Do give up your seat for a doctor?

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In the unit I work on attendings come in the rooms/pods to round with residents on pts. All of the older nurses leap out of their seats to let the doctors sit. If I 'm charting or doing some other sort of meaningful work I will remain seated (if I was reading a magazine. I 'd get up). I thought it was old school...nursing giving up their chairs for doctors

Specializes in ER, cardiac, addictions.

I'll give up my seat to a doctor in the same way I would do it for any coworker: if s/he needs it more than I do at that particular moment. In other words, I'll do it as a favor, not out of a sense that s/he's more entitled than I am.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

Depends. I work primarily evenings on a rehab unit within an LTC, my nurses station is quite large for a 26 bed unit...about 10 chairs available & 3 nurses on in the eve, so space to sit is not typically an issue if a doc/np comes in. For us its more of an issue in the daytime when there are a lot more people around. Kind of why I hate working days...in evening I have my little space to chart and put my stuff in and no one disturbs it.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

If I am sitting doing nothing, and they clearly need to be where I am, I will get up. I've had a few docs ask me politely if I'm using the computer in front of me, and if not, could they please use it? At which point I'm more than happy to get up, because they need to get there and I don't. But as a rule? No. And just because they are doctors? No.

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

Most of the older nurses I work with will tell the doctor to give their seat up because "I have old legs" or something like that.

I certainly don't give up my chair for anyone!

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

I do - I'm probably not "old school", been nursing since 1991, but I've always been that way. There's only one time I can think of that I didn't and the doc was a total ----. Probably shouldn't have not gotten up, but he was just that bad!

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in ED.

I'm a new RN, and my answer is yes and no. I see it as who needs it the most at that very moment.

If I am in a room with a pt and just talking to the pt, absolutely I will give it to a doc if the doc will now be addressing the pt. If I am inserting an IV or providing some other up close therapy, then of course not. I don't know about other places, but in my facility at least no doc would expect you to give up your seat if you are busy with a pt.

Mucho mutual respect around here, and I *love* it.

DC, ED RN :)

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I always do. They are in and out, and it doesn't make sense for them to stand around and wait on me when I'll be there for 12+ hours. We also have computers in every patient room, so it's easy for me to go find an "office" elsewhere. I also find the charts (and other things) they need and bring them over to where they're sitting....especially if I don't see them around much and they're not too familiar with the unit.

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The hospital is a business and not only are the patients our customers, but so are the doctors. It's not about who is busiest at that particular moment; it's about the fact that the doctors are who brings us patients and without them, we wouldn't have jobs. We should not only gladly give up our computer for our doctors but we should also ask them if they woud like a nurse to round with them on their patients. LoL.

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Where I work, we have a MD charting room and a nurses charting room. There are also plenty of computers around the nurses station for MD's. So, I would say no, I would not give up my seat for a doctor if I was in the middle of charting on my patients. If I was just sitting around playing on the computer and not working, then yes, he/she can have the seat!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Who has chairs????

I go to several hospitals and we all chart standing up, dragging COWS behind us!

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Only if I don't actually need it. We have a limited number of computers at our nurses station and if I'm not using the computer, I give it up to anyone who needs it and expect the same in return.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I only give my seat to a doctor if I happened to be sitting in the dictation area of the nurse's station or to answer a call light. >:D I wouldn't have been very well liked in the old school days!!! The way I see it, I work harder.

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