Getting yelled at by a doctor for the first time....

RhythmicRN, ADN · Jan 20, 2018

Years ago I paged a Dr. on a Saturday afternoon. When he called back he was put on hold. When I arrived at the nursing station and answered the phone the line was dead. I paged him again and when he called back I answered. He was angry and began a tirade of expletives and accusations at me. I simply stated that I was advocating for his patient who was becoming compromised. He again was rude and disrespectful in his response. I calmly stated "I am sorry if I am interrupting your golf banquet, but this is your patient. If you chose not to give a determination of care for this person, that is on you. Oh, and I am putting this conversation in my note." The Dr. calmed down, gave me an order and I carried it out. The next time I met with the Dr. he would barely look me in the eyes and treated me in a more respectful tone of voice. I agree with others who have posted that you should be preparedfor a disrespectful response so you will not be caught flat footed. I hope this is helpful to you.

Ambersmom, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2018

It isnt hospital policy, its state law the bordering state has passed a law that only an MD can sign a narcotic script, the state the hospital is in their laws allow anyone with prescriptive authority can sign for narcs.

Christina85 · Jan 21, 2018

I couldn't agree more, EllaBella, Don't EVER allow a colleague to yell at you. It's WAY past time for doctors to understand that we are all on the same team and our mission is to help our patients.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jan 21, 2018

So, I've been a nurse for about 6 months now and have been off orientation since the end of October, so I'm still pretty new and still learning new things. Today, I had a doctor yell at me for the first time.
Long story short, the attending dr and the consulting dr both agreed to discharge my patient. However, none of them were able to write a pain script for discharge. When brought to the attention of the attending that rounded that day, he basically said, "oh, well, she'll just have to stay another night and then go home tomorrow. I'm home now and won't come in to write a script."
The patient was devastated and stated her frustration with this. She also lives hours away and told me about having to get her son back home so he can get back to school. As her advocate, I did my best to try to make her discharge happen, because I feel like staying another night for just a pain script is a pretty poor reason to have to stay. I had called a partner of the attending who was also rounding that day, but was not the "on-call" dr. I didn't think anything of this because this dr was rounding with the on-call dr that day, and made the mistake of thinking that he too was on-call for that group. He was more than happy to help discharge the patient. The patient was so happy and thankful that I was able to get her out that day and I felt good that I was able to help her and her son.
At at the end of my shift, I had received a call from the on-call dr who had called me just to yell at me over the phone about the patients discharge. He said things like "How DARE you go behind my back and call another dr!!!" and "you better NEVER let this happen again." I've never had anyone speak to me the way he did and I kind of froze on the phone. I apologized to him for any mistakes that I had made and he hung up on me.
Has as anyone else experienced this? How do you deal with this? I was feeling so good and finally starting to feel like I'm doing a good job at work, now I feel like a horrible nurse....

Have I had anything similar happen? Daily! I work in the Operating Room with surgeon's who never learned basic human decency, respect, manners such as please and thank you. Bark at you instead of ask anything of you. Are needy, selfish, self-centered, short-tempered, not one ounce of patience, irritated, sleep-deprived, overworked etc.

I have learned to pick my battles quite well. I speak up and let them know I will not tolerate their ill behavior, or tantrums if not warranted. I have also learned not to take things personal and analyze things. Are they mad at the situation or something else? Are they simply orificehats?

You did well advocating for your patient and that is all that matters. Next time a physician calls to scream at you and tell you off, simply stop them right there. Ask for them to stop and allow you to explain and if they refuse, simply tell them you are not going to tolerate their ill behavior and are hanging up. When they are ready to speak to you decently and converse effectively, he can call back or come find you. Click.

