I was slapped by a doctor!

[cluelessRN81]

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!

[MassED, BSN, RN]

Never got hit by a doc but got groped by one. By the time my INSTINCTS kicked in he was never in the same area as me for the rest of his time there. My friend also saw him with his girlfriend at the time clock on another floor and told her "watch out he's got more arms than an octopus." That also satisfied my ego better than any slap could have.

As far as getting hit, police report, call the supervisor, occurrence report and request to talk to the board.........and DON'T take the hush money. Lawyer up if you have to.

Again thanks for the advice. I have a contract with this particular hospital, so I'm here for at least 2 years (they paid for my schooling). I can only get out if I pay back the money, so I think I'll stick it out for the time being. Since the doctor is no longer here, I don't see where that will be a big problem. I love where I work and my other co-workers. And btw, without going into too many specifics...the pay raise I got was significant -- I'll just say my salary has been doubled. I was going to go to NP school, but now I don't know if i want to take the pay cut!

WOW, doubled. So it was significant, good for you!

[MassED, BSN, RN]

They just don't offer to double your salary if there is nothing for them to gain here. They must know more than you do about this doctor. They gave you this money to protect themselves not to help you. PLEASE know that.

You were clearly the victim here but I fear you are being victimized again.

but she seems ok with the hospital setting now and the wage increase.... which means, at least psychologically, she's not being victimized.

[eldragon]

I think the whole thing worked out for the OP and the matter should be dropped.

The "assault" as it were wouldn't land her a huge settlement in court. Take the raise and keep your head down.

[CseMgr1, ASN, RN]

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 . Well, there's good news (at least to me). The doctor no longer is employed with our hospital . 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.

Though I am glad that this guy is no longer associated with this hospital and you were compensated for the trouble he caused you, it still bothers me because whereever he winds up practicing, he could do it again. But that is no longer your or the hospital's problem....which will inevitably become someone else's.

[GIRN]

They doubled your salary?!? Something's going on here that you don't understand. You did the right thing by going to your Administration and you stood up for yourself and didn't allow this guy to get away with it. He's gone and you're working in a workplace environment that you really like. Should be end of story. But if they doubled your salary something isn't right. I would consult with a workplace lawyer with plenty of experience and get their take on it. (You've got some extra money for that now.) Protect yourself by documenting the whole story and see if the lawyer thinks you should take the documentation to the hospital for their signature/agreement that that's what happened. That would also allow the hospital to know that you've got representation and will be on the alert for any inappropriate evalutions or termination in the future.

You didn't ask for extra money...where did that idea come from? I would have felt funny about taking an extra dollar or two before..now I say take it and put it away for an emergency. The hospital is offering it for a reason that only they know. You may need it. And...be a model employee. Document everything good and bad that happens to you. Document overtime you work, times you come in extra, any verbal praise you get from your supervisors...as well as any problems, however minor they may be.

One other word of advice...don't mention this raise to anyone you work with. Jealousy can raise it's ugly head and then you may not have such a nice place to work. If you're making more money than nurses that have been there for 20 years, you won't be a favorite among them. Sad to say but some may look for reasons for you to be terminated. With you being so new, you're going to make mistakes and you need everyone's support to help you learn. DON'T let this story get out if you can help it. Just work hard, have a lawyer cover your bases, and pray that it's over. Good luck!

[Riseupandnurse]

I agree that the OP shouldn't mention the raise to others. I agree she is entitled to the money and shouldn't feel pressured to "save the world" by going after this doctor in the legal system. It is HER injury and HER choice. What I am concerned about is that hospitals don't dish out that kind of money forever, and they are very smart. Any hospital would want to get this whole mess behind them for good. That would include the OP, IMHO. I am just afraid for her future, knowing how easy it is to make a nursing error despite every effort the best and most diligent nurses in the world put forth. It would make a lot more sense to me if the hospital had given her a one-time compensation than "permanently" double her salary. I think she ought to consult a lawyer just to see where she stands legally. For her own protection and no-one else's.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Closing this thread, as op mentions it has been resolved and she can not discuss it any more