When calling in scripts to the pharmacy or calling to speak to a doctor or nurse regarding a mutual patient, do you choose the option that indicates you're calling from a Dr's office/hospital etc?
I'm a new nurse and most of the seasoned nurses I work with say they don't, they just hold the line as if they're a patient.
I think that's silly, and I figure even if I'm not the doctor, I'm calling on behalf of the doctor etc.
Isn't that what this feature is for? I decided I'd poll the audience and find out what y'all do.
You're either a professional or a patient and I would push 1 for doctor because you are acting in a professional capacity. IMHO acting as though you are a patient on the phone is a lie because you're not a patient. Sounds like some people need a self esteem boost.
Honestly it depends. I'm often not calling on behalf of a doctor, I'm calling for a patient who doesn't have the life skills to wrangle their own prescriptions or services. Once I did "press 1 if you're a doctor" and when I identified myself as a community health nurse the person answering the phone chewed me out and transferred me to the patient line where I then waited on hold for several minutes until THE SAME PERSON answered it! I was a little snippy with her after that, I'll admit.
Honestly it depends. I'm often not calling on behalf of a doctor, I'm calling for a patient who doesn't have the life skills to wrangle their own prescriptions or services. Once I did "press 1 if you're a doctor" and when I identified myself as a community health nurse the person answering the phone chewed me out and transferred me to the patient line where I then waited on hold for several minutes until THE SAME PERSON answered it! I was a little snippy with her after that, I'll admit.
BostonFNP, APRN
2 Articles; 5,584 Posts
Absolutely!