MD can't walk across the room to get a chart

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It was my first day, first hour at a new hospital. This MD comes in to start her rounds, and she asked for this pt's chart. A case manager had it literally 10 steps away from the MD. She turned to the 3 nurses standing there taking care of nsg duties (me being one) and said, "Go get it". Me being the new one on the block, got the privilage of going to "fetch" the chart. Would the administration stand behind you if the MD made a big stink about refusing to retrive the chart, and what would/have you do/done about servant request?

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Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

Obviously the doc is an A$$. But what I want to know is ... why didn't the case manager just walk the 10 steps over to the doc? No one should *have* to deliver the chart to the physician but I see it happen ALL the time.

And no, I don't think Admin would stand behind you because the physician is the true customer of the hospital -- he/she is the one that brings in the patients. You, the nurse, are the hospital's biggest expense.

I'd have like to handed the chart to the doc and said, "I hope your ankle gets better soon...." (or something to that effect).

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I would have said, in a helpful way, "It's right over there" and possibly asked the case manager if she was finished with it. That puts the ball back in her court but you've neither jumped to her ridiculous command nor acted unprofessionally. I'd also go off to do something at the same time so it didn't just become a public power struggle; there's no advantage in that (usually). But I'd be clear by my body language and my comments that, while I'm not going to make her look the fool or force a struggle, I in no way will play step and fetch it. You're a professional.

Also, I doubt a doctor would go to administration to complain about a nurse who wouldn't get her a chart from 10 steps away. But, I think an MD would speak to admin if that nurse made an issue of it. Just hold your head up and go about your work. You have plenty of important things to do. Let the jerky doctor stuff roll off your back.

I had a resident tell me once to write up an incident report on nursing. I refused to do it because a) in now way was the problem clearly a nursing error and b) I'm not a secretary. I told him to write it himself but in a professional and assertive way. As in "I don't agree that this is a nursing issue. If you feel that it is, you can write the incident report." OK I said a few other things too maybe not so controlled :rolleyes: but that was the important message.

Like I said, remember, you have an important job. Assume the doctor is not trying to take from it even when you know perfectly well he/she is. :chuckle

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Specializes in ER, Rural Nursing, Public Health.

A FIRST YEAR RESIDENT did this to me a couple of weeks ago... I looked at him and said...

"You have 2 legs. I believe they work. Go get it yourself."

Now, typically I am NOT this rude, but I work in the ICU and I was so frikin busy. I had a post-op arriving and my other pt was having something done (can't remember what). The point is, he SAW how busy I was. He is a young guy who believes nurses are there to "serve" the doctor. I'm sorry honey, gotta set you straight early on....

He looked down and walked away to find the chart. He said nothing more.

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I'm not any doctors slave/dog. She can "fetch" the chart herself. Is it not interesting how these self-appointed pillers of society, with all their high fluten education act like they have none. I would expect some uneducated bully to act this way.

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

I probably would have done one of two things:

1- tell the MD something to the effect of "I'll be with you in just a minute- let me finish this up first" and then taken a LONG time OR

2. Gotten the chart and brought it to her but lay it down out of her reach.

Then again as a new nurse I would probably just paste a smile on my face and done it. No need to get a reputation on your first day :)

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"Also, I doubt a doctor would go to administration to complain about a nurse who wouldn't get her a chart from 10 steps away."

Don't be too sure. I work in an ER. Not long ago my boss called me in to say that the chief surgeon complained about me because, when he comes in to consult on a pt, I don't drop what I'm doing, get him the chart, and go in the room with him to make sure he doesn't need anything. I wasn't the only one he complained about. Boss told us to humor him. Unless we are directly involved in something we can't drop when he comes in, we are expected to trail him.

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Don't be too sure. I work in an ER. Not long ago my boss called me in to say that the chief surgeon complained about me because, when he comes in to consult on a pt, I don't drop what I'm doing, get him the chart, and go in the room with him to make sure he doesn't need anything. I wasn't the only one he complained about. Boss told us to humor him. Unless we are directly involved in something we can't drop when he comes in, we are expected to trail him.

OMG!!!!! That's horrible!!!! :angryfire

As for the OP. I certainly would NOT have responded to the "go get it" request. I would have demanded she say "please". :clown::rollIsn't that some sort of "love and logic"???

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Specializes in L&D.

My mom (a 38-year nurse) had a fellow nurse once tell a doctor, "You know, M.D. does not stand for medical deity."

I think that the way some doctors treat nurses is reprehensible. I've had a couple of rude ones cross my path. Here's one:

--A doctor walked in to assess his pt. in ARF, who was MRSA and C-Dif positive. I and another nursing student are standing next to the pt. with FLAMING yellow gowns on, and an MD walks in and coolly places his stethoscope on the patient's chest. He then looks at me and says, "Is this patient under precautions?" I just looked at my bright and obvious yellow gown and said in a slightly Forrest Gump way, "Uh, yeah." He said, "Well, you could've told me," right before storming out of the patient's room. Even his patient was laughing at him.

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.

I can see already that I'm going to be really popular (not) with Docs and Sr. Nurses with attitude problems. :rolleyes:

I'd have walked over to the MD and said as quietly as possible "Go take a flying freak at a rolling donut. Your legs aren't broken and you don't sign my paycheck."

I wonder just how long of a career I'll have in nursing? :eek:

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I would have just pointed the chart's exact location out, pretending that she had somehow missed where it was. "Oh, it's right there [smile]." That's just me... I'm not very confrontational, but I wouldn't be treated like a slave, either.

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A FIRST YEAR RESIDENT did this to me a couple of weeks ago... I looked at him and said...

"You have 2 legs. I believe they work. Go get it yourself."

Now, typically I am NOT this rude, but I work in the ICU and I was so frikin busy. I had a post-op arriving and my other pt was having something done (can't remember what). The point is, he SAW how busy I was. He is a young guy who believes nurses are there to "serve" the doctor. I'm sorry honey, gotta set you straight early on....

He looked down and walked away to find the chart. He said nothing more.

My favorite response was, "are your legs painted on"?

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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