Docs yelling at nurses....

Larry77, RN · Apr 4, 2007

I think I have been yelled at probably twice in my career and both times my reaction was to just walk away. I personally will NOT talk to someone who feels the need to raise their voice at me. The last time this happened it wasn't really "yelling" but definitely was a personal attack after a misunderstanding. I simply said, "Well doctor I'm sorry you feel that way but that was not my intention". The patient had fallen and I said well that was bound to happen eventually--he was confused and restless with a very unsteady gate. The doc was just pissed because he had discharged this pt and now had to suture a minor head lac after he refused to let me place him on a 1:1. The doc actually apologized to me later for the personal attack but we have never cuddled since

I personally have had many more conflicts with burned out nurses than docs. Being a male RN you probably have a slight advantage because a'hole docs that want to belittle nurses will see you as a more difficult target. Mostly their favorite target is a new nurse who doesn't know enough to put up a fight.

It will probably happen at one point but how you deal with it will tell you a lot about yourself...if you deck them you probably won't be nursing long but if you stand up for yourself and own your mistake (if you made one) you will do fine.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2007

Hi guys,
I have been reading the several posts about doctors yelling at the nurses. I am wondering:
1. As a male nurse, is it any different?

No. I had an idiot surgeon yell at me because I insisted he fill out the post-op med reconcilliation form (like he is supposed to).

2. Have you ever had to deal with yelling physicians? If yes, what did you do? How did you deal with it?

I waited till he was done yelling and asked him the same question again :chuckle

I cannot put up with such behaviors.

And you really shouldn't either.

I do remind the physician that he is yelling and I don't approve of it. That's how I deal with it.

cheers,

KckStrt · Apr 4, 2007

I am in my last semester of nursing school. I have been in every rotation required over the last few years. The only time I have had a Dr. get "ugly" with me was one time in the Emergency Department. She was a new resident and failed to realize that the RN's where not at her disposal and quickly turned her attitude around and tried playing nice, after she was ignored and walked away from several times during my shift.

The only times I have noticed Dr.'s treating men inappropriately is when the Dr. is a women. Not sure what that is about. I wont put up with it and I don't have to.

Most of the Dr.'s where I am at are friendly and eager to teach when they have time. Everybody has a bad day, so I try not to take it personally.

:monkeydance: see :monkeydance: do!

gitterbug · Apr 5, 2007

Men do not yell at one another here, they make nasty remarks. One doc who has a bad temper everyday has been informed NEVER to frequent local gyms's, run the blvd., or bike along the blvd since he would be too great a target for too many. Most of the guys I have ever worked with just look at the offender with a bored expression, give a nasty remark I cannot type here, and walk away. We females then sort of allow our fellow male worker a few minutes to cool off, give him a cup of coffee, a pat on the back or arm, and go on with the business at hand. I only have problems with one male nurse, he is clueless as to teamwork and the golden rule. I do not argue with him, berate him, or gossip about him. I just pray a lot when we are assigned to the same hall. LOL! Have a blessed day.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2007

I only have problems with one male nurse, he is clueless as to teamwork and the golden rule. I do not argue with him, berate him, or gossip about him. I just pray a lot when we are assigned to the same hall. LOL! Have a blessed day.

Sounds like a wise attitude!

gitterbug · Apr 5, 2007

Roy,

Thanks, sometimes I think it's the fact we are so far apart in age. I would gladly trade some assistance in areas he is a little weak in for assistance in my weak areas, but he is remote with most of us. He seems to get offended when I know he is tied up with another patient and I answer his light. I will fullfill the patients request also, if I am able, but he NEVER returns the favor. He only covers when I go to lunch. We have repeaters, I am good with tubes, male and female repeaters who need cathed often ask for me, no big deal, breathing and position right. He will tell them I am too busy, or that he is their nurse and will do it, or some bull like that. One guy has had trouble and trauma from a mine accident, he only wants certain people, when he comes in there is always a scene. He tells them who he wants as nurses, he is nice about it, but firm. My fellow male teamnate takes it personal. I think he is a nice guy really, not a lot of experience, 3 years tops, and I think he wants to learn. I just think he thinks I am too old to know the modern way. LOL! His loss but I will just keep smiling and praying. Have a great day and give another a kind word, we never know when we will need one.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2007

I've never been yelled at. In 15 years I've never seen/heard a doc yell.

I've talked to more than a few angry docs in my days, but none have yelled.

I've read on this board that docs don't act out as much to male nurses as they do to females.

steelcityrn, RN · Apr 6, 2007

The Doc's I have seen get ugly have a reputation for it. It only takes a stupid reason for them to blow like a whale. I usually make some kinda of move stepping back, holding one ear and wiping my face to pretend they spit..lol..This happened years ago, but man that really made him look like the fool he is!

blueheaven · Apr 6, 2007

I don't put up with it. However, we have one attending that likes to belittle everyone from med students to nurses to fellows. Insinuated a couple of weeks ago that I fed a pt with an ETT GRRRRRRR!!!!! I definately "dished" it back to him. He then half apologized. One thing I have noticed is that the male docs do NOT yell or belittle male nurses like they do the female ones. Then there are some female interns or residents that just give every one an attitude. I think they are trying to prove something or hide the fact that they don't have a clue as to what is really going on.

bigjay · Apr 7, 2007

I've never had a problem with a doc yelling at me in person. Over the phone once but that was my own fault. I was new and ended up calling him three times about a coumadin order for a pt he was covering for without having any clue what I was really asking! He and I get along well now and I learned a good lesson about being prepared when calling docs, especially when it's not their patient.

It's funny that I've never really seen a doc lose it on a nurse when I've been on the unit. It's definately in part to us having really good docs and nurses. There have been a few occasions though where things have gotten a bit heated and I kind of sidle over and put myself into the docs field of view and make a point of showing I'm paying attention to what's going on. Things usually calm down then. This usually works with patients and family members too. Once the angry person realizes it's not just them and the object of their anger it can make them think twice about escalting it.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Apr 10, 2007

I was once admonished in a perfectly civil manner by a doctor. Bad part was, she's one of my favorites. Worse part was, she was largely correct (not entirely, but enough so that it stung.) Good part was, I learned several things I won't forget. This is still very much a learning process, and there are times when hearing how great you're doing isn't that instructive.

I've never been yelled at, or seen another nurse yelled at. A few docs are a bit notorious for "attitude," but I don't think they go as far as abuse. It wouldn't fly. We deal with a lot of agressive pts. Docs can get tied to the bed, too.