"MY doctor/service"

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

I just have to vent this. I know you guys will know what I am talking about. The people who work with the same surgeons, day in, day out, doing the same procedures, claiming that they are "their doctor". That makes me crazy. Like, if someone else gets assigned to "their" doctor, they get all *****, like your invading on their territory. Why? I dont understand it. Its embarrasing to me to think that grown professionals would even think like this. Like its your hospital, or something.

And I think its sad that people think that for one second any one of those doctors would be as loyal to them as they are, they are mistaken. They know two things: does their case go smoothly, or doesnt it. They really could care less WHO does it... These surgeons, for the most part, are not our friends....why do people act like this?

Maybe because I am still a little bit new to the OR, and I am still working in all services, and dont have "favorite" yet....that this bothers me so much? I dont know, I just think its silly when I hear it, thats all. Like people think they are sooo great because they do xyz procedure every single solitary day.....who wouldnt be an expert if they worked the same cases all the time?

Anybody know what I mean? Am I just too new, or does this bother other OR nurses?

[linda2097]

I know what you mean. I dislike it when nurses are nice to surgeons who are arrogant. Being nice to them reinforces their bad behavior.

If every nurse stood their ground and was tough toward arrogant surgeons, the surgeons' behavior would improve.

[NabiRN, BSN, RN]

RNTODAY:

I do understand your point. At where I work, more than half of surgeons have their favorate CSTs/ scrub nurses/ circulating nurses. The more I am stay in the OR , the more I realize that surgeons are creatures of habits and familiar surroundings. Somehow the same people in the room can make everything go right.

To me, if that helps them and benefits the patient, I really don't have a problem with it. It's not great for new people. I am new to this facility and it's really difficult to be accepted by the docs. Where I used to work, I was one of the docs' favorite and somehow my presence helps calm doctors down. One day, you will do xyz so many times that the doc will want you in the room all the time. Hopefully, the newbie will think you are great as well.

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

I * do* understand that the surgeons are more comfortable working with the same people, I really do. And thats great... I just dont like the attitudes of those people when they dont get to work with "their surgeon". And they get an attitude with you if you worked with "their surgeon" once too many times this week, and they didnt.Thats what I am referring to, NabiRN, I completely understand that surgeons have their preferences, and I understand why....they want their case done smoothly, period. But what I *dont* undrstand is, and cant stand, is the attitude people get when they dont work with "their surgeon", and if somebody else does, they act like they are going to be out of a job soon, or something, I dont know. When in reality, we get the same $$$ money whilr there, no matter what we do, or who we work with.

[fracturenurse]

OK, what I really hate is when you get put in "their" room, and the nurse tries to set you up. That way when something goes wrong, (because they "accidentally" didn't tell you), the doctor will say, "Where's Sally? Get Sally in here, Sally knows where it is." Or, "Why can't you do it Sally's way?" Grrrrrr....Been in the OR for over 10 years, this always goes on....

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

Oh yeah...sabotage is fun isn't it? I've had that happen and I've had people get angry with me (in the past, at a different hospital) because I was trying to learn "their" specialty. Very juvenile behavior.

[ewattsjt]

I have to agree that some docs want the same staff because in their minds, the room runs smoother. Because self-fulfilling prophecies will make or break the surgeon; they should get their room. BUT---When it is the room staff that is dong the “my room” or “my doc”, it kills me. We have some people who would place setting someone up in “their room” over being a patient advocate.

I don’t have a favorite but I am assigned to a few most always and others say that they are “my doc”. As a patient advocate, when someone gets one of my docs and if I can; I try to have everything on the case cart the doc’s whiney butt could ever ask for so that the patient receives the best care possible.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I have to say that this is one of the main reasons that I don't miss working days. On evening shift, I can see almost every single specialty- in one day, and never work with the same doc twice. I don't understand how some people I work with can only do one specialty. Doesn't it get boring after a while?

[linda2097]

I don't understand how some people I work with can only do one specialty. Doesn't it get boring after a while?

Lots of people like routine. It's much less stressful than doing something different everyday.

[NabiRN, BSN, RN]

I * do* understand that the surgeons are more comfortable working with the same people, I really do. And thats great... I just dont like the attitudes of those people when they dont get to work with "their surgeon". And they get an attitude with you if you worked with "their surgeon" once too many times this week, and they didnt.Thats what I am referring to, NabiRN, I completely understand that surgeons have their preferences, and I understand why....they want their case done smoothly, period. But what I *dont* undrstand is, and cant stand, is the attitude people get when they dont work with "their surgeon", and if somebody else does, they act like they are going to be out of a job soon, or something, I dont know. When in reality, we get the same $$$ money whilr there, no matter what we do, or who we work with.

Thank you for clarifying your point. Okay, we do have a few nurses here who think they are only ones who can scrub certain cases. Believe me, these cases are not that complicated and you don't need RN to scrub them. In reality, they do not know how to scrub or circulate other cases. What's really bad is that these nurses are scrubbing certain cases and surgical technologists do not have the opportunties to learn them. In addition, it's really not cost-effective when a CST can scrub the case just as well as a nurse. So back to your point ... yes .. they do think that they are losing their job.

[linda2097]

Thank you for clarifying your point. Okay, we do have a few nurses here who think they are only ones who can scrub certain cases. Believe me, these cases are not that complicated and you don't need RN to scrub them.

Techs should be better at scrubbing than are nurses simply because they scrub full-time. Most nurses scrub part-time or never.

But most techs do not realize how demanding is circulating. I know an excellent tech who just became a nurse and she admitted that circulating is much harder than she predicted.