How rude are surgeons?

I used to work a surgical unit. Surgeons do yell and scream at nurses, are verbally abusive. Use terms like "idiot" and "stupid" to refer to nurses.

Also, it takes them hours of prodding to call you back.

Often, nurses are so fearful of dealing w/ the doc, pt concerns that need to be addressed are neglected.

Notice, I say I USED to work in a surgical unit.

I work in a PACU and most of the surgeons are really great to deal with. They show us a lot of respect and listen when we call them. Same with the MDA's. I'm not in the OR though so I don't know how they act there. But there are always going to be bad docs no matter where you work. Surgery is pretty stressful. So that's what I've seen.

I work at a hospital where the surgeons are awesome!! However, some of the medical docs leave alot to be desired!!!

our surgeons are not rude..not as a whole...

I know an OB or two I had to set straight when calling me a name. NOPE won't tolerate that.

Most of our surgeons are really great. There are a couple of pompous a**es, but I can say the same of some medical docs and some nurses too!! You meet all kinds, no matter where you work. Just a fact of life. Merry Christmas everyone! :kiss

I have many years of practice in many situations and it has always been my observation that the best and most competent surgeons are also the nicest and easiest to work with in the operating room.

Currently, I practice with a plastic surgeon who considered one of the best in the world. Most plastic surgeons come to him for their own facelift. He is nice, professional, easy to work with and always complements my anesthesia to me and the many international visiting plastic surgeons. He doesn't try to interfere with anesthesia, is helpful with difficult intubations and doesn't blame me if the patient bleeds. Also, he buys lunch for the personnel every day. However, he expects excellent work, commitment to patient safety and care and a lot of patient interaction--pre and post anesthesia phone calls and attention.

Yoga

You must remember...most surgeons are perfectionists. Not an excuse for their behavior..just something to make you understand their behavior.

Most of our surgeons are good to work with. All are perfectionists, a few are jerks.

The hospital I used to work at, (Level One trauma Center, Catholic Teaching Hospital) Had all of the above. I think over the years I have learned to take it all with a grain of salt.

Someone mentioned that some physicians are so scary or nurses are so scared of them they don't get things addressed that should be. Unfortunately I have seen this too, those are the patients no one wants,because of the doctor. I guess I am a hard a** and pretty much took no @@@@ off them, but I did see new nurses getting squished. I tried to help as much as possible, but somethings you have to learn to deal with in your own way.

I was fortunate enough to work in a unit that the director valued his nurses and their input, and also tried to pass this on to the residents as they came through. Problem was, not all patients were his.

One thing I have found, is for allot of them, you just have to earn their respect. I made sure I a) knew what the hell I was talking about and b) had the information to back it up. I also asked ALLOT of questions to let them know I was really interested in what was going on.

I overheard one of our attending Trauma Docs say, the nurses he hated caring for his patient's were the one's who never seemed to have any questions, or any input[ on the patients care, just nodded their head and went on. He said he'd take a a green nurse with a silly mundane question, or suggestion any day over none at all.

My little bit...

As a former Surgical Technician and Surgical Technician Instructor I submit the following research supported hypothesis on the so called "surgical personality":

"SURGICAL PERSONALITY - CAPABLE OF HANDLING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, DOMINANT, FORCEFUL, SOCIALLY ASCENDANT PERSON WHO LEADS A FAST-PACED LIFE, AND FEELS HAPPINESS AND UNHAPPINESS MORE INTENSELY THAN OTHERS, WHO IS AGGRESSIVE AND PREFERS TO COMPETE RATHER THAN COOPERATE, WITH NO RELUCTANCE TO EXPRESS ANGER WHEN APPROPRIATE, WITH HIGH ASPIRATION LEVELS AND WORKS HARD TO ACHIEVE GOALS, SELF-MOTIVATED AND WELL PREPARED TO DEAL WITH LIFE. "

http://www.apds.org/APDS2001n/APDS%20Panel%20Talk_files/frame.htm

-HBS

I don't deal with alot of surgeons, per se, but all the OB-GYNs are surgeons, too..

Anyway I had a post-partum (2 day)and post surgical (fresh) patient in alot of pain- rigid, crying, refusing to move at all. She had a PCA, but reported pain scales of 7-10. I called the surgeon and started to say "The patient's pain is not well managed with her PCA... " He said "It's adequate" (click). Wha..?

I called the super and the patient's OB-GYN, reporting the converation to both. The OB-GYN gave me a one time order and was surprised at the surgeon terseness. I gave report that night about the situation and warned the oncoming that the one time dose was going to wear off about 4 am.

The night shift went through the same routine.

The next day the surgeon made a formal complaint about the night shift nurse (and not me).