Had my first doctor scream at me today

Nurses Relations

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I am a new grad. This is my last week on orientation.. Well today was horrible! Nothing went right! I was crazy busy.. I couldn't find any of my charts because they tend to "float around." Meaning doctors have them then social work has them... Anyways that is a whole other topic..

Today I was in my patients room and the unit secretary called down there on the intercom. Asked if the patient was in the room. I said yes, why? He said; Just making sure. Well then here comes transport to take my patient downstairs for an XRAY. So I send my patient and everything is fine.

20 minutes later a doctor is asking for the chart. I tell the doctor that the patient is in XRAY. He begins to scream at me saying that he called 30 minutes ago to make sure the patient was here. Said he drove 30 minutes to come see this patient and now the patient isn't in the room. Continued to yell at me about how he didn't have all day to deal with my stupid mistakes. At this point a senior nurse stepped in to back me up (thank god). I called XRAY and the doc ended up going downstairs to see the patient. But I was so embarrassed. Everyone at the station witnessed this. The other doctors were looking at me and shaking their heads. I almost cried and then I remembered how my critical care instructor told us to never let a doctor make us cry. So I sucked it up and went about my day..

I was just so embarrassed and so mad. There had obviously been a miscommunication issue here. I spoke with the unit secretary and he agreed he should of told me why he was checking to see if the patient was there.. Luckily everyone backed me up. But dang!! Doctors can't do their job without us nurses! They need to learn some respect!:angryfire

I gave a little post-op girl Zofran last week for nausea. She'd never had it before, and shortly after getting it, developed hives. As I was turning to call the doc, he walked in and started screaming at me (in front of the girl's parents) about what I gave. I calmly told him, and asked for an order for Benedryl. He started screaming and asked me what, exactly, was IN Zofran. I told him (as politely as possible) that I knew the drug category and it's intended use, but wasn't clear on the chemical makeup...so he started screaming, "Well, what are yous tanding there for? Go get the Benedryl and why in the hell are you giving patients meds when you don't know what they are?" (Still all in front of the family!!!) So...I went in the med room, gathered my senses about me and brushed it off.

I would have asked the Dr. "Why are you asking me what's in it? Don't you know?" And wasn't he the one that prescribed it?

Thats a good answer to that siutation.

Why shouldn't the doctor be upset? I mean, you actually dared to come to work without bringing your magic wand, pixie dust and your ESP ability that should have mysteriously appeared as soon as you passed the NCLEX! :lol2:

I'm kidding sweetie!...you showed more class than I probably would have. I have a tendency to not keep my mouth shut.

Job well done...DESPITE what the %#$@& said!

Really simple.... don't put up with this type of unprofessional behavior.

I would have, very calmly and coolly, in front of the same group of people:

a) said "Doctor, moderate your tone. This is a hospital, not a football stadium."

b) said "I have no control over the xray department and cannot stop them from taking a patient down for a test that you (presumably) ordered."

c) state "I did not talk to you 30 minutes ago, and am not responsible for what you were told. Furthermore, I am not responsible for your commute times."

d) and finally I'd say: "Doctor, I work for this facility; not you. Scheduling your time is your problem; not mine. Don't you dare ever speak to me in such a manner ever again. If you'd like to continue this conversation, we will do it in the DON's or Administrator's office.

I'd then turn my back to him and walk away.

People only have the power over you that you choose to give them.

Clee's response would be appropriate, right?

I don't understand the reasoning that doctors have that it is permissible to address to collegues unprofessionally. Wouldn't it be against policy for employees to interact with each other this way? Also, if a nurse phones a doctor to inquire about a patient, and the doctor starts yelling because he was called and flies off the handle, why not hang up on him (after giving a warning to calm down). They aren't discussing the patient anyway.

This is a question I have had for awhile, and with the OP's experience and posting this, it seems like a good time to ask! lol

BurnerMom

So...I went in the med room, gathered my senses about me and brushed it off.

Why do nurses do this? Why did you not write him up? Why did you not tell him not to speak to you this way? You just brushed it off? Why? As a nurse I don't understand why other nurses allow themselves to be treated like dirt, then turn right around and treat other nurses like dirt. I don't get it, and I never will. It's time to get some back bone-

Specializes in ED.

