dcotor asked me to leave room

[jam2007]

:angryfireI'm a new grad and all through my clinicals I was told to get in the room if the MD was in there. I also had great experiences with MD's who really wanted to teach. So now I'm an RN in a hospital (not a teaching hospital) and I'm in the room getting my VS and the MD comes in a asks me to leave the room so he can be with the patient. I looked at him dumbfounded and said "But I'm his nurse." To no avail.

Then it happened again with another MD; I didn't say anything but I did vent to my preceptor that it was unacceptable and the clinical leader told him that if the MD wants me to leave, then I leave "We have the pt all day, they're only in and out" which I totally get but aren't I supposed to be part of the team?

Anybody else run across this? What do you do? I'm having a hard time feeling like I don't count.

[jmgrn65, RN]

No I have never heard of a doctor asking the nurse to leave. I think it is always a good idea to hear what the doc says because patient's usually need some clarification.

[leslie :-D]

sorry jam, but there's nothing wrong in having an md ask you to leave.

although it doesn't happen often, there are docs who believe their pts deserve private, 1:1 time with them.

this has nothing to do with you or your role as a nurse.

no need to take it personally.

leslie

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

I agree with Les on this one. Even I have, very politely, asked the nurse to leave when I've required private conversation with my patient(s). It is nothing personal at all. Please do not be offended.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I'm of the opinion that yes, I do sometimes need personal time with the patient or family member. This is especially true when I am discussing more personal issues such as sexual history (STD's, pregnancies, HIV risk factors), drug and alcohol use and mental health hx.

I look at it that if I were the pt, I would want my privacy too.

[prmenrs, RN]

I agree, sometimes docs and pts need privacy. Which means if the Dr says "please leave", just smile and say, "sure" and skedaddle.

[potatomasher]

It also depends on the case of the patient. I was assigned to take care one time of a OB female patient and I was politely asked out of the room because the doctor herself will administer the lady partsl suppository.

[bill4745, RN]

I agree with the doctor having the right to ask you to leave.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I agree with the others, the MD may have had to ask the patient something personal and wanted to increase the chances of getting an honest answer in return. Nothing to take personally.

Swtooth

[amcclendon]

I'm with the Dr. on this one, because I've been on both sides of the fence as the patient of a teaching Hospital were I was on display for all to see (Students,Dr's) and at first I was offended, until it was explained to me the importance of learning the correct procedure on real pt's. and also when I was in LPN school and I needed to learn. But like stated in a previous post some things you need to discuss in private, without feeling embarrassed.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

I agree that it is reasonable that the doctor ask the nurse to leave the room.

With that said. What about the issue of a male doctor being alone with a female patient or visa versa? We have a hospitalist who always asks for an escort to see a female patient. He said he was once accused of touching a female patient and wants to make 100% sure he never again gets accused of something he didn't do.

This druggie requested a script and he refused. She made it clear that unless he gave it to her she would report him for touching her. Which is what happened. She did confess in the end.

[NurseguyFL]

You guys have got to be kidding! Whatever is going on with the patient ought to involve the nurse because if and when things change, how can the nurse maintain quality control of the patient's care if information about the patient is being hidden. What is the point anyway? The rationales for whatever a physician is doing for any patient can easily be gleaned from the progress notes, and, unless the physician is going to stay at the bedside and execute all the orders himself or herself, then such secrecy is just silly. The only exception I can think of when this would be appropriate is if the physician is a psychiatrist who is doing a highly specialized evaluation of the patient that involves very personal stuff that the nurse really doesn't need to hear. Otherwise, nursing needs to be involved. How else do you know when a development thats usually 'expected' for most patients is not what the physician wants for this particular patient?

I wouldn't take it personally but it is still a 'dis' to nursing. And proof of this is seen in the fact that whenever physicians show up on a unit to evaluate a patient with a group of medical students, privacy is hardly ever an issue, and no one says anything. Maybe its the white coat that makes the diff.