Doctor Relationship With Nurses

suehp · Sep 7, 2006

Hi
I just would like to know what the typical relationships are like between Nurses and Doctors in the USA. Im interesting in hearing from Uk Nurses who have immigrated to the USA. Do you find there is a difference in attitudes as opposed to UK doctors. I am only a second year student nurses, and i guess im scared im going to spend my whole life been treated like rubbish from doctors. Do they respect us?..any advice will be greatly appreciated....xxxx:nurse:

Where I work the Doctors are very respectful of the nurses. We have a policy here that the Doctors must be respectful and pleasent...if they arent we have the right to complain and they are dealt with.....

I have to say I have only come accross 2 Doctor's that have been a bit shirty with me

1) The first incidence was when I was on oreintation and the nurse oreintating me rang the Doctor for something and said it was me (so I would answer his return call)...when he gave me orders for some medication I couldnt understand what he wanted so I asked him to repeat himself...unfortunately I had to ask him 3 times and in the end ask him to spell it for me...he got a bit fed up but I explained that I was new and from a new country and wasnt familiar with that particular drug....

2) A Nurse found a fentanyl patch on a new Pt (and it wasnt ordered - so he must have had iot on before he got admitted)just before shift change and I said I would call the Doctor about it...I did and he shouted that he didnt order it - so I explained to him that I knew that but we found it on him and did he want it ordering and to be changed - he was a little fed up but other than that ok about it...

I have been at this hospital for almost 5 months and those are the only 2 incidences I have come accross. (the previous place I worked at the Supervisor rang the Doctor:wink2: so it wasnt my problem)

I work the night shift and I used to worry about calling the Docs during the night but they all take it in turn with their respective partners who is on call and aprt from the above incidences I have had pleasent experiences...

Even the anesthiologists are very pleasent too and I ring them more than the Doctors as we deal with a lot of epidurals on Ortho.

I know a lot of nurses dont read back the orders on the phone like they should but I always do and I think the Docs like that especially when you know what you might need and prompt them with it and they say "oh yeah, you can do that too"

i dont know whether I have just touched lucky where I work....

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2006

My friend has just relocated to Tucson and said the hospital where she works the Doc's are great and you can have a good laugh with them.

geordiegirl2 · Sep 7, 2006

I too find the docs not too bad, like home there are some I wouldn't trust but others I really get on with and have both mutual respect and a good laugh.

I was also very apprehensive and I think some of the docs were too they have no idea of our way of practice etc but as times gone on I've built relationships in which I feel I can practice.

Nurse2BMonique21 · Sep 7, 2006

thank you everybody for your replies!!!! xx

Hagabel · Dec 9, 2007

I worked for 2 yrs in the UK after training and have been here for 15 years. Relationships have varied based on where I have worked. Generally I have found attitudes better here in the US than in the UK when I was there.

I have only worked ICU and ER and have found the Drs respect the RNs in both of those specialites pretty well.