I'm with Hitman tell him once, warn him once, and then bike racks at 3:00. Bullies fall apart when steped to. I run into this problem with raw ED nurses every once in a while. No bike racks for women though haha

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

File an incident report. It was inappropriate for him to yell at you. Period. End of discussion. You do not have to take it!

Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.
Clee's response would be appropriate, right?

Appropriate? Heck, I don't know.

But I tell you this for a certain fact: I am NOBODY'S "whipping boy". My parents don't talk to me that way; nor do my siblings; nor does my wife or children. I'll be damned if I'll put up with it from some prima donna stuffed-shirt.

I'm normally very polite and good-natured, but I'll stand up for myself against any other person: doctor, patient, coworker, or supervisor that attempts to step on me. I'll just not tolerate it!

If my facility won't back me up, well..... they need my liscense far more than I need their job. I am a nurse - I can find work anywhere.

The sooner the rest of the nursing profession adopts this type of attitude, the sooner it will be unacceptable for us to have to suffer this type of abuse; and that is EXACTLY what it is - abuse.

Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
I once had a doc pitch a little fit about not having a certain supply in the ER. Consulting docs are always coming into our ER and just "grabbing" any ER nurse that happens to be running around tending to her/his own business. They tend to think that we should stop all of our silly ER stuff and fetch stuff for them....

ANYway.....

He threw himself a little tantrum.

Ok, I admit, I am a smartass. It works for me.

I said... "Aww, you're really upset aren't you? Bless your heart. Why don't you just hold tight for a second and I'll page the supervisor to go to surgery to get what you need. OK?" (I was speaking in a tone that you would a 5 year old)

He sputtered and stammered a minute then he sat down and waited.

Turn the tables on them.

Condescension can go both ways.

I admit, not the most professional way to deal with it but I am sure they have had nurses try to deal with them professionally and it obviously didn't work.

This way, I walk off with a big ole grin on my face.

Oh, I hope to God you said this with a really syrupy Southern accent to boot. That was priceless!

Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
BurnerMom

So...I went in the med room, gathered my senses about me and brushed it off.

Why do nurses do this? Why did you not write him up? Why did you not tell him not to speak to you this way? You just brushed it off? Why? As a nurse I don't understand why other nurses allow themselves to be treated like dirt, then turn right around and treat other nurses like dirt. I don't get it, and I never will. It's time to get some back bone-

I did recently write an abuser up. I can overlook a good deal, but that particular episode was more than I could overlook.

I meant to add that another one of my tricks when dealing with "Old Yeller" is to speak with a softer and softer tone, until the person yelling finds he/she has to stop yelling to hear what I'm saying. On the phonem I have resorted to the old "I'm hanging up now. Feel free to call me back when you can discuss this calmly."

Specializes in ICU,ER.
Leah, you're lucky that approach didn't backfire. I wouldn't recommend it.

I'm "lucky"?

I don't know, I guess I am just not easily intimidated.

What could he have done? Whoop up on me? LOL.

Complained about me?

"That nurse treated me like a five year old!!"

You're right, I wouldn't recommend that approach for just anyone.

But I'm totally comfortable with it.;)

Specializes in NICU.

I don't know if it makes me feel better or worse with all of these responses.. I'm glad y'all back me up.. But why does this always happen? Why do doctors think they can treat nurses this way? I mean... Patients are put into the hospital to be treated by NURSES.... Anyways I think the main reason I didn't speak my mind was because of the shock i was experiencing.... And before I opened my big mouth.. a senior nurse stepped in. She told me later that I looked like I was about to crack and that she thought it would be better if she said something than if i was to say something (she has been on the same floor for 25 years). It is nice to have this kind of support.

Anyways... Maybe I should have written him up... Its over and done with now... but I do know that what he did was WRONG!! And I probably will be sticking up for myself more in the future... Gracefully of course... I love to make people feel guilty.. I'm quite good at it actually.. and I think this talent may come in handy in situations like this!

Specializes in pure and simple psych.
BurnerMom

So...I went in the med room, gathered my senses about me and brushed it off.

Why do nurses do this? Why did you not write him up? Why did you not tell him not to speak to you this way? You just brushed it off? Why? As a nurse I don't understand why other nurses allow themselves to be treated like dirt, then turn right around and treat other nurses like dirt. I don't get it, and I never will. It's time to get some back bone-

:yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: Until we refuse to be treated poorly, by anyone, we will have to put up with this stuff.

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