical lab...there is generally some sort of a catalyst for those who have little self control and poor interpersonal skills.

We could have a thread about what nurses can do to try to prevent abusive docs from going off on them, but that is not the focus of this thread.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Sorry tewdles, no irritation here. Feel free to disagree.

The OP stated in her original post that the doctor was "horrible." The OP gave ONLY scenario regarding the critical lab, and there were a few coworkers who hugged her and stated that the doctor had a habit doing that.

Total subjection, mostly because:

1) WE don't know what happened

2) Do not know the skill mix of the unit (dr may have 5 plus years v. Unit may have 0-2 years experience, including charge nurse, ESPECIALLY the ones who hugged her and stated that there was a similar reaction; however, I won't make that assumption)

3) and the title is subjective to the OP's feelings.

For the sake of not keeping or making this an epic thread on objective v subjectivity, AGAIN, there are people who CHOSE to make her critical value misstep a teachable moment and a priority. No one is excusing the doctor, either. I am very comfortable in my response, and still feel that her critical lab value and assisting her with that FIRST is more important, and I'm sticking to that. Again, feel free to disagree, no irritation here...we are all entitled to our opinions without alluding to missing points and especially without flame, even flaming emotions on a percentage of doctors who cannot manage their emotions and should and do get called on the carpet for their behavior.

[gcupid]

Addressed to gcupi:

Your statement of "If it was that crucial the patient would be dead." is unacceptable and ignorant.

My little boy died due to a seemingly non-crucial mistake a nurse made. It worries me a nurse would make a statement like this. I would fire you had I heard you make this comment in my hospital. It is calloused.

I'm so glad that "HE"knows my tomorrow and that there is more than one hospital that can appreciate my skill-set. What is unacceptable is the yelling in a professional environment. Ignorant? Im ignorant of your credentials but I can assure you I'm registered. The statement is meant to be taken figuratively. Did the patient die? (No).... Could the patient have died? (Yes) The patient did not die. The Lesson was learned by the op so its time to move on.

We are sorry to hear of your loss....

[gcupid]

"HE" holds my tomorrow...