OR docs

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Hello,

I heard that some OR docs are very nasty and I'm interested in becoming a new-grad OR RN. I was told that some even throw stuff at nurses and injure them. I can stand being verbally abused but being injured on the job by nasty docs is totally intolerant. I heard that I can't talk back to them due to retribution and they are powerful. I'm asking how you OR nurses or anyone else who has experience in dealing with those docs to help me to deal with those docs. Thx so much. :nurse:

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Specializes in Critical Care.

whoa

i am an RN student who has shadowed in the OR this semester and I have nothing but kind words about the (majority) of OR surgeons.

i have no idea who tried to scare you (maybe a med-surg rn? :p) but it would not be long AT ALL before a surgeon was written up, etc for throwing something at someone. thats completely unprofessional and ridiculous.

and for the record, you shouldn't have to "stand" verbal abuse. if you mess up, or do something that inhibits a surgeon to perform at the best of their capability, then you SHOULD be admonished/corrected, etc. but being called names, personal insults, etc is uncalled for.

doctors/surgeons/lawyers/*whatever other occupation society finds impressive* and every other person out there (should) all be held equally accountable for acting like a decent human being.

best of luck!

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Specializes in OR.

Verbal abuse is NOT okay either. I would not work somewhere where this is tolerated. Go to a place where the hospital holds them accountable and will take away their privileges if they don't get help. It's like dealing with a bunch of little bratty kids most of the time.

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Specializes in OR; Telemetry; PACU.

Ideally? Docs would be held accountable, be 100% professional, and respectful. Reality? It happens that docs throw tantrums, treat nurses and techs like personal servants, and just make life **** sometimes. And Admin..."gotta keep the docs happy."

But then there ARE the docs that are sincerely nice and have zero drama. Those are the assignments you hope to get. I do not know personally of a nurse being hit with anything or by anyone (this would be assault and anyone should file charges). I have been belittled for the first time recently for three cases in a row by the same doc. Went to admin...put back on my shoulders to deal with it. I'm not the first he's gone after. Admin sees him as $$, so he continues. Same in other places honestly. Just learn your stuff.

And as far as new people in the OR or students...it's like a honeymoon period. You don't see the ugly.

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.

I really think those days are over, not to say they don't show their behinds every now and then, but to throw something AT someone....they would be making my house payment...

Being grumpy in a stressful situation is a little different then verbal abuse. They can fuss & cuss all they want if it hits the fan, but do not cuss me.... I think we have come farther than that....

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Specializes in OR, public health, dialysis, geriatrics.

Everything you just described is called assult and every single facility in America has policies against it. If, and this is a HUGE IF, this would happen and the facility didn't do anything to the doc you would have a legal suit not only against the physician but also against the organization for not protecting it's employees.

I have worked in the OR for 12 years and have I had docs yell at me-yep. Usually when I am telling them that they can't do something that isn't on the consent and not related to the original procedure-such as taking a blip off the leg when the patient is consented for a exploratory laparotomy--I kept asking how is the leg blip related to the abdomen? He asked for my manager to come in and she just laughed at him. Next time I worked with him he was nice as pie-got a talking to by the chief of surgery who is a great guy.

Have I heard of incidents where doctors show their behinds and throw things or throw temper tantrums-yes I have, but for the most part those days are long, long gone. Thank goodness.

When someone, anyone, gets angry you have to ask yourself what is causing this? Patient going south? Doc got themselves in over their heads (happens with newer ones), are they experienced versus just out of residency and haven't figured out how to handle the stress, have they been up for over 24 hours, have they eaten, etc.? I am absolutely not asking you or any OR nurse to fix the problem for the doc, I am asking you to be aware that surgeons are just people, sometimes coddled, spoiled people, but people nevertheless and react to stress either well or terribly.

If you are interviewing at a facility you can look at their website and find pics and mini-bios of the surgeons that work there-then google the facility and docs to see what kind of comments are out there, search for facebook pages, LinkedIn pages, etc. Do your research--unfortunately doesn't end after graduation. ;)

Honestly I had more issues with surgeons when I worked the floor than I ever have working in the OR. Some of the ones that were the biggest pains on the floor were the nicest to me in the OR when I transferred departments.

Good luck and just remember surgeons have to put their pants on one leg at a time just like us and bodily functions are the great equalizer: we all have to eat/drink and we all have to take care of the results of that!:lol2:

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

PLEASE throw something at me! I am ready to retire and this would help. Seriously though, bad behavior is unacceptable by anyone, even surgeons. Many years ago we used to have a thrower but that didn't last long after he was talked to by Med Staffing and told they wouldn't tolerate anymore bad behaviour. Luckily we work with some easy going surgeons now and very seldom do we have bad problems. They may yell and rant and rave but mostly they say what they need to say and they move on. Most of us don't take it personally, even though I would like to kill them sometimes! Look, working in the OR can be a stressful time but don't take it personally. After working with some of guys for many years it is like a big family with brothers and sisters that sometimes don't get along. We have more better days than rough days.

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Specializes in 2 years school nurse, 15 in the OR!.

I haven't seen a surgeon throw something at someone in a long time. Once had a scrub walk out at 2 am in the morning after having several instruments tossed at him. That was 10 years ago though. Worst I have had recently is surgeons throwing instruments on the floor because something malfunctioned. They act like babies sometimes. As far as verbal assault, haven't had that in a long time either. About 8 years ago, a surgeon made fun of the way I talk, like I had a speech impediment or something. The surgeons throw fits here and there where I work, but for the most part are good. When they get out of hand our director steps in. They know not to mess with her!:) Not sure what to tell you. The OR is not for the weak hearted, that's for sure. However, taking it to another level is not permitted in most OR's nowadays. Good luck.

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I've never seen anything being thrown AT someone. I've seen them toss something on the floor because it's broken. I've witnessed and been the target of verbal tirades, but I just smile to myself because when my shift is over I can go home. It's usually the heat of the moment. I've been apologized to after cases because alot of times is has nothing to do with you.

Does that make it right? No, not really. We've had some really mean, verbally abusive surgeons. Staff are encouraged to keep reporting it to managers in writing. And it does work!

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