Doc calls nurse coworkers monkeys...

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Once in awhile this ER doc calls the nurses monkeys. Being as I'm new, I haven't heard it for my self yet. The subject just came up when I was telling another nurse that this doc had just explained to another doc on behalf of our new ER Physician Assistant that 'PA school is like nursing school, but for smarter people.' :nailbiting:

How would you interact with someone who has such an apparent disdain for nurses and other health care personnel?

Seriously, if this is more than benign unit culture (and it sounds like it is) I wouldn't engage in the back and forth, once you go there you lose your credibility if you want to make some form of a complaint.

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I'm rubber and you're glue, whatever you say Boyce's off me and sticks to you!

Boyce's? Bounces?

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Always be nice, do your job, and don't complain. :) NP and PA school is a lot of work and takes a few years longer after a BSN, but the person is not necessarily smarter. I'm sure you already know that. To get along with everyone, it is best to keep your personal thoughts to yourself. You will have a better life at work and succeed. Gossip is never something to get involved in. No matter how tempting. None of us are perfect. Also don't believe everything you hear. Enjoy your job. Nursing is wonderful and rewarding.[/quote
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I would say... "According to Darwin's theory, we all came from monkeys. So if you think I am one, then you are too!"

So when you encounter him again:

Doc: Good morning monkey

Nurse: Good morning too fellow monkey!

:cheeky:

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I would just ignore him.

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Eh, not sure it is the hill upon which I would want to croak on.

His rep with the staff is less than stellar, and apparently everyone is well aware of that.

OP, you have not seen nor heard this from the MD yourself, it was not directed at you, so right at this moment, you really don't know whether it is true or not true, embellished or not. You just heard.

And taking emotional stock in gossip is never a good thing.

Now another thing entirely if he calls you names, or otherwise disrespects you in front of patients. THEN I would most definitely bring that up the chain. But don't get into it in front of patients. Let his words just hang in the air for a minute. Most rational people would see that for what it was--and use quotes when repeating it on those surveys.

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Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.
Just bring a banana with you and start peeling it while staring. That should help.

Do we eat the banana suggestively or what. Cause that's just a waste of a banana if we use it for peeling purposes only.

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Specializes in ICU.

I would just page him repeatedly for all kinds of unimportant things, but that's just me. Especially if you know he's sleeping in the on call room. :) After all, we're just monkeys, right? Monkeys certainly can't think for themselves, so I should page him with every little finding or every single thing I want to ask for. Separately. Because my attention span isn't long enough to remember multiple things at once.

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I would just page him repeatedly for all kinds of unimportant things, but that's just me. Especially if you know he's sleeping in the on call room. :) After all, we're just monkeys, right? Monkeys certainly can't think for themselves, so I should page him with every little finding or every single thing I want to ask for. Separately. Because my attention span isn't long enough to remember multiple things at once.

Indeed..

( & while professionally, I cannot condone your specific potential approach)..

a due reminder of just how subtle & efficaciously - as job savers..

..we nurses make his shift go easier.. could be emphasized..

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wow who cares. you all are too sensitive. Reminds me of when the view dissed nurses, they came together for 5 minutes before resuming their perpetual back stabbing (or should i say poop throwing)

Not only The View dissed nurses. Your comment has as well. You are a provider that has apparently lost the "nurse" part of your title.

This is a thread about nursing being respected by providers. Obviously, you don't get it.

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Not only The View dissed nurses. Your comment has as well. You are a provider that has apparently lost the "nurse" part of your title.

This is a thread about nursing being respected by providers. Obviously, you don't get it.

S/he hasnt lost the nurse part of their title it's always gonna put the N in NP and s/he might as well not be fooled and OWN it. I would like to mention that this doc interjected with 'PA school is like nursing school, but for smarter people' when THE PA was asked what it's like. If I were her, I would've found that behavior and comment offensive too. The doc was probably just trying to split staff while keeping himself up on a pedestal. I might not like all I work along side, but PAs and NPs have advanced degrees to provide a different role. Doesn't make them innately smarter or better - looks like the jerk was attempting to diminish nurse and PA roles simultaneously to me.

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Funny . . . my husband and son bought me a couple of books and one is called The Nurses. The chapter I'm in is about doc/nurse relations and there is a story about a doctor saying the "monkey" comment. Timely.

The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama, and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital: Alexandra Robbins: 978

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