I started my career in the OR 6 months ago. I came from a med surg floor where I worked for a year. On the floor I dealt with rude older nurses and knew coming to the OR I would be dealing with rude docs.
Today a doc called me an idiot and kept insulting my intelligence throughout the case. I asked him to please not call me an idiot and he told me I needed to go back to my special Ed classes. This isn't the first time I have been treated like this by this particular doc, but it was the first time I said something back.
Everyone else in the room laughed it off like it was no big deal and "that's just the way he is". I can't help but to feel angry that 1. This is the attitude my coworkers have toward this behavior and 2. This doc has gotten away with it for so many years.
I plan to go to my supervisor Friday my next day back at work but do not know how to address my concerns.
I don't want special treatment by any means and I don't want to be the "drama queen" but I also don't want to be treated like that ever again.
In Tennessee it is legal to record a conversation as long as one party agrees. If it is legal in your state take recorded conversation and visit a lawyer. Slander and defamation of character.
That's an easy fix. Make a formal report to HR for workplace harassment. You'll be covered by the whistle-blower act for any retaliation, as well. They shouldn't dare to touch you once you put it in writing. This is your workplace where you should be able to expect a level of professionalism, who do they think they are, not your husband/wife, etc.
This is a hostile work environment. Since you said you had a meeting I would see how that goes before doing anything further. Depending on what they have to say I would consider consulting with an attorney as to how to progress with complaints of this nature and what you should be doing/documenting on your end. Write down every single detail in regards to this incident before your meeting. This is egregious and I would request that I not be placed with that person ever again. I would also either video the meeting you have scheduled or request a letter from HR outlining what was said so you have some written documentation. Do not trust HR to do the right thing, expect them to do the thing that will create the least liability for themselves.
Unfortunately, how you respond to this situation depends on where you are working and on how much you want to keep your job. No matter how much they talk about policy and rights and zero tolerance, most hospital administrators will not side with you against a physician---especially a surgeon. Those doctors are revenue generators, and nurses are an expense line item on the balance sheet. It is easier for them to replace you than him. File your complaint, but be very careful.
Most surgeons are extremely arrogant and rude. In my years as an RN I've seen some of them abuse nurses horribly and get away with it. The best way to deal with these ridiculous personalities is to keep it all professional. Do your job, and move on to the next patient. Whenever they show up and start acting like a jackass just don't fall into their drama. Follow your orders, and do your documentation of everything afterwards. Trust me, they will remember you. Once they realize that you're not feeding their BS they usually dial down the act.
Goldenfox is absolutely right. You can write him up, it might help, it might do nothing. It strikes me as weird that everyone else laughed it off, I have seen surgeons be abusive and never had anyone in the room laugh about it. I have actually had other staff members write up surgeons when they were being mean to me. Is it possible that you are totally misreading the room? I am sure people will jump down my throat for that but it is possible. Ask your coworkers about the situation and see what they say. Whatever you do, don't play the victim, do your job, be professional and be confident.
Many places wouldn't tolerate that kind on nonsense anymore, one place I worked would have you write an incident report for "disruptive physician behavor". I have seen docs have to go for anger management couseling. Worse comes to worse, give it right back to them. Like most bullies, they'll back off once you do.
And, I would refuse to work with that surgeon again. That one is tricky, you could get in trouble by doing that, but it would be worth it to me to not have to deal with the DB again.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I started my career in the OR 6 months ago. I came from a med surg floor where I worked for a year. On the floor I dealt with rude older nurses and knew coming to the OR I would be dealing with rude docs.
Today a doc called me an idiot and kept insulting my intelligence throughout the case. I asked him to please not call me an idiot and he told me I needed to go back to my special Ed classes. This isn't the first time I have been treated like this by this particular doc, but it was the first time I said something back.
Everyone else in the room laughed it off like it was no big deal and "that's just the way he is". I can't help but to feel angry that 1. This is the attitude my coworkers have toward this behavior and 2. This doc has gotten away with it for so many years.
I plan to go to my supervisor Friday my next day back at work but do not know how to address my concerns.
I don't want special treatment by any means and I don't want to be the "drama queen" but I also don't want to be treated like that ever again.
Any help would be appreciated!
That is shocking. I have been treated the same way. I have a VERY effective way of dealing with it. I wait out by their car in the parking lot, catch them alone and have a little "talk" with them. This usually involves invading their personal space and descriptions of what I may have to do to them if they don't straiten up. It's Very effective and so far has a 100% success rate. However it may not work for those who are not large, male combat veteran RNs.
I think when you speak to your supervisor you should use words like "hostile work environment" and "gender discrimination". Document your discussion and let her / him know you expect to be updated about the action taken and results.
I agree with whats already been said. Document EVERYTHING. Put in an incident report. Go up your chain of command. There are studies that show the more hostile an OR environment is the greater risk to patient safety
You will get a lot of crap from surgeons that You wouldn't get from a doc in any other setting that, you just gotta let roll off, because most of the time it's the stress of the case and not personal . However, I agree that this went above and beyond , and definitely WAS personal. I know this is an old thread but I hope he was written up for it.
Chisca, RN
745 Posts
In Tennessee it is legal to record a conversation as long as one party agrees. If it is legal in your state take recorded conversation and visit a lawyer. Slander and defamation of character.