Get a clue!

sharann, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2004

:angryfire

colleen10 · Feb 25, 2004

I don't understand how doctors can be so clueless.

I was helping a classmate with her patient one day during clinical. 40 year old male who had had numerous abd. surgeries that were difficult to heal, kept getiing infected and generally every time they went it just made things worse. His doctor came in, told him that he thought the infection may have spread to his ribs and then walked right out again!

Me, my fellow student and the patient were all stunned. The poor guy didn't know what to make of the diagnosis and the doctor was no where to ask questions of.

jayna, RN · Feb 25, 2004

:angryfire

orrnlori, RN · Feb 25, 2004

Some, not all, physicians focus on the disease and the treatment. The patient is only peripherally involved in there somewhere. This is expecially true of some surgeons. This is one of the things we do as nurses, comfort and support the patient, because the physician is many times clueless.

Dave ARNP · Feb 25, 2004

Every clinician needs a class on people.

Ever nurse needs a class on how to smack the clinician when he or she messes up with them.

-Dave

bellehill, RN · Feb 25, 2004

Every clinician needs a class on people.
Ever nurse needs a class on how to smack the clinician when he or she messes up with them.
-Dave

Amen! Many times I have called a resident down to discuss the diagnosis with the patient. When they say "I don't know anything about this patient" that doesn't fly with me. I hate it when patients become part of the process...THEY ARE PEOPLE!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2004

Every clinician needs a class on people.
Ever nurse needs a class on how to smack the clinician when he or she messes up with them.
-Dave

'Nuff said.

nurseygrrl, LPN · Feb 25, 2004

I went to the ER a few years back with REALLY bad LRQ pain and tenderness and lady partsl bleeding. I had blood drawn, was poked and prodded numerous times, had not one but two pelvics, and then a pelvic sono. While my husband and I anxiously awaited news, we overheard a nurse outside my little room telling my dx of an ectopic pregnancy to a coworker. Nice. My husband went out and told her it'd be nice if someone came in and told us what was going on and what the plan was. She wasn't even apologetic. Some people just need a good smack every once in a while.

Sadie04 · Feb 25, 2004

Ali,

I'm so sorry, how insensitive! It goes to show you that some nurses can be clueless too :rolleyes:

Surgical Hrt RN · Feb 25, 2004

THis is such a pet peeve of mine! :angryfire Before I worked in CVICU, I worked in a Surgical/Neuro ICU. We had residents there. One day they came in the patient's room to look at her abdominal incision. They never closed the curtain, lifted her gown, exposed her breasts, and ripped off the dressing I had just placed 30 min prior. They evaluated the incision, left the dressing off, left the woman exposed and WALKED OUT!!!!!

I was furious!!!! I grabbed the gaggle of residents and told them "HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR MOTHER TO BE TREATED THIS WAY?" They all got dumb looks on their faces and I made them go in and apologize to the patient and fix the dressing. :angryfire I was shocked! HOW RUDE!!!!!

Tracey

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Feb 26, 2004

Some MD's do not have and will never have a decent bedside manner. It does not excuse them for the callous way they inform patients of life altering circumstances, but they won't change. We can only advocate for the patient, pass on to physicians discipline committee blatant abuse/neglect in good teaching/patient care by the doctor. Most of all we must be ready to go toe to toe, eye to eye with these uncaring doctors when we see a need for more information, more meds, more of anything that is deemed within the standard of care for the patient.