RockinNurse2018 · Jan 21, 2018

Not only were you not a horrible nurse, you were a great nurse. You advocated for your patient in order to help a discharge that needed to happen occur. I bet there would have been some other nurses who would have taken the doctors word and have let the patient stay another night, figuring there was nothing they could do. You took your patients situation into account and did what was best for her, even though it was inconvenient for all involved. The doctor was probably just mad you made a way to make it happen and maybe felt even a little guilty for not doing his job, although he probably wouldn't admit it. Thing is, being a patient advocate is what makes a good nurse. If your colleagues are happy with your work, that'd great. But if they get mad at you for doing your job or inconveniencing them, that's on them, not you. I do agree that maybe you could have let the doctor know someone else was willing to write the script but that's really only a minor detail that might have improved the situation. Don't let the doctor's attitude affect how you advocate in the future. All patients deserve a nurse like you who will do the right thing. Good job!

EDNURSE20, BSN · Jan 21, 2018

I had this happen to me face to face in my final placement of nursing school. Felt really bad. But everyone told me not to take it personally, as she was known for it. You just have to forget and move on, because that dr definitely has. You did nothing wrong.

Do your best to get to know doctors, it makes working with them so much easier for both of you. I see it all the time, where nurses see doctors as an enemy almost, but it doesn't have to be. I've meet some really nice doctors who you get to know personally and some not so nice doctor where I only have a professional relationship with. Either way it makes it easier.

Infirmiere797 · Jan 21, 2018

You people are lucky you are healthy nurses.

BeaTLPN · Jan 22, 2018

Report him to his supervisor. He's creating a hostile work environment.

kataraang, BSN · Jan 22, 2018

This doctor has a stick up his you-know-what and you handled the situation professionally. You advocated for the patient. I don't know why the doctor would be mad...I'd be happy as the doctor if someone was able to help me out so that the next day I'd have one less thing to do.

Don't feel bad! Don't take abuse from doctors. MD doesn't mean they are better than you.

maji2002 · Jan 22, 2018

I feel it ultimately can affect patient safety, because getting yelled at makes a person think twice about calling this doc in the future. It is not acceptable, every. Yes, it will happen, but it should be brought to management's attention every time. It has worked well and one abusive doc lost his job eventually. If you ignore it, you accept it and it will continue. Nip it in the bud early, and demand the respect you deserve as a professional. Also if you make a mistake, own it and deal with it. That's how professionals act.

HMartinho · Jan 23, 2018

I can't even recall how many times I got yelled by a doctor. The last time was last Friday, when I refuse to give 20 mEq of KCL, as ordered. However, the patient last potassium level was 5,6 mEq/L. So, a chart it properly and stated my reasons to skip that potassium drip order.

The doctor just got crazy, and started yelled at me just in front of all my coworkers, in a rude manner, and asking me how do I dare to denny his order, and where did I get my medical degree.

Well, I just said: Are you done? Did you review the last patient labs? I'm not a doctor, but I got a 4 year degree where they teach me how to use my brain to nursing science, and I'm responsible for my patient safety, and in my non medical BSN degree, I was taught to not give potassium to a patient who is already slightly hypercaliemic. And I would never ever do a such thing, despite your order. Not even I was full impaired with blood alcohol.

He turned around and go away.

Fortunately, in my country (Portugal), my Board of Nursing allow nurses to refuse passing meds, based on our assessment and clinical judgment, since it was properly chart and documented.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jan 24, 2018

I can't even recall how many times I got yelled by a doctor. The last time was last Friday, when I refuse to give 20 mEq of KCL, as ordered. However, the patient last potassium level was 5,6 mEq/L. So, a chart it properly and stated my reasons to skip that potassium drip order.
The doctor just got crazy, and started yelled at me just in front of all my coworkers, in a rude manner, and asking me how do I dare to denny his order, and where did I get my medical degree.
Well, I just said: Are you done? Did you review the last patient labs? I'm not a doctor, but I got a 4 year degree where they teach me how to use my brain to nursing science, and I'm responsible for my patient safety, and in my non medical BSN degree, I was taught to not give potassium to a patient who is already slightly hypercaliemic. And I would never ever do a such thing, despite your order. Not even I was full impaired with blood alcohol.
He turned around and go away.
Fortunately, in my country (Portugal), my Board of Nursing allow nurses to refuse passing meds, based on our assessment and clinical judgment, since it was properly chart and documented.

And it is "allowed" here too. Actually, it is required to use judgement.