This is a vent/question for all...I was at clinical yesterday on a tele/med-surg floor. This may seem a little rambling, but I need to set up the situation. My pt had end stage renal disease and receives hemodialysis. He was admitted because of a bad fall that occurred while he was confused (d/t all the toxins in his body). His elbow was badly bruised and swollen and he is sore all over. He especially complained of back pain yesterday, even more than the sore arm. I went to physical therapy with him, and the PT showed him how to use his arm brace and walker for mobility. He will likely stay on the rehab floor to gain strength before he goes home. On the unit, an aide and I walked with him since he is a fall risk. We constantly reminded him to use proper form while walking for safety and needed to keep orienting him to what he was doing. He was a wonderful man and had great stories to share, but when he would stop to share a story, he would forget to walk safely. He was quite confused and forgetful all morning. He had a Foley catheter inserted to accurately check his output.
My clinical instructor (CI) and I assisted him in changing into his clothing for the day. Since he had such limited urinary output, CI and I discussed the possibility of finding him a leg bag for the duration of his stay. CI also recommended that I notify the pt's physician of the amount of urinary output, because this can impact the frequency and duration of dialysis. I agreed, and found the MD in pt's room. As he was leaving the room, I updated the MD on the pt's output. He looked at me in the most condescending manner, and informed me that "he's on dialysis, so he won't have much output". He then turned around and walked away. I said that I was aware the pt was on dialysis, but that I felt he should know.
I didn't take his rudeness personally. I felt good knowing that I kept my patient safe by doing the right thing. However, I am not a stupid person and do not appreciate being spoken to in that manner. I have an advanced degree. I've been working with this patient ALL morning. I saw his old fistula, his new graft, and his dialysis catheter access. I'm a senior nursing student and know how important I/O is, especially for HD patients. I think I'm irritated because he spoke to me as if I was the dirt on the gum on the bottom of his shoe, and not as someone who is concerned about his patient. Now, to be fair, I've experienced great MDs, too. Some have been great teachers, and some welcomed me to assist in procedures. Others didn't say much of anything and just ignored me. There's a real variety of personalities and I know people have bad days. However, there isn't a need to treat students like pond scum! Please help- this is bothering me! Thanks!
To generalize that ALL specialists, ALL MDs, ALL RNs are rude, pompous, etc., is not right.
I've been a nurse for 18 years now and have met some wonderful, rude, compassionate, horrid, easy to get along with, hard to get along with, competent, incompetent...well you get my drift.
And...as I go thru life (man, I'm sounding like my mother - lol), you do learn to pick your battles. There are bigger fish to fry.
I know I have occasionally been short with staff when I'm very busy or otherwise preoccupied and I do try to apologize if I'm less than polite, but I would hope that people wouldn't generalize that ALL CNS's are rude!
Now, though, I don't care so much anymore. They can be as rude as they like. I just sort of laugh.
It just shows what idiots they are, because as an RN, you realize the really good doctors know how to control themselves and you have so much more respect for them. You just pity the little rude ones.
And I, too, am lucky to work with many doctors who are respectful and who listen to us as RN's. They are incredibly great at what they do and I am amazed at their patience, as I sometimes have to repeatedly call them for orders. I have nothing but admiration and respect for them. Sometimes I might give them a pass as I realize they are under stress -- but hey, we're ALL under stress.
To the orginal poster, what did you learn from this experience?
Someday, when a family member, housekeeper or some other well-meaning soul approaches your nurses station and makes what seems to you to be a ridiculous request, or tells you something you already know- remember how you feel right now. Then, turn to them and simply say, "Thank you for letting me know". Or, "Yes, I'm aware, but thank you anyway".
I was acting as unit secretary in the e.d. one night, I had calls out to a doc r/t one of his patients who was going to be admitted, he wasn't calling back....the e.d. doc was furious (that was his norm). He had the patient's chart in his hand, waving it around and yelling at me, because the doc hadn't called back. He then threw the chart at me, it hit me in the shoulder, scattered papers everywhere, there were a number of people at the desk....I lost it. I threw what was left of the chart back at him, I asked him who he thought he was, what makes him think he can treat people like that, did he really think I could make the doc call him back?????? I told him he needs to keep his temper tantrums to his home life because I wasn't there to take his crap. His face turned beet red, he started telling the charge to send me home, she was trying to get him to calm down...end result...I was written up by the Director, not exactly sure what had happened to him. He had done this before, apparently I was the first one to call him on it in public. He did this to nurses, techs and anyone else he thought he could.
I always try to roll with the punches, people will say and do things in the heat of the moment, I learned to develop a thick skin, I don't take these things personally, but when you start throwing things.....and actually hit me with it, it's gotta stop.
This doc was scheduled into the sub acute area for awhile, less acute, hours were better and best of all, was away from me.
traumaRUs, MSN, APRN
87 Articles; 21,287 Posts
To generalize that ALL specialists, ALL MDs, ALL RNs are rude, pompous, etc., is not right.
I've been a nurse for 18 years now and have met some wonderful, rude, compassionate, horrid, easy to get along with, hard to get along with, competent, incompetent...well you get my drift.
And...as I go thru life (man, I'm sounding like my mother - lol), you do learn to pick your battles. There are bigger fish to fry.
I know I have occasionally been short with staff when I'm very busy or otherwise preoccupied and I do try to apologize if I'm less than polite, but I would hope that people wouldn't generalize that ALL CNS's are rude!