How would you handle this?

[labbio]

This happened on my nursing unit. Two doctors were conversing in the NURSING lounge. As nurses came in to have their lunch breaks, they were being asked by the doctors to give them some privacy. I don't know the exact wordings : give us a few minutes, give us some privacy, excuse us for a few minutes, etc... How do you response to this? How would the doctors feel if we come in their lounges to have some private conversation! I know that they were probably discussing some sensitive case, but they should do it in their lounge. Space is tight on this unit. Most of us have to computerized chart in hall or in locker room (off the hall). I think it's pathetic that upper management always say that they value nurses but does not support us! Thanks for letting me vent.

[TazziRN, RN]

One-time thing: "Sure, let me grab my lunch and I'll go somewhere else."

Repeat offense: "Absolutely.....if you promise to explain to my boss why I took extra time at the other end of my break because I had to wait outside for you guys to finish."

[clee1]

Yo Doc take it elsewhere this is a nurses lounge, you have your own to go to.

Thats how I would handle it

Me too....

I have, on several occasions, reminded doctors that they have their own dictation room/lounge on our floor - that we are not allowed to go into - and that we don't have enough space in our station as it is. Then I politely, but firmly suggest that they adjourn to their own area as well ALL have too much to do and too little time/space to do it in.

[bigsyis]

I would say, "I'll leave you alone, but I'd like to grab my lunch and try to find a place to sit down and eat.....space is tight and my lunchbreak time is ticking".

Perfect answer, I think. I like Teeitup's response also, but usually only a guy can get away with saying, "Yo, Doc.";)

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

Just like Marie, I would have said, "sorry guys, I only have a few mins to eat as it is..."

And then I would have gotten my lunch, sat down and ate.

I'm lucky to eat, so I'm not passing it up!

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

If this was a one off, and reasonable MDs

I would probably find them an alternative place to talk, as there would be staffers coming in and out. Or accomodate if there is a place elsewhere for me to eat. and this is a one time thing.

If it is not a one-off, or MDs that are always invading and not recognizing boundaries, I would explain that there is no other place for staff to eat and redirect them.

I know many of us have issues with MDs, but as a professional, I treat others as I wish to be treated. If a nurse had to duck into the dictation for a few minutes as one off, I would hope that the MD could manage...and have had some do so, to permit converstaion.

[agent66]

Well being the unsarcastic, always therapeutic communicator that I am , I would have said , " Let me grab my glasses, I thought this said NURSES lounge".

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Perfect answer, I think. I like Teeitup's response also, but usually only a guy can get away with saying, "Yo, Doc.";)

That would have been one of my better days, otherwise I would have been Texan all the way and said Yo Bubba

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

If this was a one off, and reasonable MDs

I would probably find them an alternative place to talk, as there would be staffers coming in and out. Or accomodate if there is a place elsewhere for me to eat. and this is a one time thing.

If it is not a one-off, or MDs that are always invading and not recognizing boundaries, I would explain that there is no other place for staff to eat and redirect them.

I know many of us have issues with MDs, but as a professional, I treat others as I wish to be treated. If a nurse had to duck into the dictation for a few minutes as one off, I would hope that the MD could manage...and have had some do so, to permit converstaion.

That's about what I was going to say. If it's just an isolated incident why make a big deal out of it. If it's a chronic problem then I'd deal with it differently.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

You can always leave a stink bomb...nah...it may ruin your reputation. I would and have asked them to leave. They crawl over all of the computers on the floors, even though some have signs that designated specific ones to nurses. In fact, there are 4 computers for nurses and about 8 for them. I mean, really...enough is enough...