Intimidating? ME?

[AngelfireRN]

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.

[RNandRRT]

You have already gone above and beyond in your handling of this compared to how I and most others would have.

Karma will definitely pay you back and collect from him.

[nursel56]

The whole thing to me is funny. I know it's no fun for the patient to wait. . . but I knew from your first post that for whatever reason you were getting under this guy's skin, so that every time you were helpful and cheerful he was getting more and more annoyed. . .

All it did was make him look even more like a horse's bee-hind than he was before. I suggest, (because I am just a brat like that) being even nicer, perkier and more cheerful for the next 3 months. Bring him a croissant and a nice hot beverage.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Now being evil as I am, I probably would have had to resist the urge to give him a little one arm hug when I was sitting next to him, just so I could watch him wiggle and squeal in pain, LOL!! (not a good idea).

Intimidating? Angel, maybe he has the absoulute :redbeatheHOTS for you and it is impossible for him to even think when he is in a room with you, the attraction is so strong!!!! Poor man!!! Hey, maybe he'll even pass out!?!? Then you'd have to resus... OMG, what fun! j/k.

Fine then Angel, just let him loose off your fishing lines, let him float away. Help the other guys as you usually do, but not him. Let him do his own patient/facility wrangling. Let him be late, let staff page him, call the office looking for him. Let everybody complain to your boss. (who will just tolerate it till June, LOL) Oh well.

[Bella RN, BSN, MSN]

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.

Yes I completely agree. Just keep it professional with him and do not attempt to get personal with him. He made it clear that he doesn't want to have any personal interaction with you. Continue to concentrate on the great job you are doing at your facility. As you have stated you have a good rapport with the other docs and staff and the you do your job well. So focus on that and don't let this guy get you down.....alot of docs get off on knowing that they are affecting an NP or nurse...alot of it psychological with them. Keep up the great work!!!:)

[Moneypitt]

Two choices: Leave now before he really messes up and you find yourself involved in a lawsuit or fired.

Keep up the happy face, try to wait it out, document and hope you outlast him.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Well, after he refused to let the stress lab staff page me for cases today, I just decided to sit in my office and catch consults. Om is aware, and is fine with it. Asked the other docs if I could help them, they were good. One asked what was going on, and I replied that we had no consults, and Dr. Locums refused to let me do anything in the stress lab, so I was just seeing if he needed any help.

They know, OM has told them. I am just biding my time.

Ran into Dr. Locums in ICU today, making rounds (as i have been told to do by the other docs). Asked if I could note on some of his, he said no. Asked if I could help with ANYTHING, nope. Asked if I could shut up and leave him alone, and he gives me a nod and a big grin. Told him if I wanted to be insulted, I'd have stayed home. He said he thought it'd take more than that to get rid of me. So I punched him. ;-)

So, today, I have caught one consult, finished my book, and checked labs for the cath lab cases tomorrow. I feel so guilty getting paid for this, and I really don't want to lose my job, but I can't do anything if he won't get out of the way!

I think I may go soak my head. Or kiss on the puppy. Or both.

[CFitzRN, ADN]

Honestly, he sounds like a really tough nut to crack, but I think, despite all odds, that you are actually making a tiny fracture in that hard shell of his. And that's cool. But still, don't put up with bullcr*p!

[nursel56]

QUOTE=AngelfireRN; . . . . . .Asked if I could shut up and leave him alone, and he gives me a nod and a big grin. Told him if I wanted to be insulted, I'd have stayed home. He said he thought it'd take more than that to get rid of me. So I punched him. ;-)

. . . . peerrrr-fect!!!!! Bravo, Angelfire! **