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.
You wrote "as they are rolling the patient to the OR" or something to that effect. I and others interpreted that to mean that the patient is asking about the surgeon as they're being wheeled to the OR.
You seem kind of hostile or argumentative in this thread. Why is that?
Oh good grief, I am aware of what I wrote, that is *why* I clarified. No need to be rude.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Oh good grief, I am aware of what I wrote, that is *why* I clarified. No need to be rude.
I'm utterly confused. In what way was I rude? I clarified why people were responding the way they were, then observed that you seem to be taking this thread quite personally.
Patients ask this a lot before going into surgery. About the surgeons and anesthesiologists. I always say they're great! You are in excellent hands. We will take good care of you, etc... I mean, what else would you say?
At this point, the patient wants reassurance and needs a positive attitude. They are very unlikely to stop the surgery even if you say tactfully, the surgeon stinks. I would say, "He's done this many times, he has an excellent team in the OR. The most important thing right now is you thinking positively, envisioning an excellent outcome." If they have faith, I will reinforce it, with a prayer if appropriate. It brings peace.
That's how we're taught in my nursing school to respond to any question about a provider's competence. "Are you feeling anxious about (surgery, medical diagnosis, whatever.)" The instructors who taught our communications course explained that our first duty as nurses is to assess and questions in this format let us do just that.
I really appreciate the input from practicing nurses about this topic. I am a person who tends to put on the White Knight suit and runs into the windmill. Assessment first and knowing others' experiences might save me.
You know, a lot of these responses make me giggle, but I actually have experience with this sort of thing. I work in a teaching hospital. With fellows. So on July 1st, when the new batch rolls in and has never held a colonoscope in their hands, and the patient asks me, "is my doctor any good?" I usually say one of the following things:
Pt: My doctor seems a bit nervous. Is he new?
Me: No, ma'am! He's had more than SEVEN years of training!
WHICH IS TRUE. Because 4 years of med school + 3 years of internal medicine residency + starting a new fellowship = more than seven years
CrunchBerries
146 Posts
Oh good grief, I am aware of what I wrote, that is *why* I clarified. No need to be rude.