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?
we have one doc that writes "More progress notes", or just "Progress notes", as an order because he doesn't want to have to reach in front of him and grab one. and i mean he writes it on each chart.lol!
i don't mind helping out anyone unless they have the wrong attitude.
we have one doc that writes "More progress notes", or just "Progress notes", as an order because he doesn't want to have to reach in front of him and grab one. and i mean he writes it on each chart.lol!
In helping docs.........I see it as helping my patients........teamwork, not that of bowing down to the docs every request.:) I've worked with many wonderful docs that I never minded doing anything for because of their personalities. :)
Then, well...you know those you wish would just go awayyyyyyy....that's when I only help them when I see it absolutely necessary to do so.
we have one doc that writes "More progress notes", or just "Progress notes", as an order because he doesn't want to have to reach in front of him and grab one. and i mean he writes it on each chart.lol!
i don't mind helping out anyone unless they have the wrong attitude.
We used to have a doc who wrote an order for an incident report to be made out because there wasn't enough room on the order notes for more orders! He also wanted a report made because there weren't any more progress notes on the chart - talk about attitude. He eventually was made to go to anger management classes because of the fits he would throw at the nurses!
Helping out just comes naturally to me. We have come a long way - it used to be policy to get up out of the chair we were sitting in if the dr comes into the teamcenter. We would have to stand or get out of the way when they came around. Now we sit and even ignor them unless they look as if they want something. But the common courtasy of putting gel on the glove, getting the amnihook ready, tying the gown, etc should be no big thing, it comes with the territory in helping the doc with the neccessary needs.
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....
Our docs are great. They will even rock babies and answer phones. I am more than happy to get out gel, tie up gowns, etc., cause I know our docs help me whenever I need it. I don't consider that being a handmaiden. It's being a team.
Most of our docs even set up for circs and all by themselves. There are times when they need help (like putting in an IUPC).
Our docs are great. They will even rock babies and answer phones. I am more than happy to get out gel, tie up gowns, etc., cause I know our docs help me whenever I need it. I don't consider that being a handmaiden. It's being a team.
Most of our docs even set up for circs and all by themselves. There are times when they need help (like putting in an IUPC).
rock babies....wow. ours answer the phone too! After about the 40th ring when all the nurses are tied up in the patient's rooms.. :chuckle
rock babies....wow. ours answer the phone too! After about the 40th ring when all the nurses are tied up in the patient's rooms.. :chuckle
lol, our docs will answer phones too, don't even have to wait for the 40th ring :)
My point about not tying the gown in my previous post was not that I don't tie gowns or do things for our providers. Just the opposite. I work in an environment of teamwork. We all help each other out. I work with docs and midwives who will do a straight cath on a patient themselves and DO routinely assist in cleaning up their own deliveries. Once they've got their gloves on for delivery, I do my best to anticpate what they're going to need and but if I don't have it out already, they ask for it. The only time orders fly are in emergencies. Except for the new midwife, who demands things and seems to expect us to have 4 hands, and once told one of our most experienced nurses that maybe she should get another nurse in the room if she couldn't care for the patient and fetch things for her when she needed them, during a completely uncomplicated SVD.
But she has learned out how to tie her own gowns now, just like everyone else does.
And since she always requests extra 4x4s, I always empty 3 or 4 trays onto her delivery carts. It saves me the time of opening more for her, and makes her feel special because I remember that she goes through so many.
I've been so totally spoiled by this hospital, I don't think I could ever move on!
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Our doctors are pretty good where I am. They clean up after their lady partsl deliveries, help move heavy patients in the OR, answer our phone when we are obviously very tied up, and help move equipment out. Sooooooo----- I am not unhappy to tie their gowns or making sure individual preferences are met----- when they are so helpful to us in so many ways. It IS about teamwork, and fortunately, we are doing ok there. We have our "moments" of course, when they make me want to scream, but for the most part, they do help us out. Even anesthesia personnel are very willing and help a lot with patient transfers when a csection is going on. I appreciate that.
Maybe I'm a little "old school. I believe it's about being a team player and assisting the doctor with certain things is part of my job. I don't see it as serving a doctor, I see it as caring for my patient. If I was "told" to do something rather than "asked politely", that's another story, but I often do things for docs and offer them my seat whenever they come in because most of the docs I work with are super nice and easy to talk to. They're pretty self sufficient and when I do offer a doc my seat, they don't take it anyway. Like others have said, our docs answer phones, too. When they don't know where to find something, I show them where things are, so they can find what they need next time. I even show them where diapers, tee shirts and blankets are so they don't leave the babies dirty, naked and unswaddled for the nurses to take care of ... yes, some doctors are known to do this :angryfire! I've heard attending doctors teach their residents and students never to leave babies dirty or unwrapped because the nurses won't like them :chuckle! When we take care of our doctors, they take care of us :)!
I have always found that when I treat the doctors the way I want to be treated and politely point out when they could be helping me, that they treat me in the same manner.
The other thing that I do (now that I am a 25 year veteran) is to immediately talk to them about unacceptable behavior. My most effective strategy is when I have been spoken to disrespectfully (eg How could you call me to come in so soon, don't you know anything??) is to ask them how they would feel if I spoke to them in that fashion --yelling at them as they did to me (eg how could you expect me to call you when she was complete and you live 20 minutes away, are you stupid or something) Without exception, they are at first shocked and then apologize, when they realize how inappropriate they are.
... yes, some doctors are known to do this :angryfire! I've heard attending doctors teach their residents and students never to leave babies dirty or unwrapped because the nurses won't like them :chuckle! When we take care of our doctors, they take care of us :)!
lllliv
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we have one doc that writes "More progress notes", or just "Progress notes", as an order because he doesn't want to have to reach in front of him and grab one. and i mean he writes it on each chart.lol!
i don't mind helping out anyone unless they have the wrong attitude.