Just my rant, opinion. I hate it when co-workers ask doctors for medical advice or even to write prescriptions for them!!!! This is while both are at work at the hospital.
A nurse will stop a doctor at the nurses station or in the hallway and ask for a prescription for such and such or ask about that pain in their foot that has been going on for several weeks, or whatever!!!! I cringe and start grinding my teeth.
I've never heard this response but I wish the doctor would say. "Sure, take off all your clothes so I can do a physical assessment and I will be glad to assess your condition or write that prescription!"
Nothing I can do about it, just letting off steam here!
tencat, (I hope you don't have ten cats?) I think your situation was perfectly appropriate. And there are many times when it is appropriate.
I even asked a doctor for advice once. I woke up with the inner white part of one eye bright red with blood. I Googled it, it didn't seem to be serious. An ophthalmologist happened to be in the locker room while I was changing. I asked her what she thought, she said, oh it is nothing, normal, these things just happen. But even with that I felt, feel, embarrassed that I bothered her!!!
I guess it is just me????? Some character flaw I have that I HATE to be a bother to people!!!!!!
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
I work very closely with my PCP. I called her tonight about a patient, and before I could tell her about it, she insisted I tell her about my recurring fevers and told me all the labs she wants done. It goes both ways.
I have asked- 3 or 4 times in 25+ years. I am more comfortable with the " do you think I should see someone" opinion sort of question, and less with the "can you write me a Rx?" If it is a no-brainer and the doc is on the unit with little pressing concerns- I don't have a problem with it. I think of it as along the lines of asking what he/she thinks of a particular school, or if they coud reccomend a good restraunt in the north side of town. Anything that would require a in-depth assessment or an opinion outside of thier area of specialty I think you are over the line and need to see your PCP.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
. . .Once I was working and talking with a co-worker about my son who was home with a bad sinus infection. One of the docs was sitting close by writing orders. He left and came back several minutes later with a whole bag full of samples of antibiotics, cough med, and antihistamine/decongestants. I thought that was very nice indeed!
Yeah. The vast majority of doctors I've worked with like to do this! It may sound weird to some, but it promotes a feeling of collegiality, and there really are doctors in this world who appreciate nurses and this gives them a tangible way of saying "thank you". If a doc asks me to take a BP on something for them I will.
Note: we are not talking about tackling the Neuro Attending in the stairwell to quiz him about your Aunt Winnie's headaches, but docs we work with on a fairly frequent basis. So I guess if you work in Neuro you can tackle the Attending in the stairwell to ask about your Aunt Winnie.
I had a neurosurgeon look at my MRI on screen and got his opinion before the doc who ordered it ever got the results...but they were in the same office, we saw each other most every day and the docs mostly appreciate being able to help...
That's about like me and having random people I know come up wanting me to run license plates, guns, criminal histories, and what not on other people they know. Not happening. That's a D felony. lol
Personally I think there's more important things to worry about and I don't see how it's any of your business. I couldn't care less if someone wants to ask a doctor for some personal advice as long as it doesn't interfere with patient care. I mean come on there has to be some perks in this job right?
I had a lump in my neck that I was worried about and one of the anaesthetists got out the ultrasound machine and had a look at it for me, turned out it was nothing to worry about. It saved me money and potentially taking time off work to have to get it checked out.
Since when do CRNAs learn to interpret ultrasounds ? And you feel confident about that ?
I agree that there are probably more important things to "worry" about, but I ALSO agree that it is embarrassing and discredits the nursing profession. An RN should know the assessment, history and review of systems that is really required in order to safely diagnose and prescribe. Stopping a physician in the hallway or on the unit for a quick "hey I have a sore throat" talk puts the physician in awkward spot legally and personally.
Personally, I have some pride and I would never do it. I have a job and I have insurance and I can get myself to my own personal healthcare provider.
Just FYI...most docs HATE this. I have family members who are Dr's and I work now as an NP with physicians and they really, really hate it when people put them in situations like that. They will act like they are ok with it at the time but then you are totally the subject of their bashing when this issue comes up between them. Trust me. I know there are some really kind docs out there too who are just too nice and don't want to turn anyone away PLUS they don't want to **** you off and potentially alter the professional relationship.
Have a little pride people. You get paid decently. You have insurance. Most of you only work 3 days per week. Go make an appointment!
I work very closely with my PCP. I called her tonight about a patient, and before I could tell her about it, she insisted I tell her about my recurring fevers and told me all the labs she wants done. It goes both ways.
This is VERY different. She knows your history and has seen you personally many times. She knows what your heart sounds like, she knwos your personal and family history, etc. Most RNs who stop a Dr. in the unit do not actually see that Dr. as their own healthcare provider.
Where I work they want us to talk to the doctors and get some help so we can stay healthy and not miss work.
I do not get this...why not just go see a Dr as a healthcare provider? 2 minutes seeing the Dr. in the ICU hallway is going to do NADA to keep you healthy! This just blows my mind!
Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.
Since when do CRNAs learn to interpret ultrasounds ? And you feel confident about that ?
I agree that there are probably more important things to "worry" about, but I ALSO agree that it is embarrassing and discredits the nursing profession. An RN should know the assessment, history and review of systems that is really required in order to safely diagnose and prescribe. Stopping a physician in the hallway or on the unit for a quick "hey I have a sore throat" talk puts the physician in awkward spot legally and personally.
Personally, I have some pride and I would never do it. I have a job and I have insurance and I can get myself to my own personal healthcare provider.
Just FYI...most docs HATE this. I have family members who are Dr's and I work now as an NP with physicians and they really, really hate it when people put them in situations like that. They will act like they are ok with it at the time but then you are totally the subject of their bashing when this issue comes up between them. Trust me. I know there are some really kind docs out there too who are just too nice and don't want to turn anyone away PLUS they don't want to **** you off and potentially alter the professional relationship.
Have a little pride people. You get paid decently. You have insurance. Most of you only work 3 days per week. Go make an appointment!
Wow, generalizing much? Most doctors hate it, yeah right. You mean the ones that agree to do it because they are "too nice" to "turn anyone away?" Yikes, you clearly haven't worked with too many doctors. Newsflash: docs don't do anything they're not comfortable with.
And exactly how does it discredit the nursing profession? Such strong words. Does an RX refill always require an assessment, history, review of symptoms? If your md asks you to drop your drawers just to refill your Metoprolol for another month, well... I'd be looking for another doctor.
In fact, the majority of the time my GP, who trusts my instincts and professionalism implicitly, will ask me "so what do YOU think your symptoms mean?" then we discuss both our findings and opinions, to mutually reach a consensus and plan of treatment. I consider that *crediting* the nursing profession.
brownbook
3,413 Posts
tencat, (I hope you don't have ten cats?) I think your situation was perfectly appropriate. And there are many times when it is appropriate.
I even asked a doctor for advice once. I woke up with the inner white part of one eye bright red with blood. I Googled it, it didn't seem to be serious. An ophthalmologist happened to be in the locker room while I was changing. I asked her what she thought, she said, oh it is nothing, normal, these things just happen. But even with that I felt, feel, embarrassed that I bothered her!!!
I guess it is just me????? Some character flaw I have that I HATE to be a bother to people!!!!!!