How do you deal with Doctors that insult nurses?

[relusanmi]

I am a new nursing grad working in an acute care setting. My job specifications require me to call MD's at frequent intervals for lab results and change in health status of my patients. I have since found out that most of the MD's that are attached to the facility where I work get upset whenever you contact them about their patients, leading them to be rude in the way they address nurses.

There's is this particular one that all nurses in the facility dread to call even in critical situations. I have been seriously bothered by this situation that I began to wonder if I am in a wrong profession. I am not used to being disrespected and I think I may snap one of these days.

I just need your candid advice on how to deal with situations like this.

[Concerto_in_C, BSN, RN]

Aha. And how do you deal with nurses who insult nurses, which makes up 99% of the abuse in the workplace?

Never met a doctor who insulted nurses in 10 years of practice. Never been insulted by a physician even when I acted incompetently must have driven him/her nuts.

[Spiker, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

Just because as Nurses, we're expected to respect our physicians, doesn't mean we have to be doormats! I'm fortunately at retirement age (65), & many of the docs I work with in the OR are now much younger than I am. Many of them realize I have a lot of years and experience under my belt, & respect that. They know I can operate along with them, fully knowing what they need, & how to handle equipment. It wasn't always that way, when I was a new grad in the 70's. I did quickly learn, though, that when a doc was upset about something, not to take it personally. I also learned to stand up to him or her (usually a "him") if they got too disrespectful, as I was taught in order to get respect, you had to give respect. So yes, I have talked back to surgeons, but using a quiet, firm voice got the best results. The one time one didn't calm down, & threw an Asepto syringe, I ended up yelling back & kicking said syringe (now on the floor of the OR, & no longer sterile) across the floor. He just looked at me.....and you know what? Ever since, he's been better at controlling his temper: he did get angry a few times now & again, but knew I'd stand up for myself. Again: to earn my respect, they have to give me, my knowledge, experience, & my position the respect I'm due. Don't be afraid to expect the same. And to repeat: speaking slowly, in a firm, quiet voice, usually helps. Good luck!

[Mhsrnbsn]

I had a doctor tear me to shreds about a patient that I eventually had to call a rapid response on and needed transfer to the ICU. After the patient and family were gone I approached him while he was chatting the event and said "Dr._____ I know this was a stressful situation but I am highly offended and hurt about how you spoke to me. I didn't find it professional at all."

He continued to be a jerk stating its not "my job to feel" and several explicatives this website will edit to lil stars anyway... And even took a few jabs stating that if I'm "too weak to handle a little tough talk I'll never make it as a nurse"

holding back a lot of choice words and some tears... I knew he had a wife and daughter so I tried a different approach. "I'm sorry you feel that way about me sir... But what would you think or feel is someone spoke to your daughter or wife the way you've just been speaking to me? Because while I may not be an important person to you... I am someone's little girl, I am someone's wife."

he he became very quiet... Said nothing and left. I reported the incident to his medical director, my manager and my CNO. He had to issue me a formal apology and go to sensitivity classes. And since I haven't seen him in ages I am assuming my facility either did not renew his contract or he quit.

[TJballzack]

Doctors as a whole are pieces of ****. You have to treat them as such. Who is he going to complain to? Your manager? About what? That you're getting him critical info about his patient? That's his ******* job! Tell the family what he's doing and offer to testify against this piece of trash if their loved one experiences a poor outcome. Your testimony against him on the witness stand will go a long way. You may even be able to destroy his life. Never hit first and always hit back 10 times harder.

[Spiker, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

@Tjballzack: Are you even an RN? Your post makes me think not.....you certainly don't exhibit any professionalism or intelligence. If you have issues with a physician, this isn't the place nor manner to deal with it. If you can't communicate with said physician for whatever reason, use your chain of command! Blasting him in a public forum, & telling his patients that he has bad outcomes is unethical. This doc can also file a complaint and/or suit against you for libel. If this physician is truly incompetent, it needs to be handled in a professional manner, through appropriate channels. Encouraging other actions is wrong.w