Do you give up your seat for a doctor?

Nurses General Nursing

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I know that is REALLY outdated, lol. BUT, there are still some docs who come onto the floor that I will give up my seat. One in particular is always kind and compassionate to the patients and nurses. (He will write an order that reads, Coumadin 5mg 1 po tonight, please) If I see him, I offer my chair and computor, he always says no, lol. Another is one of those that takes so much time with his patients that he comes in every night around 10 or 11. I know he has been in the cath lab all day or rushing, so I always offer it to him as well. SOME doctors however, I politely point to the charting room, ROFL.

Specializes in M/S, Onc, PCU, ER, ICU, Nsg Sup., Neuro.

That will be the day I ever give up my seat to any doc, not in 20 yrs has it happened nor will it ever......:rotfl: flaerman

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What would be the reason for that?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.
In the past 2 weeks:

There was only one chair available in the lounge. A surgeon walked in, who had just gotten done with a radial nephrectomy that last 9 hours. I gave up my seat to him, just because he'd been on his feet for that long.

A couple of days later, same full break room, no seat, i come in after assisting on a complicated hysterectomy that lasted 5 1/2 hours, but this nephro surgeon was sitting in a chair. He gave his chair up to me.

Common courtesy.

Yes, Marie, common courtesy and common sense should dictate this...not one side trying to out trump the other. Put the issue of doc and nurse aside, tradition vs breaking a tradition...your insight is not only reasonable, but rational as well.
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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

They have their own designated area and I refer them there, or if I happen to be in their lounge, then yes, I'd get up.

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Specializes in LDRP; Education.
I will, if he/she needs it to chart/call/use comp. and I am not doing anything particularly important at the time, but, I would do that for another nurse , as well.....

I totally agree.

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Nice - common courtesy, what a concept. :)

I'm not sure why we need to do this nurse against doc thing.

AMEN! I don't even know why this would really be an issue since all of us nurses and docs are on the same team anyways. And I may be an old-fashioned gal, but I'd give my seat up to anyone whom I respect, doctor or nurse.

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

I always give up my seat to a particular surgeon only because she is a lady and a gentleman always gives up his seat to a lady. Others, sometimes. Mike

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
In the past 2 weeks:

There was only one chair available in the lounge. A surgeon walked in, who had just gotten done with a radial nephrectomy that last 9 hours. I gave up my seat to him, just because he'd been on his feet for that long.

A couple of days later, same full break room, no seat, i come in after assisting on a complicated hysterectomy that lasted 5 1/2 hours, but this nephro surgeon was sitting in a chair. He gave his chair up to me.

Common courtesy.

That is so cool Marie ! Glad you're docs sound considerate like the one's I am fortunate to work with also.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
AMEN! I don't even know why this would really be an issue since all of us nurses and docs are on the same team anyways. And I may be an old-fashioned gal, but I'd give my seat up to anyone whom I respect, doctor or nurse.

I took time to notice our unit yesterday, which is sometimes busy with case managers, pt's, st', ot's, insurance people, and I noticed a lot of manners between us, we give up our seats for each other all the time, not just doctors.

My beef is when a doctor arrives on a unit and the nurses jump at his beck and call, rather than treat him as an equal member of the team. Being polite is one thing, being subserviant and doing things they can do for themselves is another. Cleaning up their mess is another thing. :)

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I give up my seat if I am just sitting. (which is RARE). If I am in the middle of charting, or looking up a lab etc. then no, I dn't give up my seat for anyone. If I am sitting talking I would give up my seat to a doc, and we are all usually very respectful of the cardiovascular surgeons because we are all a team and the respect goes both ways, and they are absolutley amazing at what they do. The only time anyone is less than respectful to anyone is when certian mds who are notoroios for being "gods", there is no respect either way.

I would give up my seat for the pct's if they were running all day (which they usually are), and they would us too.

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