Doctors' rounds

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2006

I think it depends on where you work. One place, I would say hi and tell them..Let me know if you need anything or give a quick update on pts and ask them for orders I might want. Another place..I needed to spoon feed some of the docs.

JentheRN05, RN · Nov 17, 2006

:welcome: to allnurses.

It really depends on the doc. Let them decide their own fate. Say something like. I haven't been here long, and I don't know your preferences. Would you like me to go with you as you do rounds? Or a quick update? Or stay out of your way?

That way they can tell you what they want.

Good luck

RNKay31 · Nov 17, 2006

I have not worked in a hospital as yet, but I can feel your pain, all the best to you

AuntieRN · Nov 17, 2006

During the day our charge nurse does rounds with the doc. If a specialty doc comes in like say a surgeon or something and needs something the nurse taking care of the pt will help out if she can...if she is busy and the charge nurse is not then she will help them.

I just started myself. I am on my 3rd week of orientation. To be honest with you...doctors scare me to death. I do not like dealing with them in person or on the phone. I know I have to get over this fear...I mean after all they are just human too, they put their pants on one leg at a time just like we do...try to hang in there...my preceptor says it gets easier the more you deal with them. Good luck to you.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2006

I work in a teaching institution as well. We are expected to round with the docs; to be available for questions, etc. It's a big chunk out of my day since rounding on one ICU pt. can eat up 30 minutes of nursing time as the residents and attendings argue the fine points of medicine. If we're not around, it becomes the charge nurse's mission to track us down. There are few excuses for us not rounding.

Cin RN · Nov 18, 2006

I am also a New Grad nurse in a med/surg/trauma icu. When the docs round, we are there with them when they examine the patient and speak with families. By doing this, we are able to facilitate with updates on the patient and explain things to the families when the docs leave. Families too are intimidated by the doctors. We are also able to clarify orders and procedures without having to call them later. Sometimes we are too busy to round, but when possible it can be very helpful to everyone concerned. Hang in there, you are not alone. My friends who have been nurses for years say that one day, it will all come together.... I for one and anxiously awaiting that day.....

ccrn2b · Nov 19, 2006

Hi guys - I guess I just feel the need to vent a little and I'm sure you all feel the same way at times. I work on a crazy busy surgical/trauma floor in an inner city teaching hospital as a new grad for the past 3 months now. Most days it's all I can do to keep up - it wouldn't be so bad if I had decent help, but most of the assistants are so lazy and complain about doing their job. Anyhow, today I'm just feeling especially fed up and burnt out. This is such a thankless job most days and you're darned it you do, darned it you don't.
The attendings and residents round several times a day - they always seem to have questions for the nurse and want you to be available to them as an extra set of hands, etc. So I try to make surroundings known without actually rounding with them. But last night I had some doctor ask me why I was hovering around, even though every time she saw me she had some question or task for me to do. I know this seems so silly, but this has just pushed me over the edge! I'm simply trying to do my job to the best of my ability and I still get grief for it! I feel so burnt out already and barely hanging on, but since this I've been a weepy mess.
What do you guys do when the docs round? Do you run the other way, go into the patients room with them, etc? Why am I letting this bother me so much?!?!
Thanks for listening!

I never round with doctors except when absolutely necessary. Or when i need to tell them something about the patient or want them to sign something after seeing the pt. I usually just say hi Dr. so and so...and if they need you around, they ask you right there. Usually when they come in, they look at the chart, ask the charge nurse questions and go into the pt's room. Sometime, when the charge nurse is not sure of the question, she throws it to me and that's when i come in briefly and explain and that's it. Don't let anybody intimidate you. Some of those docs are snub, i'm telling you, you greet someone and he just passes by you and walk away without saying a word! Is that someone you want me to run after? Nope. Bottom line, do rounds with docs when absolutely necessary, or when they need you around for questions..goodluck!

TouchstoneRN · Nov 19, 2006

A nurse's time is extremely valuable...I do not and will not round with Doc's unless my presence is explicitly requested. I let them know from the start, I'm here if you need me but I am not your personal servant (in a tactful way of course). Sometimes if they are rounding on my patient I try to do the VS/Vent checks etc while they are in the room also listening for gleems of info in their discussion. Rounding is a great teaching tool and you gain the respect of alot of Docs and Residents if you display some knowledge but don't offer too much. Being a new nurse on a specialty unit is extremely stressful. I tried it for seven months, would leave tearful every day. I felt so distraught I wanted to quit nursing all together but a wise nurse pulled me aside and said " you are a bright, energetic nurse, I can't stand to see you so upset, I think you need to feel confident again...why not go back to MS for a year, get your basic skills intact and then come back to ICU" long story short in the end that is what I did....now I feel confident and I have worked in several different scenarios of CC..don't give up and don't let the Doc's blow your day...that one doctor probably was intimidated by your presence...do what you need to do for your patient and if you don't know ask another nurse what they would do.

Goodluck!

GrnHonu99, RN · Nov 24, 2006

Hi guys - I guess I just feel the need to vent a little and I'm sure you all feel the same way at times. I work on a crazy busy surgical/trauma floor in an inner city teaching hospital as a new grad for the past 3 months now. Most days it's all I can do to keep up - it wouldn't be so bad if I had decent help, but most of the assistants are so lazy and complain about doing their job. Anyhow, today I'm just feeling especially fed up and burnt out. This is such a thankless job most days and you're darned it you do, darned it you don't.
The attendings and residents round several times a day - they always seem to have questions for the nurse and want you to be available to them as an extra set of hands, etc. So I try to make surroundings known without actually rounding with them. But last night I had some doctor ask me why I was hovering around, even though every time she saw me she had some question or task for me to do. I know this seems so silly, but this has just pushed me over the edge! I'm simply trying to do my job to the best of my ability and I still get grief for it! I feel so burnt out already and barely hanging on, but since this I've been a weepy mess.
What do you guys do when the docs round? Do you run the other way, go into the patients room with them, etc? Why am I letting this bother me so much?!?!
Thanks for listening!

Im a new grad in a neuro ICU. Our docs pretty much expect us to round with them. I work nights so I only see one round of docs really. The intern comes around about 0400 and sees the whole floor. He alone cannot remembre every pt. so when he comes around I go in with him and he asks me: what kind of assessment have you been getting? When was this med hung...what are the critical care docs doing about x problem...etc. Its a really great time bc its just me and the doc and we mutually pick each others brains. He depends on my data and he answers all my questions and requests. Then about an hour or so later the whole team rounds and I usually dont round with them as the second time around they dont see the pts. the resident that rounded just gives a small report to the rest of the group and we move on. I do make myself available for questions then if I can bc they usually have a couple...

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Nov 24, 2006

I always round with all the doctors--residents, attendings and consultations. I walk right in with them and stand on the opposite side of the bed. In fact, this is how I developed my sense of self confidence at work. Rare is the day that the Dr asks me a question that I can't answer. I learn something, the dr learns something (about the pt anyway) and the pt/family feels like we are working as a team.

Plus, it's the best time to ask for whatever I want. So I'll point out an assessment finding, and ask for some treatment. I also think it increases a drs trust in me. I can't imagine not rounding with them...

ccrn2b · Nov 27, 2006

i figure it also depends on what area of nursing you are working. I mean, if you are in medsurg with 6-8 patients, i don't see how one rounds with all the docs and residents alike. You can, sometimes but not all the time. ICU nurses has 2-3 patients and can afford to round with everybody. at most they are either at one pt's room or the next and no other to really call for pain med,change a beeping IV pump or some crazy calls from other patients. It's all different depending on the area you work...