Nurses Talk To Nurses. Doctors Talk To Doctors

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I am pleased so many of you seem to have managers that stick up for you and support you, it is so many steps in the right direction.

Unfortunately I still think there are many places out there who do not support their nurses

[Who?Me?]

I find that the docs with the worst behavior actually are stunted socially-never learned how to play well with others.

Redirection will work with some, flat out telling others to stop talking to you like that this instant works with others, and others will just get written up and brought before their peers in a review board and counseled.

I don't care how tired, overworked, underappreciated you are Ms/Mr Doctor--I do not get spoken to that way and neither does my staff.

I also would have never spoken to anyone who is employed by that MD other than in a professional manner.

Remember the hospital is just like middle school or high school--everyone is in a click and talking behind each other's backs even when you don't think they are.

[Julius Seizure]

There were signs all over the nurse's station saying "No drinks allowed".

When he came out, his coffee cup was gone and I was trying not to smirk. He looked at me and said "Where is my coffee?!?". "The charge nurse threw it away" I said. "We can't have drinks at the nurse station." /QUOTE]

Our charge nurse will throw the nurses drinks away but if its a docs coffee, she will let it slide. What! Rules are rules people!

[Melina]

I love this thread! The LTACH where I work has a lot of the issues you all speak of. I am planning on taking on this issue for my master's comps. I was inspired by the reports by the ACCN (Relevant Research) about reducing medical errors by speaking up when another professional is acting inappropriately or dangerously.

[lorirn58]

I also would have never spoken to anyone who is employed by that MD other than in a professional manner.

Please do not 'admonish' the OP on this point as she already explained her reaction to all of us. Try to understand instead.

BTW, not 'click'. The correct word is 'clique'.

[royhanosn]

nothing has changed, nothing will. For all the BS marketing about health care coming into the 21st century, the relationship between dr & nurse has not and will not change. Dr are self employed and employed by the hospital, They paid for the privilege to practise at that hospital. If you approach with out a whinny attitude and mother superior ideas, you will get along fine. Remember their butt is on the line when they sign a patient for a procedure or drugs.

[TexasDew]

I cannot believe that the administration let this happen at all!!! In the 1980's one doctor yelled at me at the front desk in front of staff and visitors...it never happened again. I was not the person he was angry with but I was the one he choose to yell at. I immediately looked at him and said "everyone is looking at you make a Jack-ass out of yourself" and invited him to move to a private area. He turned red and walked off the unit. He later apologized and he showed more respect for me throughout our time working together. I am not somebody who considers what the consequences of my actions when these things happen, I just do it. Yes I could have gotten fired but I will not allow anyone to degrade me that way.

Until nurses start standing up for their rights (and if that involves filing a lawsuit) then these things will continue to happen. I am happy to see the comments about those who have stood up for themselves in one way or the other. Doctors are not 'gods' even if they think they are. It is time that they learn this is not acceptable behavior and the only way that will happen is if nurses fight back. Don't pick a fight but don't take the abuse.

[royhanosn]

ego. in todays age of so called progressive thinking, we are still the master/servant. Unless you are good working relationship with the doctor, and contribute ideas he can work with...well, think ahead. Dont be so female, start developing a thick skin. The doctor is the one, and something tells me I wrote this a few post back. His ass is on the line. To spell is out: his signature.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

Not everywhere is like that. My workplace has a zero tolerance policy for any sort of lateral violence beyond employees, including MD to RN, RN to MD, RT to RN, MD to CNA, etc. If anyone talks to you disrespectfully, regardless of your status or their status, you can report them and it WILL be addressed. As a result, I have never had a bad encounter with a MD - granted, I am still a nursing student and work as a CNA, but even in the student/CNA role I can talk to MDs and expect to be treated respectfully. I would personally find another job in a facility that does not tolerate lateral violence if I had your experience, but that is just me. I realize it's not always possible to leave your current job, for whatever reason.

[docomo]

I'm a male nurse, and believe it or not, us men encounter the same problems. Last year I took a job an ER. After only a few months on the job things were beginning to look grim. On several occasions, I'd observed the ER director, a woman, being verbally abusive and bullying her nurses. (yelling at people in front of others, scolding or talking to nurses like she was their mommy) It was as if her behavior hinged on her mood, also, her bad attitude seemed to bring out the worst in some of the other nurses and doctors.

Once the situation became clear in my mind, I resigned and started looking for a new job. It's just not worth the stress that these kind of people will put you through if you stay, and nothing you can do or say is going to change them. I was unemployed for a few months, but now have a nursing job that I love and I'm working with great people.

My advice is for you or for anyone in your situation is to walk away from any job where the doctors or supervisors treat you in any way that is less than professional. If you feel the need to let them know why you left your job, wait until after you have a new job somewhere else, and write a professional and informative letter to someone in the executive level of the organization.

[GFocker92]

I'm a fairly new nurse, I finished school about a year ago and have been working for around 6 months, and I really like my job, the nurses I work with are all very friendly, professional, and willing to help, some of the doctors can be a little different. The other day after a LONG 12 hour shift, a patient asked me about what a urostomy tube was, she was a little confused as she already had one. Somehow or another I mixed up urostomy with nephrostomy when I was explaining, little did I know, the urologist had stepped into the room quietly behind me, and proceeded to groan, make a snide comment (in front of the patient). I realized my mistake apologized and said I mixed up the urostomy tube with nephrostomy and got out of there. What really annoyed me was how he did this in front of the patient, a simple "You're thinking of a nephrostomy" would have been sufficient and more professional. I've seen some doctors come into a patient room (for the first time) not even introduce themselves, put a stethoscope on the patients chest and walk out without even a nod. I also saw a doctor scold a grown woman like she was a child about not following up with a particular treatment that was VERY expensive without even considering that not everyone can afford a single treatment that costs hundreds or thousands of dollars each month.

[Miss Lizzie]

I feel fortunate that abusive behavior is not tolerated in my hospital. Several months ago a doctor called me into one of my patients' rooms and started screaming at me and belittling me in front of my patient and his adult daughter. It turned out that the patient's daughter had been upset with the doctor because of lack of communication on his part. He decided to call me in the room and scream at me in an attempt to make me the scapegoat.

I told him that I understood what he was saying and attempted to end his tirade and leave the room and he followed me into the hall and yelled at me all the way down the hall and back to the nurse's station.

Shortly after that, my charge nurse noticed that I looked upset and called me into the med room to have a private conversation with her and my supervisor.

My supervisor reported the doctor to our manager and filled out an incident report about the doctor's behavior. My manager reported him to the medical director. I haven't seen that doctor back at my hospital since that incident.

Also, I found out later that the patient's daughter didn't fall for his rotten attempt to put blame on me. She went up to him and told him that he had no right to talk to anyone so disrespectfully.