Hostile work environment - Violent Doctor

[Summer70]

I have come across a delema at work that I have not had experience with. I've been an employee of my hospital a long time...with the last 10 yrs as an RN. We had an incident recently where during a Cesarean Section the Physician put his hands on our Scrub Tech in anger and pushed him away from the field saying "get the **** out of my OR" after the Doctor was asked/reminded that what he was doing was "nonsterile/unsafe" The baby was saftely delivered and the patient stable before this occured. This particular doctor likes to make our OR environment "intense" and it is uncomforable and he acts like a bully. Now there are several of us (techs and RNs) that feel that if he put hands on an employee in anger once he will do it again. Risk Management was involved, but there doesn't seem to be any consequences for his actions as he still has a bullying attitude. The tech & doctor are male...could this be the reason that it isn't taken more seriously?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Summer

[heron, ASN, RN]

Please keep in mind that risk mgmt and medical directors will not keep you informed of disciplinary actions that don't involve you.

[AJJKRN]

As Heron eluded to, hopefully the MD is being actively (or about to be) disciplined. The disciplinary process is between the MD and his superiors/HR only.

[drsimmer2]

WOW, assault! Can you imagine living with him! If you are in Florida, forget it. Nurses are treated so poorly. We have no rights, no help, no where to turn. What a mess! Really sorry you're working in that environment. Looking for or starting a new job after 10 years would make any nurse nauseated. The general public has no idea what we go through.

[chare]

As described, the acts of this MD constitute an assault and battery.

If it were me, I would have criminal charges filed, assuming that those in attendacne are willing to testify.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

In my state, assault on a health care professional is a felony - no matter who the perpetrator is. I'd take that one to the wall for sure.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

assault is the threat of harm and battery is the actual unwanted touching, So the surgical tech can press charges against this doctor and I would do it!

[SleeepyRN]

heron said:

Please keep in mind that risk mgmt and medical directors will not keep you informed of disciplinary actions that don't involve you.

While in this particular case, it didn't involve OP, she stated that she and other staff are now hesitant and kinda scared to work with him, which DOES make it OPs business.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

You could always report it to your regulatory body. That would add a layer of accountability, in case your hospital's risk mgmt/HR is in fact not handling it.

"Speaking up" is a TJC pt safety measure, and this tech was doing that.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I suspect that the OP has not asked whether or not this is being addressed or not. I suspect that she is just assuming that nothing is being done because she sees nothing happening.

I suggest that she talk with her supervisor and tell her that she is afraid to work with the man. While she has no right to know the specifics of the conversations between the doc and the administration ... she could ask for reassurance that the problem is being addressed and for some information as to how she is being kept safe from him.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

The tech should file charges. Even if the doc somehow manages to squirrel out of that situation, it may at least be expensive and a huge hassle such that he will refrain from that in the future.

[Summer70]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I do understand that I am not going to be in on any disciplinary action, but coming in a week later and still acting like a condescending bully shows me that if he was reprimanded it wasn't severe enough. it just makes several of us uncomfortable and our jobs are stressful enough without having to worry about what might set him off.