Should a nurse suggest a different doctor?

[brownbook]

If a floor nurse in an acute care hospital witnesses a doctor being rude and dismissive to a patient, minimizing the patient's complaints or symptoms. What should the nurse do?

Yeah, maybe the patient is well known to the doctor, maybe the patient is being overdramatic. But what if as far as the nurse knows and sees, the be patient has some valid complaints. At the least the doctor's bedside manner is inappropriate!

I'm not talking about a psych unit.

Would it be wrong for the nurse to give the patient a list of doctors with privileges at the hospital who cover the same service?

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

It's tricky when you are walking in a situation "cold." But, you could inquire gently with the patient, how it's going and if they feel as though their care and communication with their physician is going well.

If not, then refer them to the Patient Representative. I say this because they have the power to call the Doc "on the carpet" to straighten him out if they need to, and it's a free service for the patient.

If this particular doctor is really a problem being rude to the patients, the facility needs and wants to be informed. And, if needed, they will take steps.

If the patient in the meantime, states a desire for a new physician, then and only then would I offer some names that they might research. Their insurance has to o.k. with it too don't forget.

But I think it is great that you care enough to ask that question. It's a great one.

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

I do not allow personal feelings about a physician into a professional conversation.

That said if a patient complains about a physician, then I word my response something like. "Not getting along like buddies isn't a good reason to request a different physician. As a patient you should act on what you feel is best for your health. That is what is important."

Health is the most important, but how a patient feels about her doc can affect her health and prevent her from follow through. If a doctor and a patient aren't a good fit, it can hinder not help. I must respectfully disagree with this.

I drive 100 miles round trip to my own physician, even though there is coverage in my area. Why? I trust him. He spotted things that others missed. He listens and when he doesn't agree, he gently explains why and it makes perfect sense because he takes the time.

I did give the local docs an opportunity to do a pre-op physical before a total right shoulder replacement. If I had not been a nurse, I wouldn't have noticed the unsafe short cuts he was taking, particularly with my history, of which he should have been aware since it's in the chart. He barely looked at it.

I thanked him for his time and drove to my own doc and got it done right.

That's all.

[Delia37, MSN]

Many years ago, I had a new admission whose niece happened to be someone I went to nursing school (many moons ago). That particular patient had a brain tumor and the neurosurgeon (who had a reputation around the area) was pushing to had surgery that very same night. After catching up, the ex classmate asked me point blank, "is my uncle in safe hands"...looking into her eyes, I said "...no, he needs surgery but I'd get another surgeon. The next day, with the assistant of a case manager, the patient was transferred out to another facility for "higher level of care".

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Well done.

[trytounderstand]

I have learned to listen very carefully to nurses. There may be a slight hesitation and a comment made such as you have a right to refuse, if you don't want the test you don't have to do it. If you have changed your mind we can stop. Or even just watching their eyes when a doctor is in the room. You can tell. Recently, I realized after watching a nurse's reaction during a hospital visit that this doctor was not the one that should be treating the patient. The nurse did not say a word just the expression in the eyes were enough when the doctor became a little condensing to the patient and actually smirked as he turned away after answering a question. The nurse's eyes met mine and I knew it was time for a second opinion.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

It's worth remembering that the physician is the income generator in the hospital, so if there was ever a complaint the facility would have no qualms about tossing you out on your ear in lieu of the doctor. The hospital will always side with the physician. If the physician makes a complaint about you, you're toast.

We have a doctor here who has done many things to concern a great number of us. Can't go into details but he appeared in court for a serious offense and somehow managed to keep his license. It was all over the news. We were told that anyone even bringing in a copy of the newspaper onto the premises would be fired. We were instructed not to talk about it. He is a rude, mean little man, and if anyone asked me outright I would suggest they look elsewhere for their care, but I would not intervene in an existing patient relationship. He is also particularly venomous and sadistic so I'd never want to get into the middle of an argument with him. He'd take great pleasure in getting any nurse fired. Tread carefully. All it takes is the doctor asking the patient why they no longer wish to proceed with the surgery, and the patient innocently saying "oh Nurse X told me not to". Bad.