Okay, one of my pet peeves (among several in the healthcare field) is the superiority complex doctors tend to think they should have over nurses.
I'd like to hear other nurses experiences with this subject matter.
How many nurses believe doctors are superior to them?
How many nurses continue to think they are not just as important to the patients healthcare process as the doctors, therefore "cowtow" to doctors when they speak?
How many nurses are afraid of doctors....and why?
When will nurses STOP being afraid of doctors?
When will nurses begin to see themselves along with doctors as two members of the patients healthcare team, and not feel subordinate to the doctors?
Do you experience a difference with the new female docs today who think they have to assert themselves for fear we will not recognize them as doctors or confuse them with being nurses?
I don't know about you guys, but they owe me respect therefore they will give it to me. I started with the yes sir no sir stuff after school. It doesn't work. If you empower them, they will try to dominate. It's nature. No more Dr. stuff unless I'm near a pt. If you make it Jim, Tony...It brings them down to eye level. Stop the I'm sorry to wake you sir - crap. I'm up at that time of the night nobody is sorry for me. If they are on call it's their job to be up. If they bark at you get right back in their faces. I can't count the number of MD butts I've saved so far because they have ordered something wrong, something inappropriate, or something they shouldn't have...
Pt's. and families are the same way. They help give the Dr's. their god complexes. Pt's. don't seem to understand that if they we're alone in the room with an MD. The Dr. would watch them die as they're barking out orders to the wall. It's only because my peers and I are in the room that they might walk out alive. 99% of Doc's can't even start a line. They owe us respect - demand it!
Oh yah, quit giving up your chairs to them. It's called the Nurses Station. If you think after 8-12 hours of busting my butt without a lunch, I'm giving up my chair to them you need to put the crack pipe down now.
Sorry, friend, I know this was a typo, but I just rolled off the bed laughing !!!
And I do agree with your post. I don't see where the "better/superior" comes into play, either. Differently educated does not equal "better" or superior. Different interests/goals do not add up to "better/superior".
I have found that if you talk to and treat all medical workers with respect you will receive that in return most of the time. There will always be exceptions though so my backup plan is to remind them that they can do "whatever" by themselves if they continue to talk to me in an unacceptable manner.
I have stated that I will call the medical director for appropriate orders if they choose. And after being hung up on in the middle of the night, etc. I have done just that. Multiple Medical directors have been very nice, each one gave me the orders I needed and then the offending doc is talked to. I know about the doc talks because each time I have been briefly taken aside and informed that my concern has been addressed.
Yes doctors have a better way of dealing with issues among themselves in general. They usually cover each others backs instead of biting them.
During my orientation in ICU after about 7 months working in Med/Surg I was attempting to assist with a Swan catheter insertion. The pulmonologist was a know pain in the A$$ but I didn't know that. I was trying to set up the flushes and caps and was kinda fumbling, he commented that he could have probably done the whole procedure by himself as I was obviously incompetent. I responded that I was just learning this procedure, did have all the supplies at hand and if he chose I would gladly leave the room and allow him to do it himself. He apololgized, gave me some friendly direction and I acknowledged the apology and we worked together nicely for the next 2 1/2 years in that ICU.
Self dignity, self respect along with a healthy respect for others does help.
I do the goofiest typos! Once when debating with SusyK, I called Bush a "treat" to the country instead of the threat that I meant to say he is! She loved calling me on that one.:chuckle
On the original conversation; we think alike on this one. When competition comes into the picture, that is when the problems start! That is when I open my mouth. That part is not a problem with roles but of personality.
Omg....I can't believe I typed that and missed it after rereading...well I wonder what that freudian slip was over...hmmm:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
The doctor is far more educated.. or at least has put his/her time in. Does it make them "better" or "smarter" ? Not necessarily.
But they have put in a heck of a lot of time, effort, and $$ to obtain their credentilas, and I do respect that. So in that category, I am certainly not their equal. As a fellow human being, of COURSE I am !
Should we be valued as an extremely important part of the "team" ? Absolutely. Should there be more discourse , more communication, even problem sharing and brainstorming together re the care of the patients? I believe there should be.
I believe there should be more "roundtable discussion" as a TEAM on a regualr basis regarding the patients, the goals, and their care. In THIS sense, I DO feel we are equal... that our INPUT should be equal in weight and value.
Once again Jnette, I totally agree with you. A doctor is going to get more respect from me if he/she treats me like a professional and a member of a team. If they start to treat me like one of their little nurse servants, they better watch out! I definitely do not cowtow to doctors, I did too much of that stuff when I was in the military and do not care to repeat the experience, thank you very much!
I do the goofiest typos! Once when debating with SusyK, I called Bush a "treat" to the country instead of the threat that I meant to say he is! She loved calling me on that one.:chuckle
WHOA !!! Now that WAS a serious typo !!! :chuckle heh.... I bet lil' Suz DID ride you on that one for some time !
I agree about the role vs. personality. Great point.
Slip sliding away, Ohh ohh ohh, Slip sliding away......I wonder how my futures going....Slip sliding away...
OOps sorry, back in the "good old days again"
LOL
I like this site, all have a good sense of humor along with a really healthy dedication to self.....makes for really awesome nurses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slip sliding away, Ohh ohh ohh, Slip sliding away......I wonder how my futures going....Slip sliding away...
OOps sorry, back in the "good old days again"
LOL
I like this site, all have a good sense of humor along with a really healthy dedication to self.....makes for really awesome nurses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ITA. Some of the best human stuff going, is right here! All this substance, we can't help but be good, right?
is the superiority complex doctors tend to think they should have over nurses.
She loved calling me on that one.:chuckle
That part is not a problem with roles but of personality.
Now that WAS a serious typo !!! :chuckle heh.... I bet lil' Suz DID ride you on that one for some time !
LisaRN2B
366 Posts
:roll
I like it, I like it!
I will remember these pointers after I graduate.