sexually harassment by Doctor, help!!

LadyStar42, LPN · Aug 1, 2006

Tell him his behavior is unprofessