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.
I talked to my supervisor about this today. It turns out that this doctor is like that anytime someone calls him about anything. My manager says he needs to retire. I wouldn't repeat some of the things the other nurses said about him. Anyway, my manager says I did good, and that it won't be the last time I get chewed out by a doctor.
Wow, good for you! More nurses (well, people in general really) need to stand up for themselves and report bad behavior like this. You are truly an inspiration - especially since you're just starting out! You should be proud of yourself :)
Absolutely right. A record of this incident needs to be made in writing. You job and his is to care for the patient. If he doesn't want to be disturbed on weekends then he should find another job. You are not to put up with this kind of abuse. Document and report it at once.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
The OP works in LTC. Having spent most of my short career in LTC, I've observed that most nursing home physicians do not want to be bothered with any phone calls, even if it involves an emergent condition such as chest wall pain or new-onset hemiplegia. I suspect that some of these docs secretly want the staff nurses to write their own orders for the elderly residents. In fact, many nurses do write orders that eventually get signed off.
However, I call the doc, as it is not in my scope of practice to prescribe medications and treatments for anyone. The physician receives the big bucks to make the big decisions; therefore, they shall deal with phone calls.
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
Agreed. The only legitimate reason I can see for the doc's anger was if the OP would have waited until the middle of the night to call. But it doesn't sound as if that's what happened.
Cunjunctivitis can easily be spread in the long term care environment--undisturbed weekend? What a jerk! It took longer for him to have his hissy fit than it did to give you the order. I swear, a lot of MDs have no idea what we go through in LTC.
I hate when doctors act annoyed by thier own pt's condition. Like I tell all the other nurses, if I have to call him 20x's I will do just that! If there is a change in the pt condition or a incident, the doctors will be notified!! You did the right thing:up::up::up:
:up:
arelle68
270 Posts
I talked to my supervisor about this today. It turns out that this doctor is like that anytime someone calls him about anything. My manager says he needs to retire. I wouldn't repeat some of the things the other nurses said about him. Anyway, my manager says I did good, and that it won't be the last time I get chewed out by a doctor.