I've been nursing for about 4.5 years on a 30 bed Neuro unit. I love my job (for the most part) and feel pretty confident. I feel comfortable approaching most of the doctors and feel I have a good rapport with most of them, except one. This doc is known for being extremely nasty. This MD has been known to "find your weakness and go for the jugular" as some other nurses have put it. I respect the MD for their work. They are a very good and talented surgeon, but they will eat you up. This MD has a notorious rep among the nurses and most nurses dread dealing with them.
For the most part, I've not had any problems with this MD and they almost seemed to respect me. There was a particular incident earlier this year with this doc that has left me terrified of them. The MD ordered an MRI of the L-spine, which another nurse took as a telephone order (I was in charge that day). The order did not say STAT or today, it just said MRI L-spine. The patient was going to have to have it in an open MRI, so they weren't able to get to the patient until the next day, which I thought was fine since it was already 4pm in the afternoon and the order was not STAT or timed. Well, that MD called to the floor later and asked if the patient had the MRI. I said no, that's when the crap hit the fan. This MD is very passive-aggressive and has a way of making you feel 2 inches tall. The MD basically asked me why this MRI wasn't done STAT. I explained another nurse took the order and it was not ordered STAT. I told the MD I certainly would have made sure the MRI was done ASAP if the order was STAT. Then the MD basically went on and on in their passive-aggressive tone about how it should have been done asap, the pt could have a hematoma, am I willing to take responsibility if he's paralyzed, and on and on. After that, the phone went silent and they said 'thank you' in a smart *** way and hung up. I'm left speechless.
Anyhow, ever since this incident I am really terrified of this MD. I feel that I was slowly building some respect with them, and now they don't trust me and view me in a negative light. Everyone tells me to let it go, but I can't. When I see that docs name on the board, my heart sinks because I dread facing them. Even if I dot every single I and cross every T, they will find something wrong, give you a look that makes you want to crawl under the desk, and start lecturing you in a very demeaning tone. I can deal with docs yelling and acting like babies, but this doc just attacks you on a more personal level. Apparently this doc has been known to get nurses fired at another hospital. This MD has the 'gift' of making you feel worthless and stupid. I charge a lot and I get panic attacks knowing I will have to deal with this MD. I'm not sure how can I get over this fear of this MD. I know they are just a person, but I feel so disrespected around them. Sorry, needed to vent... Thanks for listening!!
Specializes in ICU, Home Health, Camp, Travel, L&D.
If I've said it once...what you permit, you promote.
Ditto what other posters said about writing the MD up re: hostile work environ.
AND, meanwhile, continue to deal with this MD in a crisp, professional manner. I have told docs that 1. My Dad was never demeaning, 2. My DH is not demeaning, and 3. My children better not ever be demeaning to me, so WHY would I tolerate it from you? WHEN you can speak to me in a professional manner, you can reach me at x6919. Until then, I'll be calling the chief of OB/Surg/IM, whatever, and going up the chain of command for my orders, as well as filing an incident report.
My personal rule is to put any garbage they shovel back on their own porch, much like other posters recommended with "This wasn't ordered STAT. If you would like to modify your order, I'm happy to help you with that by taking your verbal/phone order to do so."
Own your own strengths and weaknesses, but don't let someone shovel their crap on you and make it stick.
Specializes in NEW BORN, EMERGENCY, ICU, SURGERY ROOM,.
Did someone ever thought this MD may be scared too and affraid himself suffering from a lake of self confidence and showing what he may not be
I worked myself in newborn neuro surgery and one of the surgeons was incredibly agressive and used to hurt people he worked with.
I just changed from day duty to night one, and worked in the unit or emergency children neuro surgery. I hardly saw him and felt much beetter.
God exists and he had to quit later on because of Parkinson desease.
This one didn't suffer from a lake of confidence, he was the Boss, the Pr. Chief of the Unit (it was an University Hospital in Paria, France) late in the 70's.
Up, and remember you are a qualified nurse, and you have a life out from the hospital.
tablefor9, RN
299 Posts
If I've said it once...what you permit, you promote.
Ditto what other posters said about writing the MD up re: hostile work environ.
AND, meanwhile, continue to deal with this MD in a crisp, professional manner. I have told docs that 1. My Dad was never demeaning, 2. My DH is not demeaning, and 3. My children better not ever be demeaning to me, so WHY would I tolerate it from you? WHEN you can speak to me in a professional manner, you can reach me at x6919. Until then, I'll be calling the chief of OB/Surg/IM, whatever, and going up the chain of command for my orders, as well as filing an incident report.
My personal rule is to put any garbage they shovel back on their own porch, much like other posters recommended with "This wasn't ordered STAT. If you would like to modify your order, I'm happy to help you with that by taking your verbal/phone order to do so."
Own your own strengths and weaknesses, but don't let someone shovel their crap on you and make it stick.