New to OR -need advice -arrogant rude surgeon

Published

Have been in OR for about 3 weeks as a circulator. Really do love it and the majority of the docs/surgeons are great. There is one that makes me feel completely inadequate and is just down right rude to me. I was in a hurry to get back to a pt and accidentally walked in front of him and he just stood there looking at me like I was stupid -I said excuse me -sorry and he says sarcastically excuse me! Another nurse saw the exchange and later said he was out of line. He also has little temper tantrums if things go wrong and somehow always manages to make me feel like it was my fault. I don't know if he does not realize how new I am or if he is just that much of an arrogant jerk! Any time I ask him a question-he just looks at me like I am stupid and won't answer. If the behavior continues w/him -what would be the best course of action? Confront him or go to my manager? Or just ignore till I build a rapir w/him?

I'm getting ready to move to the OR from PACU. Super excited. But back to the point. When I was new in PACU one of the other nurses had just gotten a patient and it was an ortho surgery so I was getting an ice pack for her. I asked her where he needed it, and the surgeon, walked up and said, "Well, what kind of surgery did he have? If you don't know where he needs it based on that information, what are you even doing here?" I looked him dead in the eye and said, "I'm sorry Doctor so-and-so, Cindy was the one who took report and I'm helping her get him settled, so I don't know what exactly you fixed on this gentleman" and just grinned at him like an idiot. He just stared at me for a second, started laughing, told me that they did a medial meniscectomy and that I'd do just fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cath lab, acute, community.

The best thing you can do is ignore him and act professionally. In surgery this is 100% guaranteed. Doctors can be arrogant. Watch how others handle it, or ask how others have handled it. Blowing up and being upset about it is pointless and it will just hurt you more in the future. It is so so so so so annoying and seriously he is at a disadvantage.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've been an OR nurse for 5 years and learned it is all in how you ask the question. Instead of asking, "what position would you like to go in for this procedure?" take a guess and say, "lithotomy right?" The first way a surgeon is going to assume you have no clue what you are doing and you're going to get a sarcastic, "the same position we always go into." If you take a guess and you are wrong, they will correct you, but it looks like you kind of know what you are doing. Make sense? And at some point you just have to put him in his place if it is someone you will be working with a lot. It will go one of two ways. 1. You get kicked out and never have to work with him again. or 2. He gains respect for you and realizes you can't be walked all over. I've stood up to surgeons that were condescending or rude and after I did, they started requesting me in their room regularly. Like I said, the worst that happens is they kick you out. Just hold your ground, "in a professional manner."

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't go complaining to your Manager just yet. You've been there a very short time. Just try to stay away from him if possible. If not, just either ignore him as much as you can or just kind of smile briefly and go about your business.

If his ratty attitude continues after you are totally on your feet - say a few months from now - then you might want to test the waters and see how he reacts if you say something like "You're nicer to me now than you were at first". But I don't think you should c/o about him just yet. Or maybe ever. Unless he's sexually inappropriate or violent or very disrespectful, just do your job.

As people have said, he likely doesn't fully trust you yet, which is understandable because you are so new there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room.

I am going to say something that many people may not agree with. But, there are times you have to stand up and give it right back to them. I look at most surgeons as overgrown toddlers. Always pushing their limits to see what they can get away with and if they know you are intimidated, they'll keep doing it. I look at it this way, worse that can happen is you get thrown out of their room and then you don't have to deal with them anymore. Also, if you do choose to give it back to them, remain professional. No swearing or yelling, you can get a point across without either of those.

It has worked for me. I have only been thrown out once, it was a female surgeon who had been pushing my buttons all week so I gave it back to her. Sure, I got thrown out, but she treated people better after that, from what I was told. It was worth it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
But, there are times you have to stand up and give it right back to them. I look at most surgeons as overgrown toddlers.

This. Especially the overgrown toddlers part. Standing up to them correlates to them respecting you as someone who will not take their crap.

It has worked for me. I have only been thrown out once, it was a female surgeon who had been pushing my buttons all week so I gave it back to her. Sure, I got thrown out, but she treated people better after that, from what I was told. It was worth it.

And they seem to think that being thrown out of the room is punishment... Nope, it's a reward!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

And they seem to think that being thrown out of the room is punishment... Nope, it's a reward!

Lol! I aspire to be thrown out of a room!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in RN.
I am going to say something that many people may not agree with. But, there are times you have to stand up and give it right back to them. I look at most surgeons as overgrown toddlers. Always pushing their limits to see what they can get away with and if they know you are intimidated, they'll keep doing it. I look at it this way, worse that can happen is you get thrown out of their room and then you don't have to deal with them anymore. Also, if you do choose to give it back to them, remain professional. No swearing or yelling, you can get a point across without either of those.

It has worked for me. I have only been thrown out once, it was a female surgeon who had been pushing my buttons all week so I gave it back to her. Sure, I got thrown out, but she treated people better after that, from what I was told. It was worth it.

Good for you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Great advice I've been nurse for 1yr of which time I've had to learn floor nursing, PACU, Outpatient, preadmitian and OR. I have been pretty much told by physicians that I was incompetent because I don't know where everything is and I still make mistakes. I've been told that I did good in PACU and OP and OR takes time really thinking of leaving becuase I'm tired of feeling like a failure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Im not saying that all surgeons are jerks. Some of them have the Napoleon Bonapart (sorry for the spelling) mindset. Some of them were bullied when they were on their teens and now they're trying to prove themselves. There's this one surgeon who is just plain jerk, and none of the nurses in our OR wants to work with him. I later found his soft side and he admitted that he's a geek, got bullied in his younger years and now wants to prove himself, does bullying staff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

1st time in OR many years ago...circulating...Neuro case...surgeon hid sponges in bag at his feet...after counting x2...asked them where 2 sponges were or would call in X-ray...surgeon had them under shoe....made some comment....laughed at me as I left when case over in hall...turned around quick shot him a bird...he turned around and said "good girl...that is how u handle surgeons and gain respect...give them same back with a smile and a bird" Later when I was Open Heart/Vascular/Trauma Team Manager...vascular surgeon who I knew called me a *****...called him a b*****d back...never said it again and four surgeons I was scrubbed doing double case...all laughed and said laughing..."way to go, Pam"

You MUST give it back, or u will NOT have their respect. I was the RN all surgeons called to scrub or assist in difficult cases when could no heart case.

Pam

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I got thrown out of a room (and have not been scheduled with the surgeon since) simply because he didn't want anyone in his room who is learning the OR. I know this is true, because he told me himself. But, he is so condescending and mean, I am extremely relieved not upset. The other surgeons in my specialty are nicer so I am learning in a better environment now anyway. The saddest part is this surgeon is the head of the department and should be the one encouraging learning. Why he thinks making new nurses feel like crap and want to quit will make more experienced nurses somehow pop up out of nowhere is beyond me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion