New nurse scared to talk to doctors!!

TreetopAngel_RN · Sep 21, 2005

Don't be afraid to tell doctors when you don't understand what they are ordering/saying.

One week into my nursing career I asked the doc I had called if he was on his cell phone and driving. He told me he was. I couldn't understand the orders he was giving because the call was cutting in and out as he was driving and explained this to him. I then asked him to pull over until we had the orders worked out. He pulled over and the call was finished in record time.

One doc asked me if I was stupid because I didn't understand what he was saying (heavy accent). I told him I wasn't stupid the problem was his English. I then had him spell what it was he was trying to say. It worked!

RN007 · Sep 21, 2005

i'm a new nurse (3 months) i am working 7p-7a on a med-surg and i was at first very hestitant to call a md. i have quickly adjusted my attitude to "oh well" - as in oh well if the md is asleep, oh well if the md is mean, rude, patronizing, etc... my patient's health relies on me making that call. so, this is the scenario that i have become comfortable with:
"dr xx, my name is xx, i'm calling from xx hospital about xx patient in room ##, are you familiar with this patient?"
what i've come to find is more than 50% of the time the answer is no. for some reason that makes me feel better to know that i actually know more than the md does about the pt in question making my input very valuable. now i feel much more like a part of the patient care team and not just a new, dumb nurse waking up the md. :)
hope this helps with you as well.
my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness... - ii corinthians 12:9

i'm a new student and am learning so much on this forum. this is a particularly good one. i'm going to remember (to use) it!

rn4babies63 · Sep 21, 2005

I am posting this thread because I thought someone might be able to help me get over my nervousness about talking to doctors. I graduated in May 05 and am working at a hospital about 50 miles from my home and I really don't know anyone there. I get so nervous about having to call a doctor or talk to them when they make rounds. Is this normal? I am just afraid I am going to say something totally stupid or they will ask me something that I don't know and they will think I am stupid! I have a great preceptor and he knows that this bothers me, and he is trying to make me face my fears by making me call them and talk to them. So far, it hasn't been that bad, but I am just waiting for one to go off on me and I don't know how to handle that. Sometimes I just want to wear a sign that reads "I am a new nurse"!!

Doctors say stupid things too! One time I called an OB at 3AM for orders on a labor patient and he told me "put the spaghetti in the pot when the water boils". The next day, he never remembered telling me that!

cabgrn2 · Sep 21, 2005

Afraid - You will not always be afraid unless this has always been your nature.

If it hasn't - Time will help

Talk to the doctors like they were real people - they are you know - even though some of them don't know it. Ask them how their day is going. Let them know your name. Talk about unthreatening things when the opportunity presents itself. Most of the cardiac doctors know my genie story.

"There were 3 doctors walking on the beach & one found a lamp - rubbed it and a genie came out and offered him 3 wishes. He asked if he could share them with his two friends and it was granted.

1st doctor: I'm a general practitioner and I want to be 25% smarter - think of the people I could help.

genie: (poof) it's granted

2nd dr: well, I'm a neurologist and I want to be 50% smarter think of the difference I could make in peoples lives.

Genie: fine (poof) your 50% smarter

3rd dr: I'm a cardiologist and know pretty much everything but I want to be 100% smarter.

genie: I must caution you - once I grant you wish it can't be taken back.

3rd dr: I told you what I want and I want it now!

Genie: Fine, (poof) you're a nurse!.

It will get easier, just be as prepared as you can when you call the doc. If you don't know the answer - admit so - but say you'll find out. review what you want to tell the doc and what you expect from the doc when you call with an experienced nurse or charge nurse.

hang in there.

DyeRN · Sep 21, 2005

MamaTheNurse, would you mind posting the items from the "calling a doctor cheat sheet" from your facility? That would be really helpful. Thank you.

