New here and venting already

jjjoy, LPN · Apr 26, 2007

You should have done exactly what you did. In neither case were you being totally unreasonable - even if the docs may think so. You were putting your patients first and taking care of them.

What you do next time MIGHT be different based upon the not very politely delivered feedback you got from the docs and how important you judge the particular situation to be.

You've been doing this for 2 years already so I imagine that your judgement is pretty good on these things. You'd have already heard about it if you were guilty of calling docs all the time for "silly" things.

Since you say this doesn't happen often (doc being upset and bringing tears to your eyes), this sounds like an aberration - maybe they both had bad days and they took their frustration out on you.

Or maybe you were having a bad day and their being snappy and rude affected you more than it usually would?

steelcityrn, RN · Apr 27, 2007

If patient number 1 was having wheezes or resp complications from not having his nebs, I would have called also. If he was asking about them and not in need of one right then, I would have assured him a note for the m.d. would be left.....On the other patient, since he was not ready to have a advanced diet, I would have explained to him that since he had no flatus yet and hypoactive bowel sounds, he would not be ready for a advanced diet, but you would also leave a note for the m.d. on the chart to address his desire.

jsully13 · Apr 27, 2007

I think you completely did the right thing. I hate when I page a doc and the first words out of his/her mouth are "I hope this is important because I'm really busy!" Like I have nothing better to do than call you and talk to you about unimportant things. Sometimes I feel like saying "I bet you're not as busy as me right now!".

Here is the other thing I learned quickly from working in PACU. I work with VARIOUS different docs (surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, blah, blah) and they all have different opinions on how to handle things and what is important and unimportant. And they all expect us to know their preferences, right? Wrong. I refuse to feel guilty or embarrased for asking a question that will help me care for my patients in the best way. They can deal with a 30 second phone call from me.

Hope this makes you feel better!

chuckc, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2007

If patient number 1 was having wheezes or resp complications from not having his nebs, I would have called also. If he was asking about them and not in need of one right then, I would have assured him a note for the m.d. would be left.....On the other patient, since he was not ready to have a advanced diet, I would have explained to him that since he had no flatus yet and hypoactive bowel sounds, he would not be ready for a advanced diet, but you would also leave a note for the m.d. on the chart to address his desire.

:yeahthat: I agree. I am a new nurse, but my preceptor has made a point to teach me what can wait and what can't.

RJ---RN · Apr 27, 2007

You did the right thing. Some of those docs are SUCH primadonnas!!!!!!:trout:

Stand your ground.

I called a doc one time to tell him his patient had just arrested, and we were coding him. I went through the whole scenario, and then silence on the other end of the line..............then he called me a bleepin liar and HUNG UP ON ME!!!!!!!!! :devil:

I called him right back and said "Don't ever hang up on me when I am trying to tell you something about your patient!!!" Well.......more silence then he said...."I'm sorry, you are right." After that he and I had a really great working relationship ....mutual respect.

Hang in there!

chuck1234 · Apr 27, 2007

hi! i've been reading here for quite some time but was not a member. i've been an rn for almost two years now and today was the first time a doctor upset me enough to bring tears to my eyes. i decided that it was time for some nursing companionship. of course, i can tell my finance, but he doesn't really understand like another nurse would.

so, anyway, to my day, first my one patient takes duonebs at home, but did not have them ordered postop and he was requesting one. i page the md. he calls me back and says this better be important 'cause i'm in a conference right now. what does he think i'm calling him just to talk? trust me he's not that fun to talk to.

then, another patient was on sips of cl after major abdominal surgery with an ng to lcs, hypoactive bs, and no flatus. he's going on and on about wanting to advance his diet. of course i teach him about why that can't happen, but all he says over and over is that he wants to talk to his doctor. so i page the md and transfer him in the room. after they talk the doc askes for me and is all upset because he was paged for a silly reason, like his patient wants to talk to him. then he wanted to talk to the charge nurse. i was upset and mad and i still think that i did the right thing. it brought tears to my eyes which is not something that i do easily. what do you guys think? what would you have done in that situation? and nice to meet you all.

unless the vital signs of this patient has become unstable or the mental status has changed, most doctors do not want to be called. :nono:

in your case, i do not think i would call the doctor just because the patient wanted to speak with his doctor.

Cattitude · Apr 27, 2007

Unless the vital signs of this patient has become unstable or the mental status has changed, most doctors do not want to be called.
In your case, I do not think I would call the doctor just because the patient wanted to speak with his doctor.

I don't really think a finger wag is necessary here. You may not call the Dr. but if a pt. is demanding to talk to the Dr. I would call the Dr.!

What would you tell the pt.? I'm not calling because most Dr's don't want to be disturbed for petty things like that (tic)?

Seriously, she explained and instructed to the pt. on why he could not advance his diet and he still persisted that he wanted to speak with his MD. Why not page the Dr?

chuck1234 · Apr 27, 2007

I don't really think a finger wag is necessary here. You may not call the Dr. but if a pt. is demanding to talk to the Dr. I would call the Dr.!
What would you tell the pt.? I'm not calling because most Dr's don't want to be disturbed for petty things like that (tic)?
Seriously, she explained and instructed to the pt. on why he could not advance his diet and he still persisted that he wanted to speak with his MD. Why not page the Dr?

Hehe!

You really have a cattitude here...no cat fight.

Unless the doctor is in the building, you doctor is not going to come to talk to the patient anyway. So...why bother to agitate the doctor while you are not going to satisfy this patient anyway. Always do something that you will get the result...kicking the balls around will not help.

luvmy3kids · Apr 27, 2007

I agree that you did the right thing. If I want to talk to MY Dr. then I really want to talk to my doctor and not someone else. You did what you had to do and the Dr. should have been more understanding...

Welcome BTW.... take care,

Jennifer

IngyRN · Apr 27, 2007

You did the right thing. If the MD doesnt want to "bothered" he shouldn't be on call-conference or not!

VegRN · Apr 27, 2007

If patient number 1 was having wheezes or resp complications from not having his nebs, I would have called also. If he was asking about them and not in need of one right then, I would have assured him a note for the m.d. would be left.....On the other patient, since he was not ready to have a advanced diet, I would have explained to him that since he had no flatus yet and hypoactive bowel sounds, he would not be ready for a advanced diet, but you would also leave a note for the m.d. on the chart to address his desire.

This is what i would have done as well.