I'm a new nurse. I had a resident tonight who I assessed to have swollen, red eyes with red, angry sclera. There was yellow material matted around them. (Really bad, ok, with an eye swollen half shut) She was scratching at them, and said that they itched. (This lady is gone with Alzheimer's, BTW). I called the doctor to get her an ABO. He get really mad at me. He asked to speak to my manager, who wasn't there. He said that this was not an emergency, and I should learn to triage so as not to interupt his weekend. I asked him to spell the name of the medicine for me, but he did it so fast, I couldn't follow him. I read back to verify the rest of his order, and then asked him to spell the name of the medicine again. Just then, wouldn't you know, an alarm started going off, and I couldn't hear him for anything. I apoligized to him, and explained that I was new, and finally got the order. He talked to me like he thought I was really stupid.
I'm not upset about it. I was doing the best I could for my rsdt. At least I got her an ABO, even if I had to take abuse to get it. I'm glad I got it. I didn't even cry about being chewed out.
As if it's SOOO hard to give a phone order for eye drops. Boo-hoo-hoo. Ever notice people like that spend more time complaining than actually dealing with the issue? I think they just enjoy complaining and trying to make other people feel small. Sad, isn't it, when you have to knock others down to feed your own pathetic thirst for power?
If I had a nickel for every doctor that I had pi$$ed off, I'd been rich enough to retire 6 months after getting my license. As long as the call is legit, who cares if the doc had his weekend ruined....too bad for him, maybe he shouldn't have become a dr!
you did the right thing and advocated for your pt's wellbeing.
it will not be the last time, unfortunately, that a doctor acts like a jerk to you. they can be such crabby patties when you interrupt their tee time.
i had a patient who came back for positive for HIT this weekend, INR was something of the lines of 7.4, and i called him to report it at around 0500. he said not to bother him with stuff like this on a holiday weekend. he got even madder when i asked if he wanted to give any orders and said NO I WILL BE THERE LATER and hung up. so i documented this big note in the chart. i was very tempted to write an order that said "please do not call dr. x with critical PT/INR values during holiday weekends, TO dr. x, read back".... but my charge nurse told me to behave.
i was very tempted to write an order that said "please do not call dr. x with critical PT/INR values during holiday weekends, TO dr. x, read back".... but my charge nurse told me to behave.
You did the right thing....You're a good, prudent nurse and your residents are lucky to have you. :)
I agree (except with the spelling of "you're", which stands for "you are").
It doen't matter if they get angry! Doctors take out all their negativity on nurses, who they view as mothers/sisters/brothers, who will cut them slack. That's happened too often for too long!!!
It would only anger him/her further to respond in kind, so don't. Modelling professional behavior is essential for nurses. Stick with the facts, ma'am and only the facts. Then casually thank the doctor for doing his/her job well.
I'm a new nurse. I had a resident tonight who I assessed to have swollen, red eyes with red, angry sclera. There was yellow material matted around them. (Really bad, ok, with an eye swollen half shut) She was scratching at them, and said that they itched. (This lady is gone with Alzheimer's, BTW). I called the doctor to get her an ABO. He get really mad at me. He asked to speak to my manager, who wasn't there. He said that this was not an emergency, and I should learn to triage so as not to interupt his weekend. I asked him to spell the name of the medicine for me, but he did it so fast, I couldn't follow him. I read back to verify the rest of his order, and then asked him to spell the name of the medicine again. Just then, wouldn't you know, an alarm started going off, and I couldn't hear him for anything. I apoligized to him, and explained that I was new, and finally got the order. He talked to me like he thought I was really stupid.
I'm not upset about it. I was doing the best I could for my rsdt. At least I got her an ABO, even if I had to take abuse to get it. I'm glad I got it. I didn't even cry about being chewed out.
Did I miss something? Was this at 2am? Was the doctor not on call? Did he want to talk to YOUR manager or the hospital manager for the day? Was his wife in labor? I think he he may have had sun stroke. Poor doc
I think the patients health is more important than his crap weekend he shouldn't shout at any staff and shouting at new staff that takes the pi** you shouldn't feel upset seriously he is just a waste of space if he is doctor then he should care about his patients not his weekend look at us nurses we have to give up our weekend to look after patients cause thats what we chose to do and if he didn't want to give up his weekend why the hell become a doctor
I recently had to call the doc for a K level of 6.2!! Of course I was working in chronic dialysis and he hit the roof stating "these are dialysis patients, they can live with high K". I further informed him in response, "I would be negligent in not notifying you Doctor ***, therefore do you have any new orders?" When he said no I just stated "thank you" and hung up. I then informed the supervisor and documented well. These type responses from docs will happen all through your career so dont let it offend you as he was the one being neglectful! Good for you for sticking up for your patient and being the advocate we are meant to be :)
Doctors decide to act like jerks all the time. They are human and have their bad moments also. You did what you needed to do and got what your resident needed. In the end that is all that matters. However, if this behavior continues from this particular doctor I would be reporting him/her to my supervisor.
Do not ever feel bad for calling a doctor about a change in condition. That is their job and if they do not like it they can do something else.
country mom
379 Posts
As if it's SOOO hard to give a phone order for eye drops. Boo-hoo-hoo. Ever notice people like that spend more time complaining than actually dealing with the issue? I think they just enjoy complaining and trying to make other people feel small. Sad, isn't it, when you have to knock others down to feed your own pathetic thirst for power?