Does your personal doctor work where you work?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I'm about to choose a family doctor in a new town where I'll be attending nursing school. Is there any reason why I should choose a doctor who doesn't work in one of the hospitals where I also hope to be working in a few years? There's not actually anything in my medical history that I think would negatively affect me professionally, but keeping personal and private separate seems a prudent rule. Perhaps I'm being overly cautious.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I did. When you work in a small community hospital, it's unavoidable. She also became a friend (we're still facebook friends, although I now live in a different state). Now that I live in a large city, I would choose to keep my work and personal life more separate.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

happens all the time. Don't worry about it.

Specializes in Pedi.

I, personally, would not want my own doctor to be my colleague but I also have a medical history a few books long. For 5 years I worked in neurology/neurosurgery and I had a history of a brain tumor and had had brain surgery in the past. I did not work at the hospital that I'd had surgery at and wouldn't have wanted to work with my former doctors.

I did, however, work with a Nurse Practitioner who'd been my NP when I had some adolescent mental health issues from 19-21. When she started working with us, she recognized me immediately and when I realized who she was, I completely freaked out and called about 5 of my friends as I was walking to the subway on the way home. I didn't like the fact that she knew things about me that no one at work knew and that I didn't want anyone at work to know. It was several months before either one of us acknowledged that we knew where we'd known each other from and it was actually kind of funny after that. I worked with her for 4 years and it was never an issue.

I have also volunteered at a program for families of children with brain tumors for YEARS. For years, I'd been talking to the parent support group as a survivor. One year- which happened to also be the year that I had a medical crisis- an oncologist that I worked with happened to be the on-site doctor for the week and he happened to be sitting in the back of the room when I told my story and what was currently going on in my life- which no one at work knew. I felt awkward around him/like there was an elephant in the room for about a year, then when we actually talked about it at this program the following year, it was fine.

Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

needless to say, if one is comfortable with the idea of having their pcp on site where they work more power to them. however, i'm not that comfortable myself since i have a 50 mile long medical record after my motorcycle accident. in addition, if the relationship between you and your physician doesn't workout, or you decide to get a 2nd opinion it could get a little awkward to say the least since you work in the same place...just saying. wishing you the best always ..aloha~

Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Personal preference. I choose my doc because I was able to watch him interact with his patients and families as well as monitor his provider skills. I would rather know exactly what I was getting into. I simply choose an OBGYN seperately.

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I don't, but I have some coworkers who do. Not a big deal.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Having the right doctor is so important I wouldn't use that reason to preclude it. I've found that it's very possible to switch gears mentally from the patient role to the professional role. Never been an issue for me, but I'm talking about fairly large facilities where the chance of crossing paths was slim.

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I worked with my OB/GYN for years off and on. He saw me at work pregnant and not pregnant, lol. He delivered 4 of my kids. I never had a problem with it.

My PCP no longer does hospitals, so no problem running into her. When she did though, it didn't bother me. We simply said Hello and moved on.

Specializes in PCU, Critical Care, Observation.

I switched doctors after seeing how rude mine was to the nursing staff....all the time.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
I switched doctors after seeing how rude mine was to the nursing staff....all the time.

Yes, this. I also switched PCPs after observing that mine ... clearly hates nurses.

Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.
yes, this. i also switched pcps after observing that mine ... clearly hates nurses.

there's nothing more i rather witness than these so called nurse-haters physicians, work by themselves and see the outcome of their pt. care :cool:

+ Add a Comment