Dear Doctor

tobra99 · Mar 16, 2015

You should go the extra mile not because the doctor appreciates you, but you should go the extra mile because its better for the patient.

I am a physician. I work close to 100 hours a week. When I am not in the hospital, all the nurses have my personal cell phone number so that they can call me at any and all hours of the night about my patients. I come in and see my patients every day of the week if I am in town, even if there is a doctor covering me.

I think about my patients while I am driving, while I am eating, and I even dream about my patients, because I am so worried knowing my decisions could mean their well-being or their death.

That is going the extra mile on the physician's end. I go this extra mile not because my partners appreciate me, the nurses appreciate me, or the hospital CEO appreciates me. I do it all for my patients.

You are not working for me; you do not need my appreciation. You are working for the patient, as am I.

DARLINGLILITH · Mar 16, 2015

I work with amazing docs...why on earth would I expect them to praise every aspect of my nursing care? Everyone should be using common courtesy and professionalism in dealing with patients and colleagues; I do not need or expect anything else.

EmergencyRN22 · Mar 16, 2015

I'm not a little puppy that needs scratched behind the ear every time I tinkle outside (as I should). Haha

just being respectful and kind is all I need. I didn't go into this profession to be patronized like a good puppy.

Just my two cents.

Libby1987 · Mar 16, 2015

That letter is annoying like oh I don't know..a whiney child.

Emergent, RN · Mar 16, 2015

Since my emergency surgery recently, I have increased respect for physicians who dedicate over a decade to train to heal. The surgeon who worked on putting me back together must have trained for well over 12 years to master his art. I thank God that there are men and women so dedicated.

I also appreciate all the other hard working disciplines who came together to make me whole. But that surgeon holds a special place in my heart.

tobra99 · Mar 17, 2015

Since my emergency surgery recently, I have increased respect for physicians who dedicate over a decade to train to heal. The surgeon who worked on putting me back together must have trained for well over 12 years to master his art. I thank God that there are men and women so dedicated.
I also appreciate all the other hard working disciplines who came together to make me whole. But that surgeon holds a special place in my heart.

The average surgeon has 14-16 years of formal education/training after high school. Sometimes I find myself kicking myself when I look back and realize how much time and energy I have spent...

TheGooch · Mar 17, 2015

Gee, doctors only get a day while nurses get a week. I think both should be equally appreciated for the work they do.

allnurses Guide · Mar 17, 2015

I think about my patients while I am driving, while I am eating, and I even dream about my patients, because I am so worried knowing my decisions could mean their well-being or their death.
You are working for the patient, as am I.

I am the same way. I spend most of my "default mode" either thinking about my patients or reflecting back on my practice. It is always surprising the insight you can have into a patient while sleeping.

In the same vein, I am so grateful I have nurses watching my back. Someone who has eyes and ears on our patient at all hours, who checks my 3am admit orders for the inevitable mistake, who calls when the patient "just doesn't seem right". Floor nurses are often the last and most important line of defense.

I am also grateful for the surgeons and other specialists that have devoted a large portion of their lives, sacrificed friends and family, to do a job I can't do. In a way these specialists are also the last line of defense.

I have great respect for any provider, regardless of degree, who takes the responsibility to be the last line of defense for a patient.

Sent from my iPhone.

TheGooch · Mar 17, 2015

Since my emergency surgery recently, I have increased respect for physicians who dedicate over a decade to train to heal. The surgeon who worked on putting me back together must have trained for well over 12 years to master his art. I thank God that there are men and women so dedicated.
I also appreciate all the other hard working disciplines who came together to make me whole. But that surgeon holds a special place in my heart.

I hear you there. The neurosurgeon who operated on me a few years back has a special place in my heart. Seeing as I didn't have insurance at the time he never sent me a bill for the consultation and saw me when no other NS would because of my lack of insurance. I sent emails off to the hospital and to the various NS associations that he is part of praising him On my last visit to see him he mentioned it, lol.

allnurses Guide · Mar 17, 2015

How odd to write a note starting with Doctor's Appreciation Day coming up and then turning it into a demand for more attention and appreciate for yourself. I am honestly scratching my head on that one. It is kind of like luring someone in with the promise of something nice and then bonking them upside the head. Not going to do much to enhance the relationship between doctors and nurses.

Emergent, RN · Mar 17, 2015

I see the poster joined here recently, and this is her only post. Methinks someone is trying to promote her blog...

To the blogger in question: A writing course would be helpful for you.