I'm trying to hear the Doctor!

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

Is it just me or do you find that every doggone time you get on the phone with a doctor who talks as loud as a tiny little mouse ...you always get people around you yapping on the top of their lungs.

I have told them (through arm waving and finger snapping etc) to be quiet. I am receiving orders for a patient and I can't do that when there's unnecessary noise. Does this happen to you or am I the only one?

[Flo., BSN, RN]

oh yes. It drives me nuts! I usually put the doc on hold for a sec, ask my coworkers to quiet down and then ask the doc to speak up. Usually it still takes a few "can you repeat that"

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Say, out loud, Sorry, Dr. Whosit, I cannot hear you.

Or just say excuse me a moment, then tell the yakkers that you have Dr. Whoseit on the phone but cannot hear what he is saying. I am sure eyes will roll, but so what.

[Belle Epoque]

I just give my coworkers an evil wide eyed glare while simultaneously making that slashing motion across throat with hand that says "shut your traps before I throttle you all!"

Sometimes it works, sometimes I'm ignored.

[Orange Tree]

I make a quick announcement that everybody needs to shut up before I pick up the phone, and if that doesn't work, I'm always willing to throw a stapler in the loudest person's direction.

[itsmejuli]

Oh yeah, and then on a Sunday it never fails that when I call a certain doctor with a heavy foreign accent that he's somewhere with a noisy background.

Like sticking your thumbs in your ears and saying "nah nah nah I can't hear you!!"

Good thing he's patient and willing to repeat.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Aren't you aware that part of "Murphy's Law" dictates that people will start talking loudly when you're on the phone talking with a doctor (LOL). I have done the various hand waves, distorted facial looks, and the modified sign language all to no avail. Murphy's Law dictates that this will happen at the exact time the doc is giving you multiple medication orders.

And what happens every time you hang up and tell the surrounding nurse's desk that when they see you on the phone to please be considerate and they all exclaim; oh yes of course, we're sorry..........haaha only to continue the behaviour the very next time you're on the phone.

I think you should make a set of que cards. Keep them by the phone and have various ones they say "talking to doctor", talking to DON", "talking to your boyfriend (lol)", etc... Of course I'm not serious but wouldn't it be funny; or maybe not. Ya know something like that could backfire.

In the end; is it really too much to expect professional behavior?

[DixieJeanne]

I work with a doctor that gets even quieter when you ask him to repeat himself. He admits he does it on purpose to "get you RN's to listen closer."

So when he does that I read back his order as something totally off the wall....... "OK, so 784mg of IV paxil every 2 minutes until pain controlled?"

He has learned to speak clearly and loudly with me. I love it.

[coolpeach]

I not only have this issue, but one very similar. We record our reports on a phone system for the oncoming nurse. This means when I get to work I have to get report by calling a number, and listening to a recording.

I will find a nice quiet place to listen, dial up the system, put in my password, go through the numerous push 1, push 6 etc, and be halfway through when BOOM in comes the talkers. HOW RUDE !!!! They can see me on the phone, but they will stand then blabbering about non-important personal stuff. I will give them the look (which doesn't work), and then the hand signals (not the bad one), and then the shhhhhsssshhhh sound. If it works its usually to the point I have to start over on that patient anyway.

Same with the Dr situation. You would think people would see someone on the phone, and out of common courtesy try to keep it down.

[pharmgirl]

I work with a doctor that gets even quieter when you ask him to repeat himself. He admits he does it on purpose to "get you RN's to listen closer."

So when he does that I read back his order as something totally off the wall....... "OK, so 784mg of IV paxil every 2 minutes until pain controlled?"

He has learned to speak clearly and loudly with me. I love it.

That is sooooooo awesome! I wish I had the balls to do that! Maybe with a little more experience and a few more years under my belt. I wanna be like you when I grow up!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Just say "speak up, I can't hear you."

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

Just do what I do: say it's a bad line & they will have to speak up. They will start yelling so u can hear them - it works everytime!