Help! ideas on getting along with a MD who dislikes NPs

lalaxton · Nov 20, 2007

I think that you are doing a great job by staying professional and taking good care of your patients. It almost sounds like her behavior is bordering on bullying. I suggest you try to talk to her next time she makes a comment directed at you (escpecially if someone else is listening) and say something like, "Hey, I'm here to give my patients the best care possible and I'm sure you are too. You know, we're both just starting off here. Can't we find a way to help each other?"

Don't let her step all over you but stay away from feeding into the bad behaviour as well. If it get's worse, maybe talk to one of the other MD's that you trust who can speak with her privately before you go to the medical director.

Good Luck!

happydays352 · Nov 21, 2007

You can always drop the hostile work environment bomb on your employers. They don't like hearing that since they can smell the lawsuit. If it doesn't improve I would speak to her about her behavior and ask her to keep her comments professional. If she can't then it's time to move up the food chain.

caldje · Nov 21, 2007

You can always drop the hostile work environment bomb on your employers. They don't like hearing that since they can smell the lawsuit. If it doesn't improve I would speak to her about her behavior and ask her to keep her comments professional. If she can't then it's time to move up the food chain.

I had to post here.. I completely disagree.

YOU know you do a good job and treat your patients well. If this doc is saying "if she had her way xyz" and xyz hasn't happened then that tells you a lot about where SHE is in the food chain. Just shurg it off, laugh it off. She's got the issue, not you... dont let her convince you this is your problem to deal with.

If you DO confront someone, especially with something threatening like "hostile work environment" then you had better start looking for a new job because your days will be numbered.

If it gets unbearable.. even after just trying to laugh it off. Just ask this doc WHY she thinks you should only see UTI/URI/AOM patients. When she starts talking, use your therapeutic communication skills.. listen, no talking or arguing, and let her know you understand her concerns and tell her you will work on your weaknesses etc.

I have as big of an ego as anyone, but i've learned to let it go at times for my own benefit.

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 21, 2007

I have to agree with caldje. Just confront her should the problem persist. You and she are fellow colleagues. She has the problem, not you. Keep it professional. Jealousy and envy manifest themselves in strange ways sometimes. And, you are a professional who has no time for games.

Carry on as you normally do and do not allow this to discourage you or second guess yourself. It will pass......

BarbaraNP · Nov 21, 2007

She has been frustrated by other things at the workplace and so I've just steered clear of her. However recently she told me to my face that if things were up to her to decide I would just be seeing otitis media and URI patients.

If she is frustrated in other areas, I'm sure that others have noticed her behavior as well. If this is the case...I'd like to assume that the other physicians would not tolerate her behavior as it makes for a horrible work environment all the way around.

Perhaps she's just frustrated since she could not make it as an NP!

platon20 · Nov 23, 2007

You can always drop the hostile work environment bomb on your employers. They don't like hearing that since they can smell the lawsuit. If it doesn't improve I would speak to her about her behavior and ask her to keep her comments professional. If she can't then it's time to move up the food chain.

I'm tired of people suggesting lawsuits are th eanswer to everything. Yes, if its a male boss who says you look good in a tight skirt then by all means sue for sexual harrassment.

But thats not whats going on here. Its a female coworker who is being rude to her. There's a simple solution for that: either talk to the boss about it or quit. To suggest that a lawsuit is justified here is ridiculous

There are plenty of jobs for NPs because NPs are in extremely high demand. Walk out the door and go find another job.

caliotter3 · Nov 24, 2007

If her behavior bothers you that much than you need to do something about it. Have that talk with her. Maybe you want to have a witness up the food chain as a witness. Otherwise like some of the others have said, just let her be. Something is bothering her that you probably can't change. She is the one with the problem. One of these days, her way of treating colleagues will bring about results that she won't like. I can assure you of that. Just continue to do a good job and don't let her bother you, or as said, take action. Good luck.

westcoastgirl · Nov 25, 2007

thank you for the replies, I have been reading them and taking them to heart, focusing on doing my job, promising myself I won't let her opinions influence mine because once I did second guess myself by listening to her medical advice on a patient.

For reasons too detailed to list here, I quite like the workplace and co-workers (aside from this unprofessional person) and it is a good opportunity for me. Even my supervisor has observed how I get along great with everybody else in the clinic. I don't see hurrying out to get a new job as a good solution right now.

Lo and behold, this new grad MD has now recently and rather publicly slammed PAs also. :uhoh21::angryfire:uhoh3:

Trauma Columnist · Nov 25, 2007

Mid-levels (all mid-levels) are here to stay. THere are very few places that can run on MD-only power. I think you are making the best decision to wait it out and confront her only if necessary. I work in a large practice with 15 MDs and 8 mid-levels (PAs, FNPs, ACNP, CNS).

happydays352 · Nov 27, 2007

i'm tired of people suggesting lawsuits are th eanswer to everything. yes, if its a male boss who says you look good in a tight skirt then by all means sue for sexual harrassment.verbal harassment is just as illegal as sexual. doesn't apply in this case, but still.
but thats not whats going on here. its a female coworker who is being rude to her. there's a simple solution for that: either talk to the boss about it or quit. to suggest that a lawsuit is justified here is ridiculous
there are plenty of jobs for nps because nps are in extremely high demand. walk out the door and go find another job.

lol wow i certainly wasn't implying that she had a lawsuit. i was saying that her employers will take her seriously because everybody is afraid of lawsuits because heck you can sue if you spill some coffee.

this situation just really gets to me because i similar issues with my manager. she was basically harassing me and had me in tears. it started out small with the snide remarks and got to a place were it was a hostile work enviroment. fortuanly the owner fired her and i stayed but it's not ok for people to talk to you this way. and in my experience it just escalates.

if someone is making you so miserable you have to quit then that is a hostile work enviroment. yes by all means talk to her first and see if you can work it out. if not talk to your bosses, no employer should allow harassment of any kind in their business.

sure maybe you can try killing her with kindness and maybe she will stop but that doesn't always happen. just my personal experience, lol maybe i've become jaded on the subject.

SassyRedhead · Mar 29, 2008

My best comeback for that goes something like this:

"Why would a nice person like you say something like that?" Then follow with direct eye contact and a long pause where it becomes obvious that you are awaiting an answer, and whatever you do, don't say a word.

I would be willing to bet that unless she is devoid of any social graces you will be met by a red face, stuttering and an apology.