Intimidating? ME?

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Need some advice here, please. I am working as a CRNP for a cardio practice, and one of our 3 docs is a locums. He started the end of December, and we look for him to stay until June, as far as the story goes this week.

Part of my duties as the NP are to run stress tests (am gradually branching out and being allowed to do them on my own, which thrills me to pieces, I can DO something!), seeing consults, running my own site check clinic, and basically babysitting 3 men and making their lives as easy as possible.

Now, the head doc does not let me dictate for him, he like to do it himself. The partner is only too happy for me to do his for him. I attend caths and pacer implants, and fill out the papers so that all they have to do is sign. I put out fires wherever, write orders as needed (staff call me first now, which I love, they say I'm approachable), and just really do whatever needs done, within my scope.

With this newer guy, I explained my duties and told him I was only too happy to do for him as well, and everything started out great. Here lately, though, the floor's ready to commit a murder, and the cath lab is on the verge of mutiny. This guy is so moody he borders on hormonal, he does sloppy work at times (the other docs have had to REPEAT procedures that he had fouled up or not done properly), and he rarely dictates without prompting. On several occasions, he has told me that he has seen people and written orders, only to have the floor call me and ask when I might be by to see the person I thought was already seen. The other docs have made mention to me about things that are not right ("Did he leave you a rounding sheet? I don't know who his patients are!")

I have never been anything but nice to this man, tried my hardest to make things as easy as I can, but I am caught in the middle, with docs complaining on one side, and staff on the other. I will be the first one to tell you that I am disgustingly cheerful in the mornings. Anymore, when I say Good Morning to him, I'm lucky if I get an "Uhm-hmm" in response.

Case in point...as said before, part of my job is to do stresses. This guy just butts in and takes over, and in most cases does it incorrectly, based on what the other 2 taught me. When the stress lab staff spoke to him about it, he blew them off.

Today, it came to a head. A lady patient was in for a treadmill test, and about a minute in, went into respiratory distress and nearly fainted. The partner doc was there reading nucs, and I had texted (his preferred form of communication) Locums that we were starting, per our routine. The tech and I hit the stop button, the tech ran for a wheelchair and help, as I was getting the patient ready to go to the ER for an eval. 15 minutes later, I have already completed another test, and have texted Locums that we took Patient A to ER, when he comes boiling in, wanting to know what happened. I explained, and he gets ill, "Well, don't start if I'm not here!" Mind you, I have been doing this for a WHILE with no problem.

I did keep my temper, and explained that partner doc was there, that he was in agreement with the course I already had going, and that we had done fine. Later, as I headed for lunch (after writing orders for a cath for him, which was like pulling eyeteeth), one of the techs asked would I please get her something as well. I asked around to see if anyone else wanted food, and got to Locums.

"Dr. Locums, would you like anything from Mickey D's?"

SNORT "WHY would I want YOU to get me anything from there?"

All-righty then!

Now, guys, I stand 5'6", in heels, I weigh 130, have lost 30 pounds. I am far from a threatening presence. So, if, as one of the stress techs said "I think he's intimidated by you.", HOW THE HECK can I be intimidating? The man's 7 feet tall! We look like Mutt and Jeff next to each other. All I have ever tried to do was help the man as much as I could, and all I am getting is attitude.

I just don't know what to do. I adore this job, and he's only a temp, but SHEESH! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Sonjailana]

Sounds like he's incompetent and insecure. Bummer for you. Hope he leaves soon! I might confront him directly about it, or, see if the other docs can.

[txsummerRN]

I agree, it's time to lay everything out on the table. I bet if you broach the subject directly, in your typically nice manner, it might help. Good luck! What a rotten situation though! Ugh! Mean people stink!

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

I don't know if he's intimidated, but he sounds like a world class jerk! Any chance he's a drug user? Cuz his behavior just sounds odd...

[NeedchangeofPace]

I do think he is intimidated by you, you are all the things he isn't, caring, organised, succinct, popular, a leader, a teacher, a manager and it sounds like your generally happy.

Hold your head up look 'em in the eye and just smile it will drive him nuts!!

Mark

[caliotter3]

Think you see why he is a temp. Probably can't hack it otherwise. I don't know that I would invest much energy in bringing this out into the open as he is not going to be there much longer. You might be creating a teensy, weensy negative observation about you if you do. Better to keep things going smoothly with those that count, who are happy with you.

[RNandRRT]

Not much you really can do.

He's made it clear he wants nothing to do with you on a personal level, so you're just going to have to keep it professional on your end for the next couple of months.

It's really up to the managing partner(s) and the office/business manager to correct any of this physician's harmful (health and business practice) deficiencies.

[nursel56]

He might be one of those MDs that has issues with Nurse Practitioners. I read a lot of med blogs. Many of the doctors simply foam at the mouth at the very idea of an NP. Normally, the five-star hissy fits come from the internists/fps, or from anesthesiologists hating on CRNAs, but anyone can catch the alpha-dog fever!

Or he could just be a neurotic mis-fit who doesn't get along with anybody. Either way, it's halfway to June!!

[itsmejuli]

hold your head up look 'em in the eye and just smile it will drive him nuts!!

mark

oh yeah, definitely my fav thing to do to people like him.

if he gets really bad talk to the other docs.

[helikias]

The guy doesn't like strong women.

I have two of of his type at the job where I am at now. I went to HR about their inappropriate behaviors and they retaliated by giving me a false negative performance review, engaging in a whispering campaign and they single-handedly put my career in tatters.

The other male bosses who liked me before abandoned me, and now my career at this company is literally ruined. This after years of glowing performance reviews and everyone liking me a lot, promoting me, giving me tons of responsibility, etc.

Be very careful what you do. The old boy's network is VERY STRONG.

I am sorry to hear this is happening to you. All too typical in today's world, it would seem. Good luck.

[CFitzRN, ADN]

I don't have any real advice as I feel too far-removed and unfamiliar with your situation but I wanted to say that I work in a family medical practice with 6 doctors and 2 FNPs and the FNPs are ******* AWESOME. The docs are okay too, but there's just something about a Nurse Practitioner that seems to be so ... I can't even think of a word for it. Suffice it to say I have never met an NP that I didn't like. I wish you the best with this situation!

[Katie5]

Ok that does not sound very nice.

How long has this been going on? How does he relate with other physicians? How is he with his patients?Kind, warm, caring...or the opposite?

Everyone should always try to get along regardless of different personalities- we owe each other that much.

Maybe he's just not comfortable with your niceness- it may be suffocating to him. Other physicians may like it, maybe he doesn't. His work ethics is really what concerns me, if other doctors have to repeat procedures after him, that's not too good. Sometimes we're all too ready to give up on people- I do too sometimes, but we shouldn't.

Right you're not his baby sitter and he needs to pull himself together. Have you considered he may be depressed?

Depression hurts. Who does depression hurt? Everybody.

Give him a chance but this time, keep the niceness- let him request your help, if he wants.