Can a nurse report a MD for being rude?

grandmawrinkle · Sep 19, 2010

Do NOT put anything in the patient chart. That isn't the place for that stuff.

I would definitely recommend (as you stated) going to management with physicians that repeatedly are behavior problems. Usually to get a doctor reprimanded, they have to go to the supervising physician/department head but a good nurse manager can get the ball rolling. Put all your complaints in writing and tell her that what you are putting up with makes a toxic workplace environment, etc. Maybe you can get other nurses involved to tell their stories also as evidence.

MaryAnn_RN · Sep 19, 2010

How about tell him/her to their face that you don't like the attitude? In a polite and professional way, of course.

regularRN · Sep 19, 2010

If his/her comments directly affect pt care in a negative way, then I would include details in my nursing notes. Documenting that you advocated for the pt shows that you are doing your job.

If the MD is seriously out of line, then - although I have never done this because it hasn't been necessary - one can "write up" a doctor, just the same as one may complete an incident report. Bottom line, MDs attract paying customers...

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Sep 19, 2010

Ok nix that about the nurses note.

I mean most of our MD's are not like this. He was the covering doctor that night for her regular doctor

I am going to look up in the policy and procedures books tonight to make sure I was doing the right thing.

regularRN · Sep 19, 2010

A theoretical example - I call the MD because my pt has inadequate orders for pain relief; MD states he/she will not order anything over and above the MAR in a manner that is disrespectful to me and my pt. I would certainly document my effort to advocate for my pt and the MD's response.

gr8rnpjt, RN · Sep 19, 2010

Agree, you can and should report it. Will it go anywhere? Probably not. But it may be something that will make him less apt to do it again to YOU.

Don't be afraid of any doctor. Just becaue they have an MD after their name they are not above the decency and respect that they expect from you.

You can confront him as another poster said, but again, it could make him only more angry and confrontational.

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Sep 19, 2010

Agree, you can and should report it. Will it go anywhere? Probably not. But it may be something that will make him less apt to do it again to YOU.
Don't be afraid of any doctor. Just becaue they have an MD after their name they are not above the decency and respect that they expect from you.
You can confront him as another poster said, but again, it could make him only more angry and confrontational.

I wasn't afraid to call. Nor did I feel shot down by his attitude towards me on the phone. I just feel that since I have to follow policy and notify the MD and I should not have to be treated like a imbecile because I have to do so.

This doctor probably never set foot in my facility.

On a personal note.. my grandmother did have him as a doctor before she passed and she told him to leave the room, and never come back and she asked for a different doctor. When my mother told me this I was like... go grandma! lol.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2010

He's just like anybody else. Report him. No one needs a hostile work environment. Throw those words around. Document it. Keep a work place diary of crap that bothers you. I used to work for the state in a supervisory capacity, and it was exceptionally hard for us to fire people. I didn't mind doing it though, lol. Just document it all. No one deserves to put up with other people's garbage.

Futterwacken · Sep 19, 2010

Honest question from a fairly new ltc nurse.... What would be the repercussions if you dished back some of what you got? When I was in the military, we had to respect higher ranking authority, but the physician is not anywhere in my chain of command.:thankya:

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2010

Honest question from a fairly new ltc nurse.... What would be the repercussions if you dished back some of what you got? When I was in the military, we had to respect higher ranking authority, but the physician is not anywhere in my chain of command.:thankya:

It would be just as wrong and unprofessional for a nurse to respond in that manner as it is for a doctor. One report of unprofessional behavior won't do a thing until several stack up. Once there are several reports, then the nursing supervisor has basis to speak with the medical director.

Now, if a doctor I know and respect has a bad day I wouldn't do an incident report. We are not perfect and occasionally people will have a bad day. However, if a doctor or nurse were habitually unprofessional in their conduct I would be happy to document each incident. Just be sure to report the facts, not your conclusions. State what you said and the other person's responses. As long as you are accurate, the message will come through.

GHGoonette, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2010

Seeing as It's a doctor who doesn't regularly work in your facility, it should just be a matter of reporting it to the medical superintendent, who can then look at the possibility of excluding this character from the stand-in list.

If it was one of your regulars, I would suggest that you not speak to him, either face to face or by telephone, without a witness present. If you ever run across such MDs in your facility, report, report, report until management takes action. A senior surgeon was kicked out of one of our local hospitals for his incorrigible rudeness to staff. In fact, they couldn't even find theater staff who were prepared to scrub for him!

Pity, really, because while this bloke was a monster towards the staff, he is loved by all his patients for his genuine concern and generosity. While I deplore his rudeness, I have to respect him for that.