Serving the doctors?

[amber1142]

I was reading the "If only for one day" thread, and a few people mentioned how they'd like to tell off doc's who wanted them to put gel on their fingers or find stuff in drawers, etc.

Is this part of an R.N.'s job? I know it used to be a nurse's job to "serve" the doctor, but I thought we had gotten away from that.

Are you expected to "do for" the doctors at their command? Is that considered "assisting" and, hence, part of the R.N.'s job?

What are your experiences with this? Have you had to set limits?

[palesarah]

I don't do anything, for anyone, at their "command"

But we are all team players. And if a doc or a midwife or another nurse needs something that she can't do on her own (needs a third hand or can't break sterile techinque) I will gladly assist.

I'll tell ya, though. We have a midwife who did her last schol preceptorship with one of our practices and was then hired by then. At some point when she was very new, during the first delivery we did together, she gowned up and presented her back to me. Assuming, I suppose, that I would tie it? I raised my eyebrow, stifled a chuckle with the experienced CNM she was working with and went back to what I was doing. She eventually tied it herself and soon after discovered her how to use her words to request things.

BTW, our providers, if they even wear a gown for lady partsl deliveries, don't usually even tie them and if they do, they do it themselves; usually they just ask us to snap the top for them. And I will gladly do that because they always ASK, they never demand, and they certainly don't turn their back on me and assume.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I work in an ER and our doctors are very independent. However, like another poster said, we are a team and practice teamwork. If they need assistance with whatever, in order to provide excellent patient care, you do whatever needs to be done.

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

I don't do anything, for anyone, at their "command"

But we are all team players. And if a doc or a midwife or another nurse needs something that she can't do on her own (needs a third hand or can't break sterile techinque) I will gladly assist.

I'll tell ya, though. We have a midwife who did her last schol preceptorship with one of our practices and was then hired by then. At some point when she was very new, during the first delivery we did together, she gowned up and presented her back to me. Assuming, I suppose, that I would tie it? I raised my eyebrow, stifled a chuckle with the experienced CNM she was working with and went back to what I was doing. She eventually tied it herself and soon after discovered her how to use her words to request things.

BTW, our providers, if they even wear a gown for lady partsl deliveries, don't usually even tie them and if they do, they do it themselves; usually they just ask us to snap the top for them. And I will gladly do that because they always ASK, they never demand, and they certainly don't turn their back on me and assume.

Interesting how there are different ideas on this. I have always tied the gowns/affixed the neck velcro for the doc/midwives. I never thought anything of it. We do it in the OR, so we do it in the delivery room, too. We'd be looked at as pretty passive aggressive if we walked off if someone(title no issue) indicated they needed it tied, in words or gesture. Some like the gel opened, some grab it themselves. I see it all as part of assisting and not subserviant. It's not a whole lot different than when I help a nurse peer with something like say a catheterization, when they could probably do it alone, but I'm there so why not.

[SierraN]

I think it has a lot to do what the doctors in that facility are used to. If the nurses have always done it a certain way that's the way it is. I just started working in a private hospital in the south and it is taking some getting used to. The nurses do EVERYTHING for the doctors. I've even heard a new doc mention how he wasn't used to it as he just came from a teaching hospital.....most of the day shift nurse have been there for over 10 years..old habits...sigh oh well...

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Interesting how there are different ideas on this. I have always tied the gowns/affixed the neck velcro for the doc/midwives. I never thought anything of it. We do it in the OR, so we do it in the delivery room, too. We'd be looked at as pretty passive aggressive if we walked off if someone(title no issue) indicated they needed it tied, in words or gesture. Some like the gel opened, some grab it themselves. I see it all as part of assisting and not subserviant. It's not a whole lot different than when I help a nurse peer with something like say a catheterization, when they could probably do it alone, but I'm there so why not.

I agree with you. I consider it being a team.

steph

[amber1142]

I work in an ER and our doctors are very independent. However, like another poster said, we are a team and practice teamwork. If they need assistance with whatever, in order to provide excellent patient care, you do whatever needs to be done.

Well sure... but does it work both ways? If you were changing a dressing, would you ask a doctor to rummage through a drawer so you didn't have to break sterile technique? or if you were giving an enema, would you ask a doctor for help in positioning your patient?

[Charity, RN, APRN]

Well sure... but does it work both ways? If you were changing a dressing, would you ask a doctor to rummage through a drawer so you didn't have to break sterile technique? or if you were giving an enema, would you ask a doctor for help in positioning your patient?

Actually, our docs help out with that sort of thing when asked. 'Course they are still young impressionable residents...

C

[fergus51]

I have on occasion directed docs to things they needed. If I have 2 patients and I'm busy with one, the doc is going to have to get his gloves himself. I actually had a surgeon come to examine one of my babies and while I was suctionning the second pt he told me to hand him the gloves. I just said "they're behind you on the counter" and continued with my work. He then asked me for gauze and I told him it was in the drawer. I will get them anything that I would get a fellow nurse if they asked me and believe it or not, most of our regular docs will do the same for me. I would expect them to use their words to ask me for things though....

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

Well sure... but does it work both ways? If you were changing a dressing, would you ask a doctor to rummage through a drawer so you didn't have to break sterile technique? or if you were giving an enema, would you ask a doctor for help in positioning your patient?

If it meant breaking sterile tecnique? Absolutely, I'd ask the doc or anyone else nearby to help me. They seem pretty willing to jump in if need be, but maybe it is because of the small rural hospital culture. Some are more independent than they need to be, but that can go for nurses, too. We once had a great OB who used to help clean up if the delivery was a messy one. He was one in a million, as he was an excellent OB as well and treated everyone the same. We sure miss that guy.

[Dayray, RN]

I put gel on the doctor's gloves. I guess I never thought of it as being subservient. I just want them to use gel, as some of them won't if you don't remind them. Ill also tie gowns without being asked. As for fetching things most of our docs will get things on their own unless they don't know where they are or they are in the middle of something.

Every once and a while I think they test limits a bit by asking for a progress note or a pen. When they do that I'll direct them to where they can find them and only fetch it if they have trouble finding it.

I've also sent doc's to the nurse's station to fetch things or bring in extra staff. They do this without hesitation. It is and should be a question of what is fastest and better for the patient.

I don't ever see myself as serving the doc's but I do serve the patient. If shining the docs shoes made my patient have a better outcome I would do it but I wouldn't do it just to make the doc happy.

[stidget99]

Well sure... but does it work both ways? If you were changing a dressing, would you ask a doctor to rummage through a drawer so you didn't have to break sterile technique? or if you were giving an enema, would you ask a doctor for help in positioning your patient?

You bet your sweet bippie I would!! When I am changing a dressing and a doc walks in after a pseudo knock at the door and I say just a moment please....and they still just walk in?? At that point, they are fair game to help out to serve the patient...and that includes handing me something so I don't have to break my sterile technique or positioning for an enema!!!! LOL I rec'd a patient the other nite. Doc was in the room waiting on him. They brought him up and doc gladly assisted getting him over to the hosp bed.