You know those surgeons that when their patient is on their way to OR you ask the universe to please not let the surgeon kill this one, too?
When their patient asks you, "Is my surgeon any good?" You can't tell them the truth, a floor nurse would lose her job. You can't lie, that's not right.
How do you answer this question? I know how I used to do it, how do you respond? You have to admit, there are those surgeons that should be used during war time, operating on the enemy. Doogie Howser could give them some pointers. They are the docs keeping ICU busy.
Stupid question to ask while going INTO the OR......Do your homework,patients
This is a hot topic with me, very touchy subject. I work for a bariatric surgeon in Mexico and I have learned there are two types of pre ops researching surgeons. MOST choose THE cheapest surgeon they can find, those are the Tijuana butchers. Others want to research but the average person does not know how to research or what to research in their US surgeon let alone a doc out of the country.
So, I made it easier for them. I came up with a f/b page on HOW to research surgeons, how to verify licensing, board certification, formal patient complaints, I have done all the work for them, I have the links, all they need to do is type in the information. It's Mexico, most would have no idea how to do that so I have done the work for them. Most do not care. I even have links for those that go to the Tijuana butchers and want to file formal complaints, they absolutely will not put any effort into this before or after surgery. It makes me crazy.
Most bariatric patients choose the surgeon by their coordinator, MOST. Spooky.
Most people research any surgeon regardless of country because their friend, relative, neighbor went to them and he is soooooooooooo nice!
My neighbor is the nicest guy in the world, doesn't mean I would want him operating on me.
Just an observation related to researching your surgeon beforehand...
Many of my patients go to the ED with no idea what is wrong and without surgery on their mind. They end up with whichever surgeon is on call or whoever is consulted from the ED. No opportunity for the patient to think about it, really. It's a general surgeon who (thankfully) rarely works call that I would avoid. I cringe when my patients have him. He isn't a bad surgeon just a terrible communicator.
Now for a planned surgery, in a decent area, you would hope the patient has done some research on the hospital, surgeon, and procedure. Yet I still had a routine hernia repair patient freak out about her lap sites. She thought they were so weird and demanded to know why she didn't have a huge linear incision, because that just made so much sense to her. I was a little flabbergasted at that. She was also horrified when told she needed to ambulate, and that some pain was to be expected. Told me that with all of our technology we really should have medication that would take all pain away. Well, sure? But you would be dead...
They end up with whichever surgeon is on call or whoever is consulted from the ED. No opportunity for the patient to think about it, really.
Pretty much the same with your Anesthesiologist. You get whoever is assigned to the OR suite unless you are a hospital employee and make a specific request. Like any profession, some are better than others. You would think some of 'em paid for Fentanyl out of their own pocket.
I think in these situations it's fine to lie...there's no point making them anxious. The patients are looking for reassurance.
I had hand surgery years ago, I went to the OR nurses and asked about the surgeon I was considering. I wasn't looking for reassurance, I was looking for truth. Due to their opinion I changed doctors.
It's a shame we can't be honest with patients the way we are with one another.
To be fair, some surgeons do have worse outcomes because they take on harder or sicker cases that other surgeons refuse to do.
I understand that. A dentist should not have a mortality stat but a trauma surgeon should. I guess I didn't make it clear in my OP that I do indeed refer to a surgeon with poor surgical skills. I thought I was clear, I guess I wasn't.
I usually feign ignorance..."I don't know the doctors very well b/c I only work two nights per week."
I feel terrible about it, though. I really wish I could tell the pt.s to run as fast and as far away from the bogus surgeons as they possibly can. Like others have mentioned, when surgeries are not elective the patients don't get much choice. The surgeon who will operate on that infected appy at 0200 on a Saturday is going to be determined by the luck of the draw. Cue creepy carnival scene/music: "Round and round the wheel goes! Where it stops, nobody knows!"
Recently when my husband was sick with an obviously "hot" belly, I refused to bring him to the E.R. at the hospital where I work. That's a sad commentary on where I work but I am so glad I made the choice I did. He was septic and required aggressive treatment, including surgery. Where I work, it is quite possible he would have been admitted to the general Med/Surg unit and not physically seen by a surgeon until the next morning. Undoubtedly he would have tanked before then.
I learned early on in my nursing career (I say "early on", but I've only been at this a year, so the timing is relative) that patients are comforted by your reassurance if they trust you, and honestly??? They don't need or want your opinion when it isn't a positive one.
I have a short list of docs I wouldn't trust with myself or my family/friends. Does it help at that very moment to tell that to the patient? No, it doesn't, and it only makes the patient question every little thing. They'll blame the doctor for those every little things, and if they wind up LIKING the doctor, it kills your credibility.
Any time I hand a patient over to someone else, whether it be a new nurse or doctor, I say to them, "you are in fantastic hands." That patient trusts me, yes, but the truth will do nothing good for them. It will also help that patient feel more at ease, decrease their anxiety, and help them not be upset by smaller, less important details, like if the doctor/nurse is generally a grouch.
When I see the patient again, if they had a bad experience, they are usually open to talking about it. I have never had a patient say, "you lied." When they tell their story, I tell them with legitimate sincerity, "I am so sorry." I also let them know I'll be sure to report their experience to someone. It's only gone that far maybe twice.
CrunchBerries
146 Posts
This is a hot topic with me, very touchy subject. I work for a bariatric surgeon in Mexico and I have learned there are two types of pre ops researching surgeons. MOST choose THE cheapest surgeon they can find, those are the Tijuana butchers. Others want to research but the average person does not know how to research or what to research in their US surgeon let alone a doc out of the country.
So, I made it easier for them. I came up with a f/b page on HOW to research surgeons, how to verify licensing, board certification, formal patient complaints, I have done all the work for them, I have the links, all they need to do is type in the information. It's Mexico, most would have no idea how to do that so I have done the work for them. Most do not care. I even have links for those that go to the Tijuana butchers and want to file formal complaints, they absolutely will not put any effort into this before or after surgery. It makes me crazy.
Most bariatric patients choose the surgeon by their coordinator, MOST. Spooky.
Most people research any surgeon regardless of country because their friend, relative, neighbor went to them and he is soooooooooooo nice!
My neighbor is the nicest guy in the world, doesn't mean I would want him operating on me.