Doc calls nurse coworkers monkeys...

Nurses Relations

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Once in awhile this ER doc calls the nurses monkeys. Being as I'm new, I haven't heard it for my self yet. The subject just came up when I was telling another nurse that this doc had just explained to another doc on behalf of our new ER Physician Assistant that 'PA school is like nursing school, but for smarter people.' :nailbiting:

How would you interact with someone who has such an apparent disdain for nurses and other health care personnel?

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

Good Gawd, target98765 - could those doctors have been any less professional? Pretty unbelievable. A nurse at work told me a few days ago what a NP said in front of her, which was pretty bad, but still not as bad as your story.

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I have been a nurse over 20 years. Seen a lot, heard a lot, called a lot.

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I have been a nurse over 20 years. Seen a lot, heard a lot, called a lot. What is so awesome about nursing is overhearing that doctor telling a resident that you are there to assist them, get them what they need, etc. Still happens and I am convinced many doc still think we are their handmadiens.

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When I've been spoken to inappropriately, I've found that an immediate and hard "EXCUSE ME?" followed by dead silence and a direct stare at the offender will usually result in an almost immediate apology. It works with almost any personality because people hate silence in any interaction. If I didn't get the desired result (an apology and no further insults) I'd be headed to HR.

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I've been nursing for long in the United Kingdom and don't tolarate such abuse from doctors, he/ she needs to be but in the right place, we work as a team, you are a nurse by choice, there is nothing special about being a doctor, all you need to do is challenge him/her and put that to an end, there's no need to go to HR for that. Over here that doctor would've regretted saying derogatory words ages ago. We work in partnership, we nurses are in control as we spent more time and know more about the patients. Maybe there you respect doctor too much and they take advantage of that please don't just give respect were its not due. Be confident to challenge the doctor and write an incident report against him and make sure that doctor gets disciplined don't just bury your head in the sand and do nothing about it. Good luck

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I've been nursing for long in the United Kingdom and don't tolarate such abuse from doctors, he/ she needs to be but in the right place, we work as a team, you are a nurse by choice, there is nothing special about being a doctor, all you need to do is challenge him/her and put that to an end, there's no need to go to HR for that. Over here that doctor would've regretted saying derogatory words ages ago. We work in partnership, we nurses are in control as we spent more time and know more about the patients. Maybe there you respect doctor too much and they take advantage of that please don't just give respect were its not due. Be confident to challenge the doctor and write an incident report against him and make sure that doctor gets disciplined don't just bury your head in the sand and do nothing about it. Good luck

It is unfortunate, but we had an a few incidents of doctors doing things, one was creaming at our charge nurse and threw things at her; she had to run into the ladies room to escape him and he pounder on the door and was still screaming at her. Another was a doc telling a preceptor that a newbie wasn't "cute" enough to work with him and them proceeded calling the newbie a dude and a guy. Both of these docs had to do nothing more than issue an insincere apology end of story; no suspension, no counseling, etc. They continue their behavior to this day, so no one bothers to report it because nothing happens, however if a nurse acted that way they would be escorted out immediatly. It's no comfort being told by nursing management "if you don't like it, there is the door. For every one of you there are two nurses waiting to replace you."

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It is unfortunate, but we had an a few incidents of doctors doing things, one was creaming at our charge nurse and threw things at her; she had to run into the ladies room to escape him and he pounder on the door and was still screaming at her. Another was a doc telling a preceptor that a newbie wasn't "cute" enough to work with him and them proceeded calling the newbie a dude and a guy. Both of these docs had to do nothing more than issue an insincere apology end of story; no suspension, no counseling, etc. They continue their behavior to this day, so no one bothers to report it because nothing happens, however if a nurse acted that way they would be escorted out immediatly. It's no comfort being told by nursing management "if you don't like it, there is the door. For every one of you there are two nurses waiting to replace you."

The nurse should have filed charges on the doc who threw objects at her. That is battery. Maybe legal action would get the attention of your spineless management.

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The nurse should have filed charges on the doc who threw objects at her. That is battery. Maybe legal action would get the attention of your spineless management.

You didn't hear it from me, but the nurse was pretty much told she would be fired if she considered legal action.

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It is unfortunate, but we had an a few incidents of doctors doing things, one was creaming at our charge nurse and threw things at her; she had to run into the ladies room to escape him and he pounder on the door and was still screaming at her.

That physician crossed the line from rude/unprofessional to criminal. He have been made to face the consequences of his actions.

You didn't hear it from me, but the nurse was pretty much told she would be fired if she considered legal action.

To me this a choice between one's self-respect and a job. That choice would be easy for me. I realize that losing a job may result in financial hardship that puts a lot of stress on an individual but I think it's still the lesser evil of the two. Working in a place where you can be assaulted by your coworkers at any random time and knowing that this is condoned by management is in my opinion a stressor in itself. Why would anyone subject themself to that?

What does "the nurse was pretty much told" mean? Did the nurse manager spell it out?

I would have filed charges with the police as soon as the first object was airborne and aimed in my general direction, never mind the rest of the physician's deplorable behavior. I don't know US law but in my country making the threat to fire me if I filed charges, would also amount to a crime (unlawful coercion). I would inform my yellow-bellied nurse manager about this and ask her if she fancies a stint in jail. While at it I'd also ask her how she thought this would play out in the media... Psycho physician assaults nurse, nurse's employer threatens nurse with dismissal in an effort to cover up psycho physician's crimes...

Now, it's easier for me. I live in a country with strong unions and where physicians aren't considered income-generaring deities. I also know the law well enough that I would have restrained the physician myself and placed him under arrest (if this situation transpired in a non-patient area).

Caving to the nurse managers scare tactics literally amounts to giving the physician the green light to keep doing what he's doing. That's not acceptable. Someone has to stand up to him. There's strength in numbers. This is a situation where coworkers should have each others backs and testify in support of the victim of his abusive behavior.

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Gosh,this is 2016 and nurses are being abused like this.If any one throws anything at me,I will call the police.Most of the bad behaviors have to stop.I am old now,but when I was younger,if you call me a name,i will repeat it back to you.All my professional life,i have never being scared of losing my job,because I believe if one door closes,another one opens.By the way,I am an African with an accents and the works,but i will not tolerate stuff from so called professionals,Life is too short for misery.

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Specializes in Emergency.

An A-hole is an A-hole no matter what the profession. I can only imagine what he says about the patients.

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You didn't hear it from me, but the nurse was pretty much told she would be fired if she considered legal action.

While it's quite understandable that such intimidation would frighten many of us, it is not right for the nurse to just acquiesce to this B's in Admin and Management. They need to consult attorneys and government agencies that deal with these criminal acts and disrespect.

Maybe the nurse didn't c/o to the authority high enough to fix this situation immediately. Get a lawyer and fear be damned. Shame on you for letting them bulldoze you like this. Go to the media.

The doctor is mentally ill or sleep-deprived or who knows what, but this behavior is totally not acceptable.

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