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!

[Long Island Nurse]

Dear CuelessRn, This is absolutely unacceptable!! You sould have reported him right away! I hope that you did report this. Behavior like this is VERBAL and PHYSICAL abuse!! In my hospital we have a hotline # for professional misconduct where anyone can call (and it can be anomonous!) Notify your superiors about this conduct.

He is using your inexperience to get way with this and this type of abuse should NEVER be tolerated!! Do some reading on lateral violence and also do some homework in regards to you hospitals policy on this issue.:angryfire Lastly, also look into SBAR communication when discussing patient condition and status. This may help you focus on the problem and keep you on track..

Rember you are an RN, you save lives you are not anyones punching bag or handmaid, and do not deserve this type of treatment. You are new to the profession...don't be afraid..stand up for yourself and learn from your experience! :pumpiron: If you are not proactive in this issue it will just happen again to yourself and/or another. This idiot should be discilpined!! My heart goes out for you!! Remember you are not the only person this has happened to so don't tolerate this!! It does not matter if he is a doctor or ancillary staff.A good working enviroment includes teamwork, mutual respect and general consideration of each other. Lots of luck to you!!:redbeathe

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

Please report him. No one has a right to put their hands on you. I probably would have slapped him back. LOL.

[kharing]

I just finished reading this entire post. I would struggle with the decision to call the police and sue simply because I wouldn't want to deal with the stress. Especially at a new workplace .

I would definitely report the incident to the hospital. See if and how they handle it and keep all documentation. Lawsuits are long and nasty - would not go down that road!!!

Speak to someone immediately - especially the witness. Make sure that that the promise to back your complaint is still on the table.

I have seen people promise to tell the truth and stand behind those that have been victimized only to back out...for fear of losing their own jobs or retaliation.

Good luck and try and move pass this terrible situation.

[MrsMommaRN]

don't think do file a report. what he did was maliciously wrong on all levels. report it to everyone you can report it to. who says that he hasn't done it before? which leads me to say he will do it again. who is the cheif of staff? he has to have a superior. as well as reporting it to your superiors report to all of his.

in no circumstance except saving your life should anyone put their hands on you without your permission.

i am so sorry you had to be subject to such foolishness. in no was was this your fault.

hugs hugs hugs

[graceomalleyRN, RN]

I am not a nurse yet. Nor do I have a litigious bone in my body.

But the day I go to work and have to worry about being knocked around by an arrogant imbecile is the day I file both criminal and civil charges against him. And the State Medical Board definitely needs to be notified. His behavior will escalate with his next victim -- if you lie down and do nothing, he will think he's invincible.

If the hospital knows that he has a history of this sort of behavior, they are liable too. The hospital has a responsibility to provide a reasonably safe working environment. If they have been enabling them, management is as much to blame.

As such, you should be so supported by the workplace right now that you wouldn't even need us here to tell you all of this. That is a red flag to me about your facility.

My very best to you. Don't let ANYONE lay his/her hands on you, EVER.

[SecondGenRN]

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...

I agree! It seemed to me like a parent-child type thing happening! I think he definitely is used to an environment where men are considered superior to women, the fact that he is a doctor and she was a nurse probably only re-enforced that for him! To the OP, I wish you much strength in dealing with this and will be thinking of you!:redbeathe

[Reigen]

I am so sorry that you went through this type of ordeal. First things to do is to report this physician to the Medical Director of your facillity, the local law enforcement authority and the state licensing board for this physician. An incident report, copies to those mentioned, as well as yourself and your attorney should also be filed. Your Unit Manager should also be informed, and I also would refuse to be assigned to any of his patients.

Again I am so sorry about this unprofessional conduct. I know that the first thing out of my mouth would have been "you sure do not seem to be concerned about your license and reputation Assult is a very serious charge".

[Annieee]

Wow.. I can't believe this!

I hope you did report him.

You want to feel safe in your work. With him working there, how will that be. If you don't do anything about it, he will be open to do it again - to you, another nurse, etc.

Good luck Clueless! Nobody deserves to be treated like this - I understand you are a new RN and probably worried about reporting, but you've got all of our support, and a witness! You go girl! :)

[Atheos]

It isn't assault. Assault is just threatening someone. This particular crime is known as Battery.

File a police report. He may only end up with misdemeanor battery but hey, maybe the DA will be a hard case.

[Vito Andolini]

Police and lawyer. Now. And get your HUC to write her statement before she chickens out and "forgets" what she saw.

Sue the doodle out of him and his employer.

[sharkdiver]

It isn't assault. Assault is just threatening someone. This particular crime is known as Battery.

Actually, it depends on the definitions in your state's criminal statutes. In Oregon, for example, the action described in the OP would be an assault, while just threatening someone would be either menacing or harassment.

FWIW, I agree that the physician's conduct was abhorrent, and hope he is taken to task.

[IndySkies]

I don't know the culture of the hospital you work at but I wonder if you report him through proper channels if anything will be done.

I doubt if you were the first nurse he slapped, and if you were, he probably did it because you were new and he could probably get away with it.

The problem with a police report for assault is that it should of been done at the time of the incident for maximum effectiveness.

Will your witness truly back you up, I mean not now, but later if there is truly an investigation. The one thing about hospitalists is that they are usually employees of the hospital, (at least where I work), which means they are not really revenue producers like the primary care physicians that admit the patients, which means there is usually a little more leverage the hosptial has over them, and they should be held to standard a little higher as regards to acceptable behavior. It all depends on how your hospital stands up for its nurses.

Now to answer your question. YES!!! REPORT HIM!!! Go through proper channels but expect, and demand professional courtesy and response from management about your valid complaint.

Require that you are kept informed about any findings and actions taken. Do not allow them to 'stonewall' you and say that is is an internal investigation and any responses will be kept confidentail, otherwise in actuality nothing will be done.