That sounds like a great idea.I still have problems too when calling the Docs.I would like to take a look at that sheet.It would help a lot :rolleyes:

Thanks

Dye

AC439 · Sep 21, 2005

Definitely can related to this here. I'm a new nurse and got thrown into a med/surg unit (before I took nclex) with very minimal orientation. My first day was with a so called experienced RN following her around watching nothing but her complaints to everything. On my 2nd day and so on, I was spinned off alone and told to ask if there is any questions. I understand the staff nurses are already busy enough so that's not their fault. Anyway, without knowing much fresh out of school, calling MD has been my biggest fear. First of all, I don't know enough to talk smart on the phone and the MD will know it right away I'm a new nurse. Secondary, I may not be able to provide the MDs a quick answer from the massive information in the chart (if they do ask for something specific). But my experiences with calling MD have been good so far. I'd say most of them are nice and show an understanding attitute, especially when I tell them I'm new and still learning. There is a doctor that always giving me encouragement at the end of the call. I have been only working for 2 months and only licensed for one month. But I have learned a lot (mostly survival skills). I think I'm concerning less about the MD getting mad at me if I call them at 1am, but I'm much more concerning about my patients if I don't call the MD with a critically bad lab result or a wracky EKG. I think the MDs will more appreciate if we look after the labs/diag and inform them promptly. Just my 2cents.

cabgrn2 · Sep 21, 2005

That sounds like a great idea.I still have problems too when calling the Docs.I would like to take a look at that sheet.It would help a lot
Thanks
Dye

There is a well studied "cheat" sheet call the "SBAR" - follows is short version

S=situation - your name, pt name & room #, problem calling about

B=background - date of adm, adm. dx. pertinent medical hx, brief synopsis of the tx to date

A=assessment- most recent VS, O2, pulse ox, changes in assessment

R= recommendation - if the dr isn't ordering what you think the pt needs let him know, our DR.'s tell us they want to know our recommendations even if they don't always choose to follow them (tests you think need done - xray, ABG ---meds needed ----higher level of care --- dr needs to see patient, etc)

jbird125 · Sep 21, 2005

I worked in teaching hospitals for many years, and you know what? Medical students and a lot of first year residents and interns were scared to death that the nurses would think they were stupid!!!

can't agree more, same thing happens over this side of the atlantic, and once you have worked for a period of time in one specific area you will be the one the doctors come up to and ask, you will know what pollicies their consultant likes and then they will look good infront of their seniors and like you all the more

RN_04 · Sep 21, 2005

I'm also a new nurse...well not too new (9 months) and I really hate to call MDs. But, in my experience only two were rude and short with me when I called. It was pretty aggravating, but I got through it. I just don't understand it. You get paid to care for your patient, so why the attitude? There's only so much we can do without an MD order.

Toothbrushx2 · Sep 22, 2005

There is a well studied "cheat" sheet call the "SBAR" - follows is short version
S=situation - your name, pt name & room #, problem calling about
B=background - date of adm, adm. dx. pertinent medical hx, brief synopsis of the tx to date
A=assessment- most recent VS, O2, pulse ox, changes in assessment
R= recommendation - if the dr isn't ordering what you think the pt needs let him know, our DR.'s tell us they want to know our recommendations even if they don't always choose to follow them (tests you think need done - xray, ABG ---meds needed ----higher level of care --- dr needs to see patient, etc)

This is great info that I will use as an LPN.I plan to attend RN school soon.

xdeborahx · Sep 23, 2005

I remember the days too well. There was one particular doctor whom when he came in I hid in the restroom. What can I say. As anew graduate you have a lot to offer us oldtimers. Listen and learn. Your confidence will come as you gain experience. Today i pretty much call a Doctor and tell him what is going on with the patient what I think and what I think the patient needs. Usually they concur. If not most just give the orders they prefer. You will always encounter the one who is a JERK. I say he/she would be a JERK rather they were a DR, Trashman or any other profession. GOOD LUCK

nursen06 · Sep 24, 2005

i totally understand how the op feels. when i worked in an md's office i hadn't had too many dr's yelling at me, i've had a few charts tossed at me.......from the younger docs having little temper tantrums. :uhoh3: then they lamely try to apologize later by 'trying' to joke with me. puhleeze...