I was slapped by a doctor!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in CCU.

I honestly can't believe it myself! I just graduated from my program on May 16 of last month. I am still in orientation at a large level 1 trauma center on a busy cardiac care unit. The hospitalist is known for having a horrible temper anyway. Well, he was on a roll all shift today. One of my pts BP was all over the place all day. It became very low suddenly. I told my preceptor (still on orientation) and she said to have the MD paged. He was not happy and screamed at me over the phone. I braced myself for when he got to the floor, already getting very nervous. Well, he came up fit to be tied. He slammed the papers he was holding onto the nurses station where I was standing with the health unit coordinator. I forgot to get the pts chart out for him to look at (as he requested on the phone...my fault i know :(). He asked for the chart and I said...hold on I'll have to get it for you. He turned bright red and said harshly (but not screaming) "You paged me and you're not even ready!".

And then thats when it happened -- he took his hand and hit my cheek. Now, it wasn't some soap-opera backhand where I went flying across the room or anything..but a little pop. Kinda like what a mom would do to a small child if they said a bad word or something. I was so shocked I couldn't even say anything. I just handed him the chart and he want to the pts room. The whole time I was fighting back tears. The HUC and I just exchanged looks of shock with each other! I think I am going to file a complaint tomorrow against him...and the HUC said she will back me up since she was the only one who witnessed this. I had no idea that doctors behaved this way..is this normal?? To say the least I'm dreading going back in on Wednesday. I had heard some doctor horror stories..but nothing like this -- what I consider to be assault. Am I overreacting? I don't want to be seen as a drama queen or a trouble maker being on the floor only 2 weeks in this unit :(. Ugh!

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I'm sorry this happened. Why file a complaint at the hospital? Don't you think it's time to call the police and file a report?

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Specializes in Woundcare.

Of course that isn't normal! Definitely, DEFINITELY report him.

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"Am I overreacting?"

I don't thik so...but then I am not yet a nurse. I can tell you though, that if putting up with someone putting hands on me is part of the job, I won't be a nurse for long! I think he was waaaaay out of line. I am sorry this happened to you.

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No, you are not overreacting. I am so sorry this happened to you, it was truely uncalled for and abusive.

You MUST report him and I would strongly encourage you to file assault charges at your local police station.

The only reason this guy does this stuff is because it continues to go on unchecked. It sounds like he isn't being reported so he has no reason to change.

And, I don't think it should be your job to have the chart ready for him. His hands are working just fine so he can get the chart himself.

Do not put up with this crap. You did nothing wrong, you MUST report him.

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That is battery.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Would it be acceptable in any job? HELL NO!

Then why should nurses even have to question is physical abuse is normal in our field!?!!??!

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I would have called the unit manager (or whoever was on call) and would have reported it IMMEDIATELY. And I would have spoken up to the doctor.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

are you kidding?...i am so very sorry..please don't take offense i have never heard of such ....i would have called security or something. you mean they did nothing right then... he physically assaulted you then he was allowed to see patients.....:eek::eek::eek::eek:

filing a report seems way to short of what needs to happen here. he should have not been allowed to be near patients with a flaring temper like that and should have been sitting in a padded sell... no doctors are not like that. you did nothing but your job and so what you did not have the chart ready he could have got it himself.....i am so very sorry...geeeezzzzzzz:eek::eek::eek::eek:

i honestly can't believe it myself! i just graduated from my program on may 16 of last month. i am still in orientation at a large level 1 trauma center on a busy cardiac care unit. the hospitalist is known for having a horrible temper anyway. well, he was on a roll all shift today. one of my pts bp was all over the place all day. it became very low suddenly. i told my preceptor (still on orientation) and she said to have the md paged. he was not happy and screamed at me over the phone. i braced myself for when he got to the floor, already getting very nervous. well, he came up fit to be tied. he slammed the papers he was holding onto the nurses station where i was standing with the health unit coordinator. i forgot to get the pts chart out for him to look at (as he requested on the phone...my fault i know :(). he asked for the chart and i said...hold on i'll have to get it for you. he turned bright red and said harshly (but not screaming) "you paged me and you're not even ready!".

and then thats when it happened -- he took his hand and hit my cheek. now, it wasn't some soap-opera backhand where i went flying across the room or anything..but a little pop. kinda like what a mom would do to a small child if they said a bad word or something. i was so shocked i couldn't even say anything. i just handed him the chart and he want to the pts room. the whole time i was fighting back tears. the huc and i just exchanged looks of shock with each other! i think i am going to file a complaint tomorrow against him...and the huc said she will back me up since she was the only one who witnessed this. i had no idea that doctors behaved this way..is this normal?? to say the least i'm dreading going back in on wednesday. i had heard some doctor horror stories..but nothing like this -- what i consider to be assault. am i overreacting? i don't want to be seen as a drama queen or a trouble maker being on the floor only 2 weeks in this unit :(. ugh!

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Specializes in ER.

I would ABSOLUTELY call the cops and press charges! This idiot is out of control. It is NOT your responsibility to hand him the chart. Your responsibility was to notify him of the pt. condition, which you did. I would not care if I never worked in that hospital or that unit again if they let him get away with this. You should have called the cops the minute it happened.

You should not allow yourself to be treated in this manner. You can bet your life that if you had slapped the doctor, your butt would be in jail right now, and you would probably never practice nursing again. Why should he get a free ride to abuse you.

I am livid! You need to document everything that happened and have any witnesses sign as well. This is outrageous!!

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That is battery.

Yup. You should file a report AND call the police ASAP.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
I would have called the unit manager (or whoever was on call) and would have reported it IMMEDIATELY. And I would have spoken up to the doctor.

The most common reaction to a shocking event is the "freeze" response of being stunned. So I don't think you can really say that you would have done. In any event - that doesn't really help the OP now.

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