When's the doctor coming in??

Delicate Flower · Jun 7, 2014

Yep. All the time. I'm usually not able to say anything specific, so I go with something vague and non-committal like "they usually do their rounds in the morning between 7:00 and 9:00. Ish."

If they are wanting something in particular, I tell them I can leave a message for the team or address it with the doctor on call if it is an immediate need or request.

richardgecko · Jun 7, 2014

he didn't give me his schedule!

You don't know how bad I want to tell this to patients but I can't because I'd sound like an unpleasant orifice.

RN_2012, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2014

Probably because we do often know about what time they make rounds.

MunoRN, RN · Jun 7, 2014

I always ask is if there is any particular reason they need to speak with the MD, it's almost always something the nurse is there to help them with (what's the plan, etc).

Ayvah, RN · Jun 7, 2014

I've had this happen a lot to me, usually the family asks this because they want to try to be present when the doc comes in (i.e. they don't want to leave to grab a sandwich if the doc may be coming around that time). I just tell them the usual time a doc rounds but also inform them that they can potentially come in at any time.

Also, if I have to call a doctor for whatever reason, I usually ask the patient if there is anything they want me to ask the doc while I'm on the phone with them. This has worked well a few times for me to satisfy the patient/family especially if they have just one or two quick questions/concerns.

allnurses Guide · Jun 7, 2014

Probably because they see us as colleagues and they don't feel well and want to see the doc.

My son had an appendectomy two days ago and I asked the nurses what time the doc usually rounds in the morning. Truly, usually the nurses know more than they think they know. :nurse:

ProgressiveActivist, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2014

Our docs leave a business card on the bedside table.

Since they are also get hcaps scores I tell them to try that number and set up an appointment. If they are reasonable normal humans I will give them a vague range of when the particular md does rounds.

Susie2310 · Jun 7, 2014

I've had this happen a lot to me, usually the family asks this because they want to try to be present when the doc comes in (i.e. they don't want to leave to grab a sandwich if the doc may be coming around that time). I just tell them the usual time a doc rounds but also inform them that they can potentially come in at any time.

When I've been the family member, this is the reason why I have asked.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2014

Yeah, I get that question every single day, too. There is no set schedule for any of our docs; most of them see their most critical patients first, or new admits first. Sometimes they come before their office opens, sometimes after. When my son was a chronic patient (he died of cancer) his doctors would call me at home or work to give me a condition update. When my mother was critically ill, her docs would also give me a call. I have found that is not the case everywhere.

iPink, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2014

I got this question all the time at my previous unit, but I knew the answer because we rounded with them between certain times. We didn't have Residents. At my new unit, I have no idea because nurses don't round with the docs. I usually tell the patients whenever they get here, but they will see you. They are pretty satisfied with that answer.

Sent from iPink's phone via allnurses app

ArtClassRN, ADN, RN · Jun 7, 2014

Tell patients the truth!!

I say, "I have no idea when the doctor will be here and anyone who tells you they know is lying."