How rude are surgeons?

crankyasanoldma · Dec 22, 2003

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).

Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA · Dec 23, 2003

You know what your job is. Report him to the pain team and the hospital ethics committee. Have his supervisor receive formal complaint. We are pt advocates, ABOVE ALL ELSE. If they do not have excellent nurses, look who it leaves for them!

Gump · Dec 23, 2003

I would say that for every rude surgeon that I know and work with, there is a rude nurse.

Fortunately those are few and far between.

I realize that there are a lot of rude surgeons, but I would be lying if I said that there were not as many rude nurses that I have had the privilege to work with/around. The only difference I see is that the rude nurse will "eat their young" and the rude surgeon will not. And why is that?

TeenyBabyRN · Dec 23, 2003

Because the rude surgeon has nurses to eat

Gump · Dec 23, 2003

But that goes both ways too.

Some surgeons are rude to nurses as are some nurses rude to surgeons.

Personally, it does not bother me when a surgeon is rude with me because I have enough backbone to not take it and to let the surgeon know that I do not appreciate the rudeness. And no, for the most part, that usually does not make the surgeon change his/her attitude, but it does make him/her check themselves when they are in their mood and dealing with me.

What does bother me is when my fellow RN, someone that I'm in the trenches with day in and day out (usually, but not always, one from the old school) tries to degrade me or make me feel inadequate because during report, I do not know what my patient's potassium level was last week at 2330. This is only one example, I have more, but I bet you do too.

I've been roaming the halls at my hospital for about 9 years now, and I make it a point to be as encouraging and open as possible to new nurses as well as the older heads. Especially when I'm asked the "how" and "why" patient related issues. Constructive criticism works well when it is given with the right tone during the right situation. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

MollyS · Dec 24, 2003

I worked as a urology/general surgery nurse in the OR and the surgeons that were rude were the ones who were unsure of their skills/had poor patient outcomes, or were the ones who had been getting the royalty treatment for years and thought they were Gods. 80% of them were nice once they got to know you and realized you wouldn't put up with being treated like a sub-human being:)

hbscott · Dec 24, 2003

Is there any correlation to exposure to anesthesia gases and rudeness?

Just kidding. Having worked in the operating room for several years (surgical technician) I just got used to it when some "jerk" went off on the staff.

Of course we were quick to correct any inappropriate behavior and let any staff know that abuse would not be tolerated.

But then again neither would incompetence. As the man said it goes both ways.

Roll Tide!

-HBS

ernest68 · Dec 26, 2003

Although I generally get the impression that surgeons have the propensity to be megalomaniacs who "look down" on nurses, there have been many exceptions. In the last 10 years, I have noticed a new "breed" who are true teamplayers who are entitled to a few "tantrums" in the OR once in a while..

tennurse267 · Dec 26, 2003

As an OR nurse for 4 of my 12 years of nursing, I agree with the poster who said many become rude during periods of feeling out of control, incompetent or not knowing whats going on with the patient. I've had the honor of working with an outstanding trauma surgeon who was gifted with a scalpel AND a personality. He never lost control of himself and treated everyone with respect. He knew he was only human and at some point he had to stop and leave it up to God...he would say "there's only so much I can do, then we wait." I've also worked with others who as soon as a patient started going sour found every reason to throw a temper tantrum and blame everybody for everything. No one wanted to work with him. For the most part, if you are half way intelligent and do your job right, they will treat you with a great deal of respect and friendliness. Those who don't aren't worth your time.

new-camc2006 · Dec 30, 2003

After working 8 years in the OR before going to the ICU (for CRNA school), I can say surgeons are just like any group. You have the really nice to the complete jerks. I have been treated like a friend and I have been cursed out. Many surgeons have rude language, and try their best to make others look stupid. I've seen some play jokes on new people and ask for strange things to see them run around. I have had one ask for an "otis elevator STAT", which sounds like an orthopedic instrument, but the otis is the brand of elevator in our hospital. Always be ready for anything. And if you patient moves or bucks at the worst moment, watch out! They will rip you a new one fast. And they have opinions on what type of anesthesia is best for each procedure. Always be aware of what is going on behind the drapes, and you will be ok. Know something about the procedure, the position they plan to use, and how long it should take. Nothing ticks off a surgeon more than waiting in the OR for an hour waiting for the patients paralytics to wear off. And waking up a patient while they are still suturing isn't too good a move either.

stevierae · Dec 30, 2003

Originally posted by tennurse267
For the most part, if you are half way intelligent and do your job right, they will treat you with a great deal of respect and friendliness.

Exactly!! Every surgeon I have ever worked with has been a great person, with the exception of a couple who blamed their lack of technical skills on everyone but themselves--but, then, those guys didn't get along with anesthesia, their office staffs, the other surgeons, or even their own wives and children.

But, as long as you know what you are doing, and do your job, and do it well, they are just regular folks.

The only time I have ever seen surgeons go off on nurses (or techs) is when someone came in with an attitude--you know, the nurses who whine that they don't like to scrub, or this isn't their specialty, or they have never done this case, before, and don't want to learn...

Or, worse, the ones that HAVE done the case before, several times, but can't (or, perhaps being passive-aggressive, WON'T)seem to remember the routine, and have to call for every little thing that should have been on the back table in the FIRST place--

Really, in 26 years and several institutions, both in teaching hospitals and trauma centers, I have worked with awesome surgeons. Anesthesia providers, too!

1701 · Apr 9, 2009

I work with three cardiac surgeons and they are all very rude in their own individual ways. One screams most of the time but doesn't call names. One is very caustic and sarcastic and can cut you to shreds with a comment. The other one calls people stupid and "GD's" them and says very often "you don't know what the %!@# you are doing, get me a nurse who knows what they're doing." Our team is short staffed right now and all the nurses we have lost recently are gone because of the surgeon's behavior. These guys are from the "old guard." I'm hoping that they retire soon...however, I am also thinking about a different area to move to because of them.

I can never overlook or forgive meanness. It is just not difficult to be polite. I believe that the salary surgeons make contributes to their sense of being elite and better than everyone else; they become like rock stars or sports heroes. On the other hand, I have worked outside of cardiac with the general surgeons and ortho surgeons and they are all completely professional and cooperative in their behavior.