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

jemb · Sep 10, 2004

Inexcusable behavior! I've heard many health 'professionals' berate each other, but I hadn't heard that particular phrase used... until today.

I had asked one of our ID docs if he saw an unusually large proportion of patients from any particular surgeon, or did the referrals to ID seem to be reasonably spread out among the various physicians' patients. (I had no one in mind. I was simply asking out of curiosity and not even wanting names.) He answered rather vaguely at first until he realized that I had no agenda in asking. Then he stated, "If you ever need a surgeon, don't go to Dr. Blankety-blank! I think you could train a monkey to do better than he does!"

I thought about this thread at the time.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Sep 10, 2004

Inexcusable behavior! I've heard many health 'professionals' berate each other, but I hadn't heard that particular phrase used... until today.
I had asked one of our ID docs if he saw an unusually large proportion of patients from any particular surgeon, or did the referrals to ID seem to be reasonably spread out among the various physicians' patients. (I had no one in mind. I was simply asking out of curiosity and not even wanting names.) He answered rather vaguely at first until he realized that I had no agenda in asking. Then he stated, "If you ever need a surgeon, don't go to Dr. Blankety-blank! I think you could train a monkey to do better than he does!"
I thought about this thread at the time.

I wouldn't have made a connection between the ID doc's comment and this thread. This thread is about one a-hole making a blanket statement that disrespects an entire profession. I took the comment you quote as being about pointing out that maybe Dr. Blankety-blank may not be the best in his field and, perhaps, could use some additional training for the safety of his patients. I value that sort of information. "Doctors" who are less than careful get a reputation among their peers very fast. If I needed surgery, I would want to know which doc had a rep for picking instruments up off the floor and reusing them so I could avoid that one (it happens...see the "scary docs" thread)

Angela Mac · Sep 10, 2004

ignorance is bliss

I would have answered the doctor by saying=

"So you are training your son to replace me, aayy?" :rotfl: well maybe not.....

Maggie in NC · Sep 10, 2004

I once had a customer in telecommunications that was complaining about our service techs, he sent a long email and copied God.world about how he felt our techs were probably trained monkeys in a government study. A coworker, who took major offense to it, wrote an open letter to the FTC as to why this customer should not be allow to go public on the stock exchange-the letter got around and the customer opened at 3 cents a share after expecting to open at over $100 a share. There is no moral to the story but you get the picture.

I have 3 siblings that are doctors and I can not imagine any of them acting that way nor tolerating a peer that does. Makes you wonder what his home life is like...poor dog/kids/wife/fish

I would have probably replied, "Monkey see, monkey do, so show me" but then again, I'm one to try to bring some levity to situations.

jemb · Sep 11, 2004

i wouldn't have made a connection between the id doc's comment and this thread. this thread is about one a-hole making a blanket statement that disrespects an entire profession. i took the comment you quote as being about pointing out that maybe dr. blankety-blank may not be the best in his field and, perhaps, could use some additional training for the safety of his patients. i value that sort of information. "doctors" who are less than careful get a reputation among their peers very fast. if i needed surgery, i would want to know which doc had a rep for picking instruments up off the floor and reusing them so i could avoid that one (it happens...see the "scary docs" thread)

i took his comment as you say you did. it just reminded me of this thread because of his use of the phrase about "a monkey can be trained...", which i had never heard before this thread was started.

and the reason i was curious about his opinion was because someday i may need surgery and, as you stated,[color=dimgray]" "doctors" who are less than careful get a reputation among their peers very fast. if i needed surgery, i would want to know which doc had a rep for picking instruments up off the floor and reusing them so i could avoid that one."

