I was slapped by a doctor!

Published

I honestly can't believe it myself! I just graduated from my program on May 16 of last month. I am still in orientation at a large level 1 trauma center on a busy cardiac care unit. The hospitalist is known for having a horrible temper anyway. Well, he was on a roll all shift today. One of my pts BP was all over the place all day. It became very low suddenly. I told my preceptor (still on orientation) and she said to have the MD paged. He was not happy and screamed at me over the phone. I braced myself for when he got to the floor, already getting very nervous. Well, he came up fit to be tied. He slammed the papers he was holding onto the nurses station where I was standing with the health unit coordinator. I forgot to get the pts chart out for him to look at (as he requested on the phone...my fault i know :(). He asked for the chart and I said...hold on I'll have to get it for you. He turned bright red and said harshly (but not screaming) "You paged me and you're not even ready!".

And then thats when it happened -- he took his hand and hit my cheek. Now, it wasn't some soap-opera backhand where I went flying across the room or anything..but a little pop. Kinda like what a mom would do to a small child if they said a bad word or something. I was so shocked I couldn't even say anything. I just handed him the chart and he want to the pts room. The whole time I was fighting back tears. The HUC and I just exchanged looks of shock with each other! I think I am going to file a complaint tomorrow against him...and the HUC said she will back me up since she was the only one who witnessed this. I had no idea that doctors behaved this way..is this normal?? To say the least I'm dreading going back in on Wednesday. I had heard some doctor horror stories..but nothing like this -- what I consider to be assault. Am I overreacting? I don't want to be seen as a drama queen or a trouble maker being on the floor only 2 weeks in this unit :(. Ugh!

Specializes in Neuro.

Clueless,

I am so glad that, as a new nurse, your hospital stood up for you. So many times, I hear about how the hospital takes up for the MD's instead of the RN's, regardless of the MD being at fault. Sounds like you are working for a good place.

Way to go for taking a stand. I am so glad that this can now be put behind you and that you have allowed us to go through this rough journey with you. Maybe other new nurses will see that they do not have to take any physical or emotional abuse from those with MD behind their name. It is a huge contreversy, having to deal with abusive doctors, and you have shown that it does not have to be. I hope that this hasn't left such a bad taste in your mouth that you end your career before it got a good start.

Hats off to you and best of luck.

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Specializes in ER.
Hey guys. Again, thanks for all the support and messages of encouragement I've received. Forgive me for taking so long to update on this situation...it's been rather busy with work and the drama that comes along with it :D. Well, there's good news (at least to me). The doctor no longer is employed with our hospital :yeah:. Last Friday, the board of the hospital met, as well as the doctor and myself. I feel we came to an amicable agreement. The doctor chose to resign, in lieu of being fired. I guess he saw the writing on the wall, and didn't want a firing to haunt him for the rest of his life, so he decided to step down as a hospitalist there and relinquish his admitting privileges there.

I was given a raise due to this incident, and was also asked to not speak publicly about it, and thus is another reason I'm weary about posting on here (although I know its anonymous -- you never know who reads these boards!). But again, thank you everyone for so much support. It truly means so much to me.

I just hope it was a significant raise they gave you in payment for you keeping silent.

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OMG, my blood just boils after reading this. I am SO sorry you had to experience that.

IMO, this is one for the headlines. Physician Slaps Nurse -- and the guy ought to lose his fricking license to work in the U.S.

I don't doubt that many of these docs coming over from different countries have very different ideas as to how women should be treated. This one needs to be made an example of -- or it will continue. We do NOT treat women this way in this country!!!!

PLEASE, file a report -- and keep us all updated.

Hell, I'd file a story with my local newspaper as well.

If it had been me, I'd have gone down the hall screaming ...

I was shaken by the shoulders by a doctor a month or two ago. It wasn't in anger -- more in a sarcastic tone -- but it was still demeaning. I will ALWAYS go to my charge nurse if it ever happens again. My wonderful preceptor just stood there and did nothing .. .yet later told everyone in the unit about it, making me even more embarrased.

You're preceptor should be written up as well-- ow DARE she gossip about this incident and almost GLOAT while she did NOTHING?? What a loser she is. Just as guilty as the MD IMO.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Nice to finally hear about a hospital doing the right thing. Seems they responded very appropriately and I actually think it was nice of them to also give a raise.

I also think it is fair of them to ask for silence since they did respond in a responsible manner.

They nevver gave the nurse a hard time, they dumped the doctor, they gave the nurse a raise. Seems like a very good and fair outcome.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

I am pleased that the physician is no longer working with the hospital. However I am surprised that so many of you think that the hospital took action because they were standing up for the nurse. The hospital is protecting the hospital.

1) They gave the guy the option to resign because they knew that when he inevitably attacked another staff member and it came out that they knew he had done that sort of thing before, then they would be hugely liable.

2) They didn't fire him because that might have led to a lawsuit from the doc, then publicity, etc. It was easier to just let him resign.

