Published
I work in LTC so its different. I would give up my seat. Our doctors have to do recerts and check charts on our residents so its only common sense to allow them to sit to look through 20 charts.
In the hospital setting... I won't leap out of my seat if I'm charting or doing something meaniful. I think its all about the setting and what the nurse is doing.
U have to fight for chairs in the older hospitals I worked at. I used to stand up and do notes on a high bench or out in the corridor, cos the chairs were so old & hurt my back, I was thankful not to be sitting on them.
But I would give up my chair for a professor or top specialist if he wanted to sit. I think that's courtesy for them, as they're trying to teach everyone or the younger doctors and need to sit & review charts sometimes.
In some places it is expected.
I currently work in a teaching facility, and heck no, we don't.
Interestingly, had an MD as pt. Whenever, he came by the desk, he would groan and moan about how, in his day, nurses were never supposed to sit in the mere presence of an MD, wear pants or athletic shoes.
I guess I'm "old school" because yes, I will. Our doctors put in long hours and need access to the patient records. We have one computer for the doctors, and usually 4-5 doctors on the floor at the time. I do my assessments and take notes on the condition of my patients until I have access to the computer. If they are not actually using a computer they will usually move to another area of the nursing station. They try to respect our access to patient information and we try to respect their time constraints.
I once worked at a LTC facility that had only two chairs at each nurses station. While I did not want to give up my seat, management would discipline nurses who didn't give up their seats when a physician arrived. I gave my seat away because I really needed the job at that period in time.
I now work at a rehab hospital that has at least six chairs at each nurses station, so I no longer have to give my chair up.
Pmkn10RN
128 Posts
In the unit I work on attendings come in the rooms/pods to round with residents on pts. All of the older nurses leap out of their seats to let the doctors sit. If I 'm charting or doing some other sort of meaningful work I will remain seated (if I was reading a magazine. I 'd get up). I thought it was old school...nursing giving up their chairs for doctors