MFlash · Sep 21, 2004

Wow! Even though I am not yet in the nursing world, I have a similar story. The VP of the company I work for made a similar statement about me. He makes a game of making negative comments about the "underlings". His comment was something about me not being very smart. My comment to the people that heard his comment (unfortunately he didn't hear it, because he was walking away) was this, "I'm smart enough to understand that a comment like that says a lot more about his character than it does my intelligence"!. So, when I do finish nursing school hopefully the jerk I work for will have prepared me for the jerks that some of you have to deal with. :)

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?

vablueyes · Sep 21, 2004

The only difference between a Specialty MD and a puppy is after thirty minutes alone, the puppy will stop whinning!!!

I had an orthopedist attack me with similar actions, and I stood my ground, confronting him with his petty attacks on nurses. Told him to crawl down from his pedistal and see the real world. Now, he treats me with the respect I deserve and demand. He told me that he had never had a nurse stand up to him before, and now he can see the "evil of his ways" thanks to my defensive actions. During our blow up, I told him he could treat me with respect, or he could do the whole procedure by himself. I was here for the patient, not for him. All of this took place in front of the patient, who jumped in and defended me.

On the bright side, all of the nurses who have been belittled by him tell me that I'm their hero....and I feel that I made a postive impression on him in terms of nursing, and he doesn't try to undermine us anymore...

No one...not housekeeping, not nursing, not techs...should be humilitated, least of all in front of a patient. When we stand there and take it, we are allowing it to continue...stand your ground from the gitgo...don't allow it to penetrate any further than your ears...your heart is in nursing...keep it there.

ozzierock · Sep 21, 2004

I've rad through most of the responses and while I can understand the sentiment I can't agree with the majority of responses. Firstly, as was said many times, reporting rarely gets you anywhere because of the power of the dollar and the powerlessness of nurses as a group. Secondly, answering this doctor (or any for that matter) back in such a way recommended by many of the replies I read only serves to lower ones own dignity down to his level. What I found most troubling was the notion that it was not OK to say anything to this doctor in front of the patient. No wonder the public sees us as subseriant to the medical profession if we let doctors speak that way to us in front of them. My response would have been something like "I would thank you not to speak to me in that manner, and think your focus would be better spent attending to your patients needs". This response lets the doc know you are prepared to stick up for yourself, redirects the focus on the patient (where it should be), and last, but by no means least, leaves the patient with the knowledge that representatives of two different professional groups (not one professional and one handmaiden) were in the room attending to their needs and only one of them was acting professionally

Mermaid4 · Sep 24, 2004

Yep, another rocket scientist control freak who passes for a doctor...I calmly tell docs like that ( such as the one we recently had refuse to come in to check an epidural on a screaming 24 week fetal demise until her nurse said please), that I will give them as much respect and as much help as they deserve, and that always will equal what respect and assistance they give me. To the one doc who made a similar comment to me in delivery years ago, I calmly told him to go fetch the "monkey" to assist him, and left the delivery room while the patient was pushing....Stood outside the door until he apologized....

stbernardclub · Sep 24, 2004

awwwwww...how nice...a cardiologist without a heart!

Town & Country · Sep 24, 2004

Doctors will do whatever they can get away with.

Once they were out of the patient's earshot and procedures done, she should have informed him that that would be HIS LAST little temper tantrum directed at her and that she would not stand for his verbal abuse.

He's creating a hostile work environment.

Nurses: stand up for yourselves, calmly and professionally! :angryfire

Stitchie · Sep 24, 2004

I once had a customer in telecommunications that was complaining about our service techs, he sent a long email and copied God.world about how he felt our techs were probably trained monkeys in a government study. A coworker, who took major offense to it, wrote an open letter to the FTC as to why this customer should not be allow to go public on the stock exchange-the letter got around and the customer opened at 3 cents a share after expecting to open at over $100 a share. There is no moral to the story but you get the picture.
I have 3 siblings that are doctors and I can not imagine any of them acting that way nor tolerating a peer that does. Makes you wonder what his home life is like...poor dog/kids/wife/fish
I would have probably replied, "Monkey see, monkey do, so show me" but then again, I'm one to try to bring some levity to situations.

But if you saw your MD siblings reacting that way to essentially minor situations, you'd put 'em in their place.