Preconcieved ideas about doctors

[MKS8806]

I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced an issue like this, and what, if anything you or your facility has done about it.

We have a doctor that has a reputation of being extremely rude, arrogant, and scary. There are many nurses that are almost debilitated when he is around, its really rediculous. He is an instructor at a local medical school, so he likes to teach. When we have students or new hires, he likes to ask them questions. This is his way of seeing what you know and seeing what he can teach you. He loves to teach, and he is very good at it. But some people interpret him asking questions as him getting on to them or disrespectful. Yes, he has a lot of power - he is on the board at the hospital and is head of his department. He can - I have seen it - be rude and moody. But he can also be very nice as well.

When he comes onto the unit, people scatter or try to find something to do so they look busy. If I were him, and no one acknowledged me or said anything to me when I came onto the unit, I wouldn't be a happy person either! I have made it a point to say hi to this doctor, regardless if he says hi back, each and every time he comes onto the unit. I've been doing this for approximately 2 months and have seen a vast improvement. He says hi back and even acknowledges me in the hallway outside the unit! He talks to us on my shift, even laughs. We have a good team environment I think and there is an element of trust.

We have had a large turnover rate over the past year. Since then, we have hired several new grads, new nurses to our specialty, new nurses to the facility, or a combination of those. Generally all new employees train on both shifts. One thing that I really hate, is that when the new employees come off of orientation (specifically from the day shift) they have this fear and preconcieved idea of this doctor. They really haven't even worked with him yet!! They only know what they've been told others have experienced or their experience from one or two encounters.

I've had this discussion with my nursing council and manager of the unit. But the problem is not seeming to get resolved. I was wondering if anyone has expereince this on their own units and what, if anything, has been done to change it.

[Karl Farmer]

I had one like that. Finally, I got in his face and said: "I don't know who you think you are, but I for one refuse to be treated like you treat the other staff here. If you don't want to take care of your patients, give them to somebody who does". He was sort of blustered, how dare anyone, you know? But in my case he stopped his nasty attitude cold. He was the type that wanted called after hours for every cough and sneeze, only to scream at nurses for 'wasting my time with that nonsense'. Ugh.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

malloriern, I think you're right to want people to make up their own minds about this guy. But, you may have to do that by example. Change in attitudes about someone are very hard to do with talking. Keep treating the guy with respect, and not scattering like the others, and when this doc begins asking for you, since you're the only one who bothers to address him, eventually someone might get bright enough to find out that they're part of the problem by hiding. Kudos :)

[Old.Timer]

For the most part, we teach people how to treat us.

[Karl Farmer]

For the most part, we teach people how to treat us.

What an amazing piece of enlightenment. That's one for my journal~):redbeathe:rolleyes:

[MKS8806]

Karl Farmer: My post was kind of long, and I think I may have given you the wrong idea. This doctor is perceived to be that way, but I don't think he really is. He encourages you to call him with questions and does have a specific set of preferences that he likes followed with his patients. If you follow them, you don't have problems. But, if you don't call him when he wants to be called, or just assume things instead of asking....well, then you kind of brought it on yourself.

Our doctor preference book is at the nurses station. Every physician that practices on our unit has a page in it where they have listed their preferences as to when they like to be notified, etc. We introduce every new employee to this book and tell them to read through it at the beginning of their shift, for the doctors that are caring for the patient's they are assuming care for, until they have a pretty good idea of what the doctor likes.

I think in general we have a pretty severe case of lateral violence going on currently on my unit - nurse to nurse and nurse to doctor. I have teamed up with the unit educator and we have been trying to boost morale and do some fun things at our staff meetings to help boost the relationships between us at all on a unit level. However, our doctors are not present at our staff meetings....so that really wont help with that.

[Karl Farmer]

I was giving my own example- the doctor had a power struggle going on, and wanted called for every minor detail, even though he had standing orders that were intended to decrease routine calls. Yet every time you would call, he'd start to scream. Maybe he needed a psych eval, but regardless- who has time for such nonsense?

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I'm sorry Op, but he's a big boy and can take care of himself. Your post just kinda stuck me funny I had to . Seriously, he's not some poor misunderstood stray dog or anything. Be careful just to think of everybody at work as strictly business. If you are able to work with the guy, fine. But leave it there, seriously.

[Karl Farmer]

On a positive note, those old school power freak god-wannabe type physicians are gradually being replaced with more human, rational, liberal, easy going types- the types that want to be helpful and professional, and at the same time they don't want their time wasted. The types that you can chat up about anything, and even get free medical advice for yourself, you know?

[MKS8806]

Reply to Onaclearday: I'm sorry that you found this a laughing matter. The problem is, when our new employees are so frightened to work with this doctor and others are egging this idea on by talking bad about this doctor, our retention is suffering. Maybe I shouldn't have stopped where I did in my original post. We have had people quit because they feel they can't work with him. Others are such nervous nellies, they can't think for themselves and almost can't function. We have nurses that cry when others have a CONVERSATION about this doctor. But he's not a bad guy! I've been at this position for a year and I get along just fine with him. With the turnover the way it has been, we can't keep losing people because others are planting ideas in their heads about how horrible this doctor is. Why can't poeple just be given the chance to form their own opinions about people?

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Reply to Onaclearday: I'm sorry that you found this a laughing matter. The problem is, when our new employees are so frightened to work with this doctor and others are egging this idea on by talking bad about this doctor, our retention is suffering. Maybe I shouldn't have stopped where I did in my original post. We have had people quit because they feel they can't work with him. Others are such nervous nellies, they can't think for themselves and almost can't function. We have nurses that cry when others have a CONVERSATION about this doctor. But he's not a bad guy! I've been at this position for a year and I get along just fine with him. With the turnover the way it has been, we can't keep losing people because others are planting ideas in their heads about how horrible this doctor is. Why can't poeple just be given the chance to form their own opinions about people?

You're absolutely right...and most adults do that....sounds like he may be the least of the problems you're having to deal with :)

[MKS8806]

xtxrn: Exactly! I think he's a problem, thats not really a problem - if that makes any sense at all. People are making him out to be more of a problem than he really is. And, unfortunately, its effecting our entire unit!