I was slapped by a doctor!

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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 MPCU.

Nothing new to add.

I would just like an update. Please let us know what happens.

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Specializes in Adult Stem Cell/Oncology.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! You are certainly not a "drama queen" or a "troublemaker"!

Definitely file a police report, and do whatever is necessary to make sure this man has to pay for what he did! I hope he never sets foot in your hospital again! If this is how he treats the nurses, how does he treat his patients? :(

And about the chart, was it really that difficult to get it himself? Does he think you're his private servant???

Maybe one day someone will kick him where the sun don't shine....let's see how he likes that!!! :angryfire

I hope you never have to be in a situation like that again! :redpinkhe

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PLEASE, PLEASE..... this is not your fault and never was. We teach our children the "NO TOUCH/NO HIT" law. This applies to nurse also. If you do not get satisfaction at this place, the RUN to another place to work. If they tolerate this type of behaviour then you do not need to work there.

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After reading this story, I tried to put myself in your shoes. My gut reaction would be to slap him back in self defense. Well, brave of me to say that as I'm not a new nurse. But it would be funny to see this doc's expression if the next time you see him you have a can of pepper spray on a cord hanging from your neck.

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Also, you can anonymously report this incident on the doctor rating website, RateMD.com. It would warn potential patients what a jerk this guy is. :down:

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I am very sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, in this profession, there will be many people, at all levels, who will try to control you through intimidation. As a new nurse, you have a long career ahead of you. It will be a very tough and unsatisfying road for you if you allow others to mistreat you, and this very unprofessional physician has made it necessary for you to make a decision now. Do you want to spend your career being in doubt, feeling nervous, dreading going into work, worrying what others will think about you? How will you be an effective advocate for your patients if you are afraid to call a doctor for a very valid reason? It's sometimes difficult to take a stand and say, "This kind of behavior will not be tolerated"; but it's necessary and will get easier as you gain more experience. And it's vitally important to start today. Others have already given you some very good advice on how to proceed:

1. Document thoroughly and objectively what happened.

2. Ask the co-worker who witnessed the event to write a statement ASAP.

3. Write up an incident report or quality review report.

4. Give copies of all documents to your manager, human resources and keep copies for yourself. You should also let them know that you would like a written response to your complaint within a reasonable period of time.

5. File a report against the physician at the police station.

Good luck to you. And please let us know what happens.

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Specializes in Neurosciences.

Press criminal charges against him!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Get a lawyer and sue...

File the police report

Take him to the bank

and then get him deported

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OMG, he needs his orifice kicked in a big way. Please keep us updated on this situation. You owe it to yourself and all the other nurses out there that could be potentialy assaulted by this "MD".

Keep your chin up!

Missy

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As a patient, you have other rights Anxious Pt. Yes we can do many things to help ourselves. But they are not in the same realm as a pt. Our rights are not the same as your rights.

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Specializes in Psych.
I'm pretty sure its inappropriate in all cultures slapping a co-worker for doing something wrong.. I couldn't imagine somewhere where this would be accepted.

Unfortunately...that's just not the case. Any woman living in the United States, no matter how dire her circumstances, is far better off than about 50% of the women in the entire world, in terms of humans rights protections accorded her under the law.

This specific instance does make you wonder if this particular person was brought up in an environment that regarded women with contempt and disdain. The picture the OP painted here suggested to me that he was coming from somwhat of a 'you disgust me' frame of reference...as if there wouldn't be anything at all wrong with spitting on her either. There seems to be some element of 'naturalness' about this for him that is pretty disturbing...

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Specializes in Neuro.

I am so sorry that this has happened to you, especially at the beginning of your new career. There is absolutely no right for anyone to be treated that way.

Like previous posters have said, I would immediately file a police report and an incident report at work. Even if the witness denies it ever happening (which, in a lot of places, that happens once HR gets to the witness) I would still pursue charges.

I would also meet with an attorney about this and start lawsuit preceedings. Definitely your own private attorney, NOT one affiliated with the hospital. You do not have to go in with the intentions of suing him for everything he has, although he most certainly deserves it, but at least sue him for his license. He does not deserve to be practicing medicine with bedside manners like that.

And lastly, I would notify the board of medicine (or whatever the doctors have that is like our BON.) If a nurse slapped a doctor, he/she would not only have the nurse fired, he/she would turn the nurse in to the BON, Same should apply to this doctor. He needs to lose his license, NOW.

Like posted before, as you can see from the number of posts just since you originally posted, this is not common practice at any hospital that I know of. And it shouldn't be allowed at yours.

Best of luck. Please keep us updated on what has been happening, if you are able.

Know that you are in my prayers~

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