"A monkey can be trained to do what you nurses do"

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

yes. that is exactly what i heard a cardiologist tell a cath lab nurse when i took a patient having an acute MI to the cath lab. i was completely and utterly floored by his comment. apparently the room was not prepared to receive the patient and the doc had a fit. one nurse looked like she was near tears. another just walked out. we all were in front of the patient so i think the nurses did not want to confront the doc right there at that moment. when he was out the patients view he slammed down the charts and slammed doors. i coudn't believe the behavior. i know some docs can be nasty, but i just can't see myself putting up with such humiliation. people do what you allow them to and apparently this doc hasn't run across the right nurse yet. if a monkey can do what nurses do, then why isn't he doing it? i mentioned the incidence to my nursing sup. and she was angry and promised to look into it. since i only work ED i felt uncomfortable getting directly involved. how have you guys dealt with situations like this?

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I used to work ED and almost all of the docs were lovely, but we did have one real true a$$----. He said something similar to me once and when the patient was discharged, I closed the door and lit into him big time. Told him I was not accustomed to being treated thus nor would I put up with it. Afterwards he treated me with bare civility and it was always an unpleasant experience to have to work with him. But many times, unfortunately, the docs win. No matter the nursing shortage, or the fact that the docs are known idiots, the hospitals, in my experience, seem to side with the docs. Management will acknowledge the doc is wrong but tell you to put up with it. Just another trial and tribulation in the life of a nurse :uhoh3:

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Then his a-- had better find a monkey to help him because this nurse would walk away and ignore his little tantrum (just like I would any other 2-year-old's tantrum).

By the way, verbal abuse is still workplace violence. I would look into hospital policy. Most places have a workplace violence policy these days - it would be a shame for a doc to lose his priviledges at a facility because he doesn't know how to use his big-boy manners. If administration is not willing to take action, it is not an administration this nurse would work for.

ZERO TOLERANCE

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
Then his a-- had better find a monkey to help him because this nurse would walk away and ignore his little tantrum (just like I would any other 2-year-old's tantrum).

By the way, verbal abuse is still workplace violence. I would look into hospital policy. Most places have a workplace violence policy these days - it would be a shame for a doc to lose his priviledges at a facility because he doesn't know how to use his big-boy manners. If administration is not willing to take action, it is not an administration this nurse would work for.

ZERO TOLERANCE

i agree with you. i just don't understand why some nurses or anyone would think that they have to subject themselves to that in the workplace. i have seen secretaries in doctors offices get treated like crap too by the docs. i had to confront one doctor about inappropriate behavior and i never had a problem out of him after that. if they treat their coworkers like that, just imagine how they treat their familes. and i also think they know who they can get away with that kind of behavior.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
yes. that is exactly what i heard a cardiologist tell a cath lab nurse when i took a patient having an acute MI to the cath lab. i was completely and utterly floored by his comment. apparently the room was not prepared to receive the patient and the doc had a fit. one nurse looked like she was near tears. another just walked out. we all were in front of the patient so i think the nurses did not want to confront the doc right there at that moment. when he was out the patients view he slammed down the charts and slammed doors. i coudn't believe the behavior. i know some docs can be nasty, but i just can't see myself putting up with such humiliation. people do what you allow them to and apparently this doc hasn't run across the right nurse yet. if a monkey can do what nurses do, then why isn't he doing it? i mentioned the incidence to my nursing sup. and she was angry and promised to look into it. since i only work ED i felt uncomfortable getting directly involved. how have you guys dealt with situations like this?

My replywould have been "well, then proceed to show us how it's done, then?".

He must have taken a course in ***h*l* 101.

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He must have taken a course in ***h*l* 101.

or 201, 301.....

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My replywould have been "well, then proceed to show us how it's done, then?".

He must have taken a course in ***h*l* 101.

I think he went through the masters program.

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WOW...what an adult professional comment Mr.MD...I don't think I would have sunk QUITE to his level and made a comment in FRONT of the pt...but out of earshot of the pt I would let it be known in a professional way that it wouldn't be tolerated by ME again...if they wanted to fire me..so be it...life's toooooo short to put up with ignorant / childish people..no matter what letters follow their name!

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Specializes in surgical, emergency.

I have heard that comment many, many times over the years......and you know what....I have never yet seen a monkey clock in yet!!! :chuckle

I agree, verbal abuse is difficult to deal with, and I admit, I'm not real good at confrontations, but I'm learning.

I'm lucky, most of the docs I work with are down to earth, good people.

They have their days,(and trantrums) but don't we all at one time or another.

Most that I have witnessed, can be taken with a grain of salt, because they really aren't aimed at someone, it's more the situation.

I find it interesting, most of these 2 year old temper flare ups, are in front of a pt where most nurses will find themselves with one hand tied behind their back, as it were.

Let's be realistic, going through channels is the best choice, but sometimes I would just love to get the child doc in a locker room alone for a minute or two.

But, given the choice between a doc who brings in pt's (and their $$) and a nurse, who are they going to "side" with?? Though I do think this is changing, and the playing field is leveling a bit.

Again, I work in a small hospital, and don't have the experiences that some of you have in the bigger institutions, where you have to deal with so many different personalities and pressures.

Hang in there!

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Just thinking about how the patient must have felt to have his or her life in the hands of such an a--hole. I think I would have asked for another doctor or a transfer to another hospital if I couldn't get one. After all, if he gets *that* out of control over a room not being ready - what is he going to do if the procedure doesnt go his way?

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Just thinking about how the patient must have felt to have his or her life in the hands of such an a--hole. I think I would have asked for another doctor or a transfer to another hospital if I couldn't get one. After all, if he gets *that* out of control over a room not being ready - what is he going to do if the procedure doesnt go his way?

the op stated this patient was having an acute mi, so yes, he was stressed.

i wonder if monkeys and jackas*es make good team mates? :rolleyes:

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Stress comes with the territory of being an interventional cardiologist. If he can't handle it, he should have been a dermatologist.

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