Disappointed by colleague

rnhopeful82, ASN, RN · Jun 15, 2018

But wasn't your duty to call the medical doctor like the surgical doctor told you to do?

klone, MSN, RN · Jun 15, 2018

Lesson learned - when you need to communicate with the physician regarding YOUR patient, do it yourself.

JKL33 · Jun 15, 2018

Okay, why did he behave in this way? How should I deal with him in the future? What a disappointment, I liked him before, but my duty towards the patient was more important and urgent to me than that man's feelings.

Eliminate his opportunity to affect your world by taking responsibility for your own duties and your own patients. I wouldn't have involved him in this particular issue at all and I am against this type of thing being an accepted practice except for emergencies or a situation where a CN steps in and takes care of a situation d/t someone's ignorance, incompetence or refusal to do the right thing.

Move on from this. Take care of your patients.

brownbook · Jun 15, 2018

Thank you for doing the right thing for your patient.

Don't worry about your colleague. Be polite and pleasant towards him. Kind of act like nothing has changed. Except you know to be cautious about his judgement or advice.

Orion81RN · Jun 15, 2018

I suspect your team leader took a bit of an ego hit when you, the new person, finally did call the doctor, and the doctor showed up with orders. (Despite said leader's proclamations that nothing would be done about it right now anyway.)

Your colleague had brushed off the need for calling the doctor going against best clinical judgement (and the surgical doctor's wishes.) Meaning he brushed you off as well. I think his ego took a hit, and he decided complaining about you behind your back would make him feel better.

Anyway, I do have a question. Not accusatory, but I'm genuinely curious as to why you didn't call the doctor yourself the first time. You stated you are new to the ward, but what does that have to do with notifying the doctor of your AND THE SURGEON'S assessment requiring intervention? The surgeon even told you to call. Was it anxiety/nerves? Many of us, especially newbies or even seasoned nurses new to a unit who do not have any report with the doctors yet, feel hesistant on calling them when we need to or are on the fence of if we need to.

In this case, you had an easy out. You call, tell the doc that you and the surgeon assessed the patient, and the surgeon wanted the doctor notified of pt's condition. This takes a lot of it off you in this specific scenario.

There are plenty of threads on here about getting over the nerves of calling doctors. I think that would be beneficial to you.

Lastly, I would call this team leader out on how he spoke of you to others. That is not how a leader nor anyone should act. I would simply say in a matter of fact, non-aggressive tone, that you over heard him and prefer he speak directly with you regarding any issue he may have with you or your actions. Tell him you want to be part of the team and are willing to learn from him. But everyone hearing gossip about you undermines that desire to have good working relationships.

Sigh....when will we all learn to go right to the source about issues we have with people instead of going behind each other's backs?

Alex_RN, BSN · Jun 16, 2018

You were following the surgical MDs instructions to notify the other MD. If you hadn't taken action, you certainly would have been in trouble. I am sure you were busy and maybe a little nervous about calling the MD, so you asked someone else to do it. Now you know a little more about how things roll in your unit. Learn from it and put it behind you and try to normalize things with that co-worker. Don't do that, "not looking at him" stuff. Be your natural, professional, friendly self.

macawake, MSN · Jun 17, 2018

My patient was swollen up with fluids and the surgical doctor asked me to inform the medical on call. I am like new to that ward, and I asked the team leader to call the medical doctor for me.

Okay, why did he behave in this way? How should I deal with him in the future?

What a disappointment, I liked him before, but my duty towards the patient was more important and urgent to me than that man's feelings.

Sarah, I'm confused. You've previously started several threads, dating back to early 2017 I believe, about having problems with your "team leader", but in this thread you say that you are "like new" to the ward. Is this a new team leader in a new ward, or the same man that you've talked about before?

Of course your duty to your patient has to take priority over your team leader's potentially hurt feelings. You did the right thing in calling the medical doctor, especially since the surgeon had specifically requested that you do. I've asked you before what the team leader's role and responsibilities are since you seem to have them as well as charge nurses on your floor.

I assume that you're still working in Dubai? Does protocol where you work dictate that you have to run things by your team leader after a physician tells you that he wants you to notify another physcian about your patient's status? You were concerned about your patient and so was the surgeon. It seems like the best option would have been for you to call the internist directly, instead of involving your team leader. Especially if it's the same man who you seem to have had several conflicts with prior to this incident.

Okay, after some time, I heard the team leader talking about what I did, with his friend ( a colleague also) negatively, he was saying with a loud and angry tone in his voice " ...because she told the doctor...". As I did something wrong. Not in front me, I did not stay to hear more.

You did right by your patient! Beyond that, I do not know why your team leader is acting the way he is. I don't understand the personal dynamics between the two of you and I don't have a good grasp of the hierarchy, policies and culture on your ward.

HiddenAngels · Jun 17, 2018

This is the first but not the last time you will cross paths with someone who makes comments about your actions. Who cares what they think. If he says something to you, then you never be afraid to express and stand uo for your beliefs. Otherwise he can shout to the forrest with no one there. Is he being heard. Who knows who cares..

Always go with your gut. It NEVER hurts to hear from the doc.. You'll feel better and be better for it.

Orion81RN · Jun 17, 2018

I still think OP should have called right away, but on another note....DOCTORS NEED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER! I personally think the surgeon should have called the internest herself. Nursing assessment is great and all, but who better to get all the accurate info from than the surgeon. There have been a few times when I've spoken with doctors and wanted to tell them, "No, YOU call him, have your discussion THEN get back to me on what your plan of treatment is." Not your secretary.

Anyhoo

offlabel · Jun 17, 2018

*****?? Someone didn't act according to plan? Alert the media! Is the director of nursing aware? Is President Donald on the way?

Dude/dudette, **** happens...you will have forgotten this by the time your next disaster rolls around...

CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2018

Don't worry about your colleague. Be polite and pleasant towards him. Kind of act like nothing has changed. Except you know to be cautious about his judgement or advice.

This is great advice. Whenever I've had something similar happen between myself and a coworker or boss I ignore it. Act like it's business as usual, except I make a bit longer eye contact to affirm I am giving whatever they are saying some extra weight. Seriously-I don't act any different or say a thing-never act mad or scared-just neutral and professional. It's almost a form of retribution LOL. Bullies expect a reaction. Not giving them one makes them nervous as all get out.