Bully physicians - Bully Nurses

Published

Specializes in Internal Medicine,Surgery, Wound Care.

Hello:

So I'd like to hear about your experiences with either the bully physician or the bully nurse and/or staff members you have come across in your field. In my experience some places and or the management accepts the mean physician more than the mean nurse. I find the more professional medical groups have a policy & procedure that protects workers from these mean individuals.

I have recently been a victim of a screaming Dermatologist in CT. I stood up for myself and let management know I was not going to allow anyone to scream at me. It is unacceptable to treat anyone, especially a new staff member, which I was, when talking is more effective. The answer I was given surprised me, and I quote verbatim, "He is the Doctor!"

Well, yes, you guessed it, I was then let go, but mind you, a week later. Apparently, I was useful enough to complete my week with the surgeon until they either replaced me or have already hired someone to replace me, but needed that one more week.

I was approached by several nurses and medical assistants who informed me this physician not only has a bad temper, but used to smack the hands of those assisting him if he was unhappy with them or their approach in assisting. This has been going on for many years. It is quite disturbing to know this type of behavior is accepted by anyone. No one has the right to intimidate you, badger you, harass you, harm you, hit you, talk down to you or simply treat you like the unwanted trash. Another new female employee has just expressed this physician being very blunt and she too is unhappy with this behavior.

When I was hired I was told two other people had just quit. I tried to inquire about the reason, but was told she was unsure of the reason. I did also witness some abrupt and dismissing behavior from another physician in this practice towards a patient. A backlash word or two directed at me, which completely through me for a loop, as I was under the impression this physician is an intelligent, professional individual with much more class than most of the collegians in the office.

There is another physician in that office who is truly amazing. The personality, body language, smile he/she possess on the face and the full schedule of this physician, week after week. This physician truly enjoys being a physician and word of mouth travels. Most people wait months to see this physician, but if need be, will see another in the group; as I have been told, not happy to see anyone else, but will put up with it.

I would like to hear back from anyone with a story to share, especially if you stood up for yourself and if you were fired over it. I know there are attorney's willing to take a case like this. If you have an attorney in the Connecticut area, I'd appreciate to have all the information.

Thank you and I hope your day is going well. :nurse:

I know you all work very hard and most of your are not recognized for your hard work.

I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it or not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work at a internal medicine clinic and it is the same thing. The doctor looks down on anyone that's not a doctor and talks any kind of way to staff. I work for a private physcian where everyone is like family so when he does get to out of control we tell him off and he calms down lol but that's where I work

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Internal Medicine,Surgery, Wound Care.

HI, well, I guess you all have a handle on the physician, but still, it's not right. You are part of a team and you are working very hard to help his practice, right?

It's just a shame where medical help has gone these days. I am really floored on how the physician's think they are above all of us (non physician's) and get away with it.

I hope your day is wonderful and it's nice talking to you!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

To Op - You have nothing to lose if you do pursue legal action and you stand to gain if you were found to be unjustly fired due to whistle blowing/reporting a hostile work environment. You would have the cost of the atty but that could be recoverable, I think.

I don't know how to direct you to an atty, but I believe this would fall under labor law. If you have , maybe they could give you some direction.

To PP jess4923 - I suggest you might want to change you name and pix (if that's you). There's no such thing as anonymous on social media, esp if you post ANYTHING negative. Consider it seriously.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Yes there are bad physicians. Yes I have defended myself and quit the job if management wasn't responsive. We cannot make lawyer referrals but if you are going to seek legal advice and possible legal action I wold suggest you NOT discuss this on social media. This site may be anonymous but it is public and searchable and can be used in court.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I work at a internal medicine clinic and it is the same thing. The doctor looks down on anyone that's not a doctor

I have the perfect thing for you. I work with an orthopedic suregon who has the exact same views as your IM guy but about other doctors who are not ortho. My guy can treat your in a condecending and demeaning mannor the way he does docs from every other specialty. I don't mind because he is very nice and respectful to nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I was approached by several nurses and medical assistants who informed me this physician not only has a bad temper, but used to smack the hands of those assisting him if he was unhappy with them or their approach in assisting.

What, what what!! Any physician who smacked my hands would be immediatly met with a smack upside his head. An I don't mean a gentel kiss either.

I wouldn't even have to decide or not. To hit back when hit is Pavlovian in me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
In my experience some places and or the management accepts the mean physician more than the mean nurse.
This happens because physicians are considered the ultimate money-makers of healthcare organizations since they refer revenue-generating patients.

Nurses, on the other hands, are considered money-losers and large burdens on the budget. We can also be more easily replaced than physicians.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Oh noooooo. I'm sorry that happened to you, but good for you for standing up for yourself!! Honestly I'd consider it a gift to get away from that donkey, BUT if it were me I'd also look into legal action. If nothing else, now you have to answer "yes" if a future prospective employer asks if you've ever been fired.

As for hand slapping, I believe the legal term is "battery." :rolleyes:

My husband is old friends w/ a cardiologist, and he has stories about surgeons flinging sharp instruments in the OR. That's not the first I've heard of this happening, but if I were to witness it I would be reporting it to the medical board. I'd also report it to my state's monitoring program for impaired health professionals--such erratic behavior would have me seriously concerned for his mental competence to practice. :whistling:

Here's a positive story. At my first hospital, we had this neurosurg resident who would chew out nurses for paging him in the middle of the night--that is, after we'd paged him for the fourth time FINALLY rousing him out of his beauty sleep. One time I was at the receiving end was for calling about a BP out of the ordered parameters (you know, the "call MD for SBP >150..."). I told him to "knock it off, you're not getting paid to sleep. You are ON CALL. Plus the longer you fail to address the issue, the longer before you can go back to sleep." I didn't have issues w/ him anymore. It wasn't limited to nurses though--he'd yell at pts' family members too!!! He was a piece of work. After some complaints, he got fired! *happy dance.*

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Here's a positive story. At my first hospital, we had this neurosurg resident who would chew out nurses for paging him in the middle of the night--that is, after we'd paged him for the fourth time FINALLY rousing him out of his beauty sleep. One time I was at the receiving end was for calling about a BP out of the ordered parameters (you know, the "call MD for SBP >150..."). I told him to "knock it off, you're not getting paid to sleep. You are ON CALL. Plus the longer you fail to address the issue, the longer before you can go back to sleep." I didn't have issues w/ him anymore. It wasn't limited to nurses though--he'd yell at pts' family members too!!! He was a piece of work. After some complaints, he got fired! *happy dance.*

The same thing happened to me in my first job, soon after starting. In addition, I was also on a mandation, second one in the week. Doc wouldn't answer, return messages. Upon fourth call, he exploded at me.

I said "No YOU listen to me pal (yes, I said pal), YOU are on call, don't try and tell me you're tired, I'm on my second mandation this week and have three more doubles to go... Don't you ever, EVVER speak to me in that tone of voice again, I don't care who you are or how many times for how many residents I have to call you, I got 40 residents to be concerned with and you WILL hear from me if needed... are we clear Now?". All spoken in a clear and firm voice.

No fear on my part, no sniveling, no crying, no lost sleep, no stress brought home from work.

I had to have a little sitdown w/ the DON, but not one negative thing came of it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion