I'm a new nurse... although have spent my past 30 yrs. around the nursing profession and in the medical field.. have seen a lot, done a lot...now I need some clarification. Perhaps this comes as a result of having served in the military where the docs carried the rank, and therefore we all submitted to their say... but somehow, I still carry around this "outdated" concept of feeling that I must "obey" the docs.
It was a real eyeopener in school to learn about nursing autonomy and the nursing profession's view on this. But somehow, this past concept still lingers and I need some help in shaking it. I still find myself being intimidated by the docs (or at least FEELING like I SHOULD be) and like who am I to question them in ANY regard, or on ANY subject when it comes to patient care. I still allow them to make me feel like it's THEIR patient more than MY patient, and I struggle with knowing where I stand, where the line is, when do I question them, when do I make judgement calls on my own, do I have the right, and WHEN to do so, etc., etc.
Guess it's the old-school thing where the doc makes the decisions and the nurses implement his "orders" without question.
WHEN is it appropriate do do otherwise, how do I know, how do I stand up to it when it DOES occur.. are they "my boss" or not, can "they" have you fired.. etc. etc......... really need some help on this, some real clarification. I want to be a competent and responsible nurse, but I need further guidelines in working out
this issue to enable me to perform to my best abilities and know what I MAY and/or may NOT do concerning the docs. Thanx everyone, in advance. :)