3) They gave her a raise knowing that she would be appeased and discouraged from filing any legal action. You think they were just being nice? LOL!

4) They asked her to keep quiet because again, it if got out others might feel compelled to come forward and who knows what sort of litigation that might lead to?

The OP is satisfied and so we all must be, but let's get real here about the motives of the hospital; they were looking out for themselves only.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I am pleased that the physician is no longer working with the hospital. However I am surprised that so many of you think that the hospital took action because they were standing up for the nurse. The hospital is protecting the hospital.

1) They gave the guy the option to resign because they knew that when he inevitably attacked another staff member and it came out that they knew he had done that sort of thing before, then they would be hugely liable.

2) They didn't fire him because that might have led to a lawsuit from the doc, then publicity, etc. It was easier to just let him resign.

3) They gave her a raise knowing that she would be appeased and discouraged from filing any legal action. You think they were just being nice? LOL!

4) They asked her to keep quiet because again, it if got out others might feel compelled to come forward and who knows what sort of litigation that might lead to?

The OP is satisfied and so we all must be, but let's get real here about the motives of the hospital; they were looking out for themselves only.

Yeah - but it IS progress. Sometimes I think people are unrealistic in what they expect. Lawsuits if permanent harm, but that was not the case so I think it is pretty reasonable.

I am sure many will disagree, and let me know about it!:smokin:

When you ask for too much considering what happened then you weaken the case and just seem like another sue happy person looking to get rich.

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Specializes in ER.
I am pleased that the physician is no longer working with the hospital. However I am surprised that so many of you think that the hospital took action because they were standing up for the nurse. The hospital is protecting the hospital.

1) They gave the guy the option to resign because they knew that when he inevitably attacked another staff member and it came out that they knew he had done that sort of thing before, then they would be hugely liable.

2) They didn't fire him because that might have led to a lawsuit from the doc, then publicity, etc. It was easier to just let him resign.

3) They gave her a raise knowing that she would be appeased and discouraged from filing any legal action. You think they were just being nice? LOL!

4) They asked her to keep quiet because again, it if got out others might feel compelled to come forward and who knows what sort of litigation that might lead to?

The OP is satisfied and so we all must be, but let's get real here about the motives of the hospital; they were looking out for themselves only.

THANK YOU for seeing it that way as well. They are absolutely trying to silence her and likely with accepting that raise, the deal was to be silent about the conditions. Pffft!!!!! I'd run that by a lawyer anyway.... just my thoughts.

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Specializes in ER.
Yeah - but it IS progress. Sometimes I think people are unrealistic in what they expect. Lawsuits if permanent harm, but that was not the case so I think it is pretty reasonable.

I am sure many will disagree, and let me know about it!:smokin:

When you ask for too much considering what happened then you weaken the case and just seem like another sue happy person looking to get rich.

so you think a person assaulting another is ok to ignore? I'm telling you, that if another person lays hands on another person, ever, especially to another professional in the healthcare environment, that is assault. Do you know it is a felony for a person to assault a healthcare provider? At least Alabama's recognizing the need for this:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4090/is_200606/ai_n17181463

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Specializes in ER.
Yeah - but it IS progress. Sometimes I think people are unrealistic in what they expect. Lawsuits if permanent harm, but that was not the case so I think it is pretty reasonable.

I am sure many will disagree, and let me know about it!:smokin:

When you ask for too much considering what happened then you weaken the case and just seem like another sue happy person looking to get rich.

it's just ridiculous that "without causing permanent harm" you don't think there's a reason to pursue this. So do you want your fellow nurses and doctors slapping, punching, kicking you, as long as it doesn't do permanent harm? That is completely, really the most shockingly inappropriate angle that you have, that someone is looking to get rich. The OP wasn't ASKING to get slapped, or is that how you view it, just so she can get rich quick?

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
it's just ridiculous that "without causing permanent harm" you don't think there's a reason to pursue this. So do you want your fellow nurses and doctors slapping, punching, kicking you, as long as it doesn't do permanent harm? That is completely, really the most shockingly inappropriate angle that you have, that someone is looking to get rich. The OP wasn't ASKING to get slapped, or is that how you view it, just so she can get rich quick?

She got slapped and the hospital fired him, or let him resign. I think that was plenty of action. It was the original poster's choice to press charges or not. That part is not up to the hospital.

I condemn all work place violence, but if the OP did not press charges what more should the hospital do other than appropriately getting rid of the perpetrator?

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guys!!!!! she doesn't have to say a word about the DR.! Believe me, the whole town has ,& will continue to hear from other witnesses!Management knows this,so it's not a bribe. Also, I don't recall hearing that the preceptor was gloating,where did that come from?Victim,don't let this go to your head,continue to have respect for all the GOOD Drs!! sue

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P.S. If the DR. felt the need to sue(or the right) he wouldn't have resigned,just sued!!!!! sue

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