Docs should get more respect?!

Castiela · Jul 29, 2017

I apologize as a courtesy of waking them up when they are sleeping, which I do to my patients as well if I have to wake them up to do an assessment. However, I'm also Canadian and that seems to be our thing so...

JKL33 · Jul 29, 2017

The behaviors of deference you mention are not common at my place. I do see people apologizing for phone calls and occasionally I do too, just like I would if I needed to text or call an acquaintance when I assumed they might be busy or sleeping. While I don't go way out of my way for them, I don't go out of my way to slight them, either. Why would I?

I do respect and admire their general knowledge base. Nothing wrong with that. It doesn't change my behaviors except that I try to learn from them if the opportunity arises.

I have to tell you, in my observations the people who are a little preoccupied with this issue seem to be those who aren't confident of their own position in the world or are lacking a little self-esteem. Otherwise, just go on about your business and don't worry about it. We all have jobs to do and what's important is doing them well.

YoYosama, BSN · Jul 30, 2017

You are right JKL33, stuff like this isnt really that important. But I am just a CNA. I probably talk to a doc once per month and that is only for trying find the nurse he/she is looking for. I dont see a lot of the mistreatment or typical issues nurses go thru at my work place except passive/aggressive relationships between them and the docs. Almost all of them are afraid or yelled at for calling the on call docs at night. At first I thought it was the nurses fault then it becomes more and more common. I don't think being passive is the best solution, the best way is being assertive. That is why I wanted to know if this kind of stuff is common else where? Obviously, stuff like this bothers the nurses that was why they vented out to us almost everytime they hang up that phone. I am guessing those nurses lack self-esteem.

JKL33 · Jul 30, 2017

Hi YoYosama,

I see why you asked. Now those things I have seen a lot. Some physicians are rude. I tend to think there's more to it than just that.

Obviously I don't know anything about those nurses you work with, but I will just say this: I suspect that getting grief from doctors on the phone is at least in part a function of how you present the situation and how you yourself interact with others.

So here's the thing, when we call, we should be prepared and should be able to present a succinct and reasonable explanation for why we're calling. I see a lot of people who don't do that. This might be overkill but when I was new I was nervous about calling, and I would literally write down what I planned to say before I called, and I had the chart open so that I could reference important information if I needed to.

The next step is to expect respect. Generally speaking I don't play games. If someone has a rude tone of voice or asks me a sarcastic question, I respond to that carefully. I basically carry on in a succinct, professional tone. Or, for a different example: Maybe their partner has written an order with ridiculous parameters and so they keep getting called about ridiculous stuff. I will start the call by saying, "Hello Dr X, I have an order here from Dr. Y to call for a b/p greater than _____, so I need to let you know that Mrs. Z's b/p is ____. Everything else looks fine and she has no complaints." If they huff and puff I'll say, "I understand. Maybe we should change this order so we don't have to keep bugging you about it." That's a lot different than calling up and saying, "Mrs. Z's b/p is 155/90??? So I'm calling because....what would you like to do????"

Or, if they're upset about calls they get that have more to do with hospital policy, I still start right out by saying, "I'm calling because the hospital has a policy of _______ ......" If they think that's just "effin ridiculous!" I tell them "I understand. Mrs. Manager or ______Committee should hear your feedback about this."

I just probably don't make it fun to treat me rudely. I don't have it in me to get all exasperated and feel personally offended by the way "a doctor" is talking to me. Who cares! There are rude people everywhere. Encountering one of them doesn't have to be a personally-devastating emotional wound!

YoYosama, BSN · Jul 30, 2017

Yea I don't really know how these nurses talk to the docs but they are very nice to the CNA hence why I always stuck up for them and take their sides. Either that or some people don't have thick skin. Yes, I agree with there are too many rude people. Some people are just numb about it. I guess it takes time. I like the fact that you are assertive and reference hospital policy when docs starting to be out of hands. hahaha I soon will be a nurse one day and i might have to deal with this. Thanks for the advice. I will try my best to be extra nice!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 31, 2017

I apologize as a courtesy of waking them up when they are sleeping, which I do to my patients as well if I have to wake them up to do an assessment. However, I'm also Canadian and that seems to be our thing so...

I agree completely, and I'm from the USA.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 31, 2017

In the medical world, it seems that we have this culture of respecting and catering to doctors. I often see nurses and other medical staff giving up their seats or letting docs cut in line in the cafeteria. As if it was expected. This has to change. When we died and face our creators, we are naked and equal in all. I refuse to get up from my seat or letting docs cut in line. I have more self-respect than that. I have just as much respect for the person cleaning the floor as docs. NO more, no less. It just bothers me when nurses do that especially when they keep apologizing for everything like calling the docs in the middle of the night. It's not your fault! I ONLY apologize when I did something wrong and I don't use that word lightly. What do you guys think? This happens often?

Where I work, everyone with an employee badge has the privilege of cutting into the cafeteria line if they have a good reason. Cutting in line, however, tends to upset the visitors, etc. so it doesn't happen unless someone really NEEDS to cut the line. Our physicians don't abuse the privilege. In fact, our physicians -- and the physicians in ALMOST every hospital I've worked except that one where I took a travel assignment and the docs and nurses were reporting each other to the appropriate boards of licensing -- are pretty good team members. There's no "catering" going on, just professional courtesy which goes BOTH ways. It just seems good manners to apologize when you call someone in the middle of the night -- the physician I'm calling to report a change in patient condition, the RN I'm calling in because it's her call shift, the CNA I'm calling at 2AM because I need her at 3:30 AM, the family member I'm calling because the surgery has been moved up to first case and she'll need to be here by 5AM if she wants to see him before surgery, the pastor I'm calling . . . . I'm sure you catch my drift.

Rudeness is not "self respect". Rudeness is just plain rude.