patient for clinical tomorrow is a retired physician?!?!

caliotter3 · Sep 24, 2014

Maybe he will be nice and try to help you out. Doesn't hurt to look at the positive possibilities.

mollysaunt · Sep 24, 2014

Great point. That would be wonderful.

allnurses Guide · Sep 24, 2014

1. He's been there.

2. He's a patient. It doesn't matter what they did for work you treat them the same.

Go get'em!

Sent from my iPhone.

sharpeimom · Sep 24, 2014

Keep in mind that not all physicians are jerks. Some are nice. Don't anticipate trouble. He was a rank beginner once too and he'll remember that.

Remember, any details he adds about his condition will bolster your knowledge. Just treat him as you would any new patient. Tomorrow,

he won't be his doctor self. He'll just be ___(first name) and he doesn't feel good or he wouldn't be in that bed.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 24, 2014

I had to take care of a well-known Pediatrician in our area in my 2nd semester of nursing school. I was kind of freaked out when I found out, since we only get report at the very beginning of our shift. It was actually a wonderful experience. He would ask me what I think I was hearing when I auscultated his lungs & heart and then have me describe it to him. He asked me which labs I thought were most important to monitor for his condition and talked about how he likes to hear report from the nurses when he gets calls from the hospital. It was a VERY pleasant and educational experience.

Here's hoping you have just as good of an experience with your doctor! Good luck

psu_213, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2014

I'm sure he was scared the day he walked into his first clerkship in medical school. Likely he remembers that…he's been in the same position as you. Go in, be confident, and realize that he knows you are a student and knows you there to learn.

On a side note, I have had the opportunity to care for a few retired physicians. While there are always outliers, there were among the kindest, most understanding patients I have had.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2014

((HUGS)) I have found most physicians pretty helpful an kind.

elkpark · Sep 24, 2014

I'm sure he was scared the day he walked into his first clerkship in medical school. Likely he remembers that…he's been in the same position as you. Go in, be confident, and realize that he knows you are a student and knows you there to learn.
On a side note, I have had the opportunity to care for a few retired physicians. While there are always outliers, there were among the kindest, most understanding patients I have had.

Ditto.

MallysMama · Sep 24, 2014

Try to remember that while he used to be a doctor- being a patient may be completely new for him.

And since you're a student, I'm sure he'll understand your jitters!

(I've had a current CVT surgeon as a patient before...one that lots of nurses didn't care for. I actually enjoyed caring for the surgeon and we had some great conversations! I always stuck up for that doc afterwards when nurses would complain! After all- they are just people...flawed like the rest of us!)

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Sep 25, 2014

Get it in your head now. No patient is any different than the other. It does not matter what they did or who they were/are. Treat them all the same and dont get nervous about any of them.

mollysaunt · Sep 26, 2014

Wow, everyone, thanks for all of your amazing advice and anecdotes about caring for physicians. Definitely reduced my anxiety going into the experience. As you all predicted, I had a great experience working with the physician-patient. He expressed interest in my studies and was not put off by being care for by a student. He also gave me some nice practical advice. Great experience in many ways. Not the least of which was that I need to take things as they come with clinical and try not to attach too many preconceived notions to what I think the day will or will not be like. Of course, I will be prepared, but I will try not to get so worked up about each little, tiny thing.