Does MD really stand for Mad Diva?

[OliveVinesRN]

Hello,you all. I am new here and I am glad to be here. Here's my rant:

I am so sick of doctors on a mission. These doctors come in and never have a kind word for any of the nurses. And if things are not going their way, they hitch a fit.

Like, for example, our CT scan machine was down over the weekend. Upon informing one doctor of this, he chewed my head off. As if I have any control over anything like that. Then another girl got yelled at by a doctor without just cause. The doc was mad because a patient's pain was not being controlled by his current pain meds. And she snapped at the nurse simply because the pt told the doctor that he couldn't get it when he wanted it, which was a total lie. I watched that girl work her tale off last night trying to make this ungrateful man comfortable. The doctor prescribed the pain meds PRN, every 2 hours and that's exactly how the nurse was giving it. Before 30 minutes have gone by, the man would be on that call light complaining of pain again. The nurse called the doctor about it and got slaughtered for it. And when our nurse supervisor saw this nurse get frustrated and speak up to the doctor, she told the nurse that "if you ever talk to a doctor like that again, you will no longer have a job".

Then, today, right before time for me to get off (as usual), everything started going wrong. But the most significant thing that happened was that my patient's blood sugar spiked up to 519 at 0600. So, as protocol dictates, and as nursing judgement dictates, I called the doctor. How about I got blasted for it.

I cannot believe the doctor yelled at me for calling him about an abnormal blood sugar. The man was on a standard sliding scale. As we all know, that only cover blood sugars between 60 and 400. When I checked the man's blood sugar, the glucometer couldn't give me a value because it was so high. So, I called the lab for them to draw blood to get an accurate reading. When the results came back, I immediately called the MD.

He said, and I quote: "That man is on Decadron (which wasn't true because he was on Solu-Medrol) and that is why his blood sugar is elevated. Why are you wasting my time with this? Give him 20 units of R and don't call me anymore. I'll take care of my patients!"

Okay, that just blew my freaking mind. :uhoh21: And when we report these rude, disrespectful creeps, nothing is done about it. I don't know about you all, but this puts undue stress on me. Especially when I know I have done all within my power to take care of their patients to the best of my ability. Much of the time doing it all with very limited resources and short staffing. Some patients will never be satisfied and the doctors take anything they say as truth. They never try to ask us our point of view. They just come in and fuss in accusative tones and rant and rave until they get their way. And they usually do.

When are the administrators and nursing supervisors going to realize that the way doctors behave contributes to the continuing shortage of nurses? I know doctors are literally cash cows for the hospital, but what about us? What about our feelings? It discourages me because I love taking care of people, but I won't continue to let doctors disrespect me like that. I wonder if we all took a stand, would the hospitals start listening? If there are no nurses, then the doctors won't be able to admit the patients. I don't understand why they can't see it that way. Well, I for one will be very present at the upcoming staff meeting and they will hear about this. But I want to know how you all feel abou this issue? What do you all think about doctors and how they treat us nurses?

[Aneroo, LPN]

The diva part only made the think of one thing- One of the med docs here who wear short skirts and high heels.

Cracks me up to see her RUNNING to a code halfway across the hospital. I expect to see her back with an ankle injury one of these days.

Sorry the doc's are being such buttheads! I wish I had some good advice to give, but I don't.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

When are the administrators and nursing supervisors going to realize that the way doctors behave contributes to the continuing shortage of nurses?

Whenever some of them take their head out of their rears.

Reading this just makes me think of all this customer service trend that healthcare is going through. In the midst of customer service being for the pt., visistors, and doctors, the nurse was forgotten.

[lindarn]

Md =

[ERNurse752, RN]

All those examples are completely inexcusable. I couldn't work for a hospital where that happened, and where it's basically encouraged by nursing management. NURSING MANAGEMENT! You'd think they would have been in those shoes before, and want to stick up for their own.

I don't know what I would do if that behavior happened and was tolerated everywhere around me...I sure as heck couldn't tolerate it.

:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

[christinaquilter]

Three little words, "hostile work enviorment"...

start mentioning, loudly (exps. around creep dr's) how people are getting sued for this now...

If that doesn't help, start metioning it around andministration.

If that doesn't help, start metioning it TO administration, and document EVERYTHING

If that doesn't help... well, the yellow pages are FULL of lawyers.... make sure everyone around you knows that!

[menolly_33]

I can't help but notice that your info states you are in alabama. I grew up in the south, and currently live in the south, and I have noticed that this attitude is more accepted by admin here. And before anyone flames me, I did not say that the doctors were more obnoxious here, but that administration was more tolerant.

I worked previously in AK for 6 years, and the only rude and obnoxious doctor I encountered was a resident, and the surgeon cut him off at the knees, in front of the nurses, for his attitude. Never had it happen again. I still smile when I hear that surgeon's name. :chuckle

Administration at the hospitals I worked at there where very intolerant of abusive doctors. A no tolerance policy was printed in the employee handbooks, and was stressed at orientation. When I was first hired, I rolled my eyes when reading it, thought "yah, I'll believe when I see it". But they were very serious. Write up's were taken seriously and doctors where warned, punished and even dismissed at times.

I don't know how to change the attitude at your hospital. But remember, there is always another job available. I think we should all get together and contract out our services, just as the doctors do. I'm an er nurse, so all er nurses would, as a group contract out there services, with the appropriate listing, and billing of all services provided of course. What do you think the appropriate charge should be for cleaning up a code brown? Do you charge by the number of wash cloths needed, or the number of chuxs needed?

OH WELL, just a lovely dream.

[PatrickJ]

MD stands for "ME DOCTOR"

Have to say, being male I do not get the same tudes from these arrogant children doctors. Plus, being a retired cop, I relish the chance to show them how some people simply find it impossible to be impressed by them.

Most docs do not know my history, and man is it funny to see them look at me when I smile at them and their tantrums.

But that is only because I have experiences in dealing with all kinds of people. The more we do it, the better we get. Just know that you are most likely a ton better in the personality and likeability department. That makes for wider smiles just as we fall asleep at night. :)

PS, out of 1000 med students on graduation day, the one with the lowest score is still called doctor! Seems you met that one :)

[Bipley]

Three little words, "hostile work enviorment"...

start mentioning, loudly (exps. around creep dr's) how people are getting sued for this now...

If that doesn't help, start metioning it around andministration.

If that doesn't help, start metioning it TO administration, and document EVERYTHING

If that doesn't help... well, the yellow pages are FULL of lawyers.... make sure everyone around you knows that!

An OR nurse I know was pretty livid after a podiatrist squirted her crotch with Betadine solution. He was laughing and having a grand old time. She pushed the issue and used the magic words, "Hostile Work Environment," and poof... the doc was no longer permitted to have patients at the hospital.

Them 'thar are purdy specific words.

[Cute_CNA, CNA]

MD stands for "ME DOCTOR"

Have to say, being male I do not get the same tudes from these arrogant children doctors. Plus, being a retired cop, I relish the chance to show them how some people simply find it impossible to be impressed by them.

Most docs do not know my history, and man is it funny to see them look at me when I smile at them and their tantrums.

Ha! Good for you! :)

[Bipley]

Pissy docs are typically emotionally lazy people. They pick on those they can. If someone doesn't permit it, the creepy docs are usually too lazy to persue their behaviors. They find a new target.

[Jennerizer, ASN, RN]

I certainly don't understand how some of these docs retain their license. I had one the other night that I called with a pt's BP 192/98 and HR 110-120's. He prescibed Lopressor 25 mg. Well, that worked for the HR, but midnight vitals gave me a BP of 204/92. I called him again, he prescribed a Catapres patch & advised me not to take any more blood pressures on this patient until the morning time...after 8 am. He was nice enough about it, but I was shocked since this patient's normal BP was something like 130/80. He simply didn't want to be bothered anymore on a Friday night. Ridiculous!

Needless to say, I did recheck it & it was slightly improved = 185/77. I then documented very specifically what he ordered. I'm not gonna risk getting in trouble because a doctor doesn't want to be bothered.

Jen