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?

Specializes in LDRP.
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?

Were you guys involved in a conversation, and then she threw in "go get it"? Was she hateful? Did she point and say "go get it" to you b/c you were there?

If a doc were to ask me to get them something that I knew they could reach just fine, I'd be happy to get it I wasn't busy, or if I could. I don't kiss ass, I'm just helpful. I enjoy helping others when possible. Just like I'd help a NA that needed help, etc.

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This is how ignorant I was as a junior nursing student. Doctor Big Deal walked into the station where I was occupying the only chair. She sat down on the counter and stared at me. I looked back at my chart. A moment later I heard her sigh, but right then I happened to notice something of interest in the chart. I looked back at the doctor, read her name tag, and then said, "Dr. Big Beal, can I ask you a question about this child?" I then asked her about whether the child had been evaluated for the possibility of William's Syndrome , and she asked, "Which chart do you have?" We went on to discuss the child for a few minutes, and only stopped when my clinical instructor showed up and beckoned me to follow her. I relinquished my seat, and stood up and followed my instructor. Next, I got a nice talking to about how to treat doctors, when to rise from your seat, etc., etc. I ended up getting asked by that MD to go on rounds with her a few times after that. And all that b/c I was just too naively ignorant to be aware of the social dynamics going on at our first meeting.

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ 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.

Ha, that's great! Good for you :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
This is how ignorant I was as a junior nursing student. Doctor Big Deal walked into the station where I was occupying the only chair. She sat down on the counter and stared at me. I looked back at my chart. A moment later I heard her sigh, but right then I happened to notice something of interest in the chart. I looked back at the doctor, read her name tag, and then said, "Dr. Big Beal, can I ask you a question about this child?" I then asked her about whether the child had been evaluated for the possibility of William's Syndrome , and she asked, "Which chart do you have?" We went on to discuss the child for a few minutes, and only stopped when my clinical instructor showed up and beckoned me to follow her. I relinquished my seat, and stood up and followed my instructor. Next, I got a nice talking to about how to treat doctors, when to rise from your seat, etc., etc. I ended up getting asked by that MD to go on rounds with her a few times after that. And all that b/c I was just too naively ignorant to be aware of the social dynamics going on at our first meeting.

That's an interesting observation on how nurses are socialized to be subservient by other nurses. :o

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
The magic word?! Paleeease! She went through 4 years of pre-med, MCATS, & THEN med school. She needs to regress to waht she learned in KINDERGARTEN? I do NOT think so. My answer would have been, "EXCUSE ME, I do NOT think so"!! No qualms about it. You think you're going to lose your job for that?? There IS a nursing shortage, and really, do you want to work for a facility who endorses that behaviour anyway?

well it was a tongue in cheek remark, you do understand.

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My take:

I work with pediatricians who would do and have done something similiar to this. I have also worked with a pediatrician who would not make you do it. The only one who would not was a lab tech who actually worked in the real world. I think docs are taught to believe they are so far above everyone else that nurses goal is to be there for their every whim. I forgot to get a pediatrician a newborn book that we hand out to all newborn babies. The doc came out, grabbed the last one and told me that I could stock more of them because I forgot to get one. I could not believe it. I just looked at her, smiled sweetly and went and got books and stocked them. But I deliberately ignored her all day long, unless it was something that I needed to be involved in. She got the hint. She is like that with everyone. She thinks she is above and beyond nurses. She takes it out on us every chance she can get. We have complained several times about her. She has been talked to by the head of our department and it works for a while, then she is back at it again! Ignore is the best thing to do.

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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?

OH DEAR,,, I would have had to go get the chart, and hand it too the MD with a flourish and say something very loud, like. "Did you want me to get you a donut and coffee too" And turned on my heel and left the nurses' station.. Wait I've been a nurse for 26 years...

I have told docs before not to yell at me. I don't do well with yelling. I don't yell at them and I don't expect them to yell at me.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

I have told one of our more obnoxious docs "It says RN, not hand maiden". Never had another problem with him!!!

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I have read lots of passive-aggressive stuff on this thread. As long as nurses act this way, nurses will be treated this way. We are RN's and nursing is what we do, we don't wait on doctors. We assist them with patient care, and we do most of the patient care(98%). If a hospital is willing to fire you for not being a waitress, well then go get another job.

Has anyone read "Nursing Against the Odds"? I'm reading it for the second time. I highly suggest every nurse read this book. It will make your blood boil, and give you some things to do to change the image of nursing.

After reading this thread it's a no wonder we have a shortage on nurses.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I have read lots of passive-aggressive stuff on this thread. As long as nurses act this way, nurses will be treated this way. We are RN's and nursing is what we do, we don't wait on doctors. We assist them with patient care, and we do most of the patient care(98%). If a hospital is willing to fire you for not being a waitress, well then go get another job.

Has anyone read "Nursing Against the Odds"? I'm reading it for the second time. I highly suggest every nurse read this book. It will make your blood boil, and give you some things to do to change the image of nursing.

After reading this thread it's a no wonder we have a shortage on nurses.

That's a very unfair assumption to make, based on this thread.

There's been quite a few answered on here that were not passive-aggressive, and people were also elaborating on their past experiences. Doesn't mean that how they handled a situation then is how they'd handle it now, either.

It's quite possible to be non-passive-agressive w/o taking the rudeness a step above the MD's demand.

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As long as nurses put up with the abuse/rudness, they will put up with abuse/rudness.

It's the image of nursing that must change. Painful to read, but the truth.

Educate yourself!!

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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:

.:roll :roll :roll :roll

Oh let's open our own hospital already!!!!

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