Get it off your chest! What's the rudest thing a doctor ever said to you?

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What's the rudest thing a doctor said to you and how did you handle it?

I haven't had any run ins, but my preceptors have and they're not so willing to share.

So tell me yours...

Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
I'm not sure rude is the word, but, this was said to a nurse after an unsuccessful code. "You've just killed my patient."

Yes, when I got told that, I don't know if was more hurt, embarrassed or just plain mad as heck.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Maybe I should start a separate thread because I can imagine the answers to my question would be varied and interesting, but how many of you guys actually reported a supervisor/doctor, and what happened? I understand it's hard to report in these instances, however inappropriate they are, because you come off as being immature, whiny, a complainer, problem maker, etc

Thankfully, when I got told I killed the patient and all the rest of the BS, the supervisor actually heard all of it. But, I would definetly have reported him for that. I figure that if it wasn't heard, they wouldn't have dealt with it because he was a doctor.

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
I went to ask a MD about something

"yeah cause I'm clearly not busy" very sarcastic.

Same conversation

"well what do you want me to do about that?"

He ended up ordering abx. Which was uh exactly what I wanted him to do about "that". It was more his tone with was oh so sarcastic.

Oh, that would have made me FURIOUS! Because, you know I just sit around twiddling my thumbs waiting to annoy the busy doctors. Not! Gah, I'm willing to say we're just as busy if not busier than the docs. I'm a new grad and some of these docs also ask "what do you want me to do about that?" Uhhh...sometimes I have an answer and other times I'm just thinking "You're the doctor, I'm new...I don't hve a clue what I'm doing."

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

I was sitting charting and an ID doctor sat down with a chart beside me. Asked, "why am I consulted on this patient?" Ummm, I don't know, who are we talking about? He said, I don't know why you people bother me if you don't even know what is going on." I said, seems to me if you want to know why you were consulted you should speak with the doctor who wrote order to consult. Don't you guys ever talk to each other? 41 bed unit and I am suppose to know which chart he had and why he was consulted... JERK.

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Specializes in Community Health.

This wasn't said to me but today a nurse at the facility where I'm having my clinical I overheard a doc telling a nurse that she was a "f**** idiot". I don't know the full story behind it but I was appalled...this was at the nurses station in front of about 10 people. I was actually more shocked that no one said anything back to him!

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I was brand new at my facility and was observing a procedure. Doc wanted me to assist in the procedure and I was hesitant since I was clueless about what equipment he needed and another nurse was getting things ready for him. He yells, "Don't just stand there looking stupid!" At my indignant gasp he muttered, "I mean, beautiful. Don't just stand there looking beautiful!" LOL They both mean the same thing, doc ...

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

One doc I had to call about an error was infamous for being a ***** whether in person or phone.

I was in charge and got elected to make the call to "Dr. Personality". It was an error that happened on night shift, just before report. One of the hospital employees was in for new onset DM and a big work up. She was to have a CT and an U/S both that day and someone gave the po contrast before she went down for the U/S, both sch that am. She couldn't have the U/S when the tech found out about the contrast.

Of course, the call went something like this - "Good morning, Dr. Personality. So sorry to bother u. This is Anne, and I am calling about Ms. X. She was sch for a CT and also U/S and ..... "

Then, he started with "Tell me u didn't do this. I thought u were a better nurse than this." He wanted the nurses's name and when I gave it to him, he just went off again. "Well, u tell her she'll never work in this town again." (Not sure why he thought he had that kind of power, but I digress.)

Then, "Well, she must have her head up her ___. And the day nurse must have her head up her __ too. U may even have ur head up ur ___ too. I don't know."

Very sweetly, I told the doc, "Well, I don't think so, but ur free to check. I'll be here until 7pm."

When he rounded, of course, I was his first stop. Thinking I was in trouble, I got ready for it. He said, "It seems like u are the only nurse that isn't scared of me, come work in my office." NO WAY!!!!! I was just lucky that day, and I ain't pushing my luck!!

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Oh please, which time? I had a fight with one resident once (we HATED each other) and I tried to stop our argument by walking away from him. I went to the bathroom and he FOLLOWED ME INTO THE BATHROOM. The chief resident came in and I had had it. I told him that if he did not get out of the bathroom I was going to flush his head down the toilet.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Oh please, which time? I had a fight with one resident once (we HATED each other) and I tried to stop our argument by walking away from him. I went to the bathroom and he FOLLOWED ME INTO THE BATHROOM. The chief resident came in and I had had it. I told him that if he did not get out of the bathroom I was going to flush his head down the toilet.

:yeah::yeah::yeah:

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in Psychiatrics.

I was working LTC just out of nursing school, we had a new admit, and at the beginning of my shift (11-7) the patient seemed to be fine, VS all within normal, LCTA.

2 hours later: BP was bottoming out, pulse was fast, lungs were badly congested. Time to call the doc. (mind you this is between 1-3 in the morning)

Doc answers, wants to know why in the h*** I am waking her up.... I go ahead and give a brief description of what happend. She starts to swear at me, up one side and down the other for a solid minute. When I got a chance to get a word in edgewise, I asked her if she would like me to send the patient to the ER...

After a few more minutes of cussing, swearing, and yelling, and informing her that the meds that she requested were not in our ER kit, she agreed to transport the patient to the ER. Patient died three days later.

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"All nurses are trained monkeys" CT surgeon

I told my friend who is a Dr. this and he replied, "Maybe Doctor's are trained monkeys."

:lol2::smokin:

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