Doctor Orders:)

[THE_L&d_NURSE]

HI EVERYONE, let me know if you do this sort of thing where you work and what you think of it. at one of the hospitals i work at we got a couple of docs let you basically order what you want.

some examples:

doc #1

if a pt comes in preterm and ctx, can do iv hydration,brethine up to 3 doses, ua,labs of choice ,if that don't work we call him if it does pt goes home.

doc #2

tells me I can do or order what ever i like as long as i don't kill them.

doc #3 I call for to see what he wants done with a pretermer,tells do what ever i want i don't care,just call me if she has more problems

I am glad they trust me so much BUT/ you know where i am coming from:)

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If I know the doc and they know me I am able to do more because I know what they want in common situations. However, part of me trusting a doc includes being able to call them anytime if I have the least doubt, and them knowing that I won't just go off on my own.

[Jolie, BSN]

I agree, it is nice to have earned the trust and respect of docs you know well, and can trust, in turn. But it reaches a point where they are asking you to practice medicine for them, leaving the door open for huge problems and liability if things go wrong. I'd be very careful who you trust in these situations.

[PediRN]

You're "operating out of your scope of practice"...your license is in jeopardy.

[fergus51]

I ALWAYS make sure I have something in writing from the doc. If a doc says what do you want to order, I tell him specifically and get his ok because they are his orders really, not mine. I have enough on my mind without worrying about practicing medicine:)

[Disablednurse]

It was one thing doing that at work, docs would do that with our wound care nurses, because they were more up on wound care than they were. However, if something were to go wrong, you can bet he will be yelling, I did not order that and you would be left hanging.

[L&D.RN]

...and if something went wrong, he'd deny he ever said it to you, and in a court of law you would be the bad guy for making those decisions and "practicing medicine" without getting his orders and approval first.

I know sometimes we all have to do stuff first and call later, but I'd be careful. You know they'll cover their own hiney when push comes to shove.