Does This Place Exist?

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2004

The trend I seem to be seeing is if you are in a specialty area like OB, ICU, PACU, OR ER where you work with basically the same set of physicians you do see a real spirit of cooperation.

I agree. In the NICU where I work, usually there is a good amount of collaboration between the doctors and nurses. Even the monthly residents take our advice quite often, because it doesn't take them long to realize that the nurses are at the bedside with these kids 24/7 and often know them inside-out. Some docs, of course, will always have God complexes and you have to play verbal games with them to get the stuff you want ordered..."Hmmm, this baby didn't look nearly this pale a few days ago, whatever could be wrong, Doctor???" Whereas most of them, you can just say, "Hey this kid looks horrible, can I get a crit?" and they're totally fine. They actually like it sometimes because we notice those tiny changes a lot more than they do. And even the most arrogant docs will listen to an RN that they know is the baby's primary nurse, because they can't deny that we'd know that baby better than they do. They even welcome nurses in daily rounds to give suggestions regarding the plan of care.

The funny thing is, it's the nurse practitioners that are rather stubborn and don't seem to listen to us sometimes. It's kind of a cross between the nursing "we know this baby better than the docs" and the doctor "but I'm in charge here" attitude. Usually their decisions are right on, but if we doubt them, there's not a whole lot we can do to convince them otherwise.

Jolie, BSN · Jul 7, 2004

Utopia General Hospital doesn't exist, but there ARE facilities that value nurses and treat them well. I worked in such a place as a new grad (Rush in Chicago). Since it was my first "real job" I didn't know just how good I had it, and naively believed that all hospitals were pretty much the same. When we transferred with hubby's job and I went to work in a hospital that treated nurses dreadfully, I came to appreciate what I had left behind. I have worked in 5 hospitals in 5 different states, some pretty good, some really bad, but have never again seen the level of professionalism I experienced as a brand new nurse.

Destinystar · Jul 7, 2004

the majority of my career was spent in ltc. the md's i worked with the majority of the time relied heavily on the nurses assessments and :) recommendations. these docs were required to come in and see the residents like once every 60 days. i work now with a pediatric neurologist in a private practice. she respects my opinions. and we talk all the time. :)

just curious. does anyone work on a unit or in a facility in which there is true collaboration between the nurses and physicians? one in which the doctors really care to listen to what you have to say and value your opinion and actually discuss with you treatment options for the patient? also, do you feel that you have a measure of control and autonomy in your work environment? (or, is it 'management's/doctor's way or the highway'...)

stressednurse · Jul 7, 2004

Yes I work in a facility that has really good communication between docs and nurses and respiratory staff and the nurse aids too. But cover your eyes as I work in a Specialty Care Center, yes what most people call a nursing home.

Far from my first job, and not where I thought I would be 10 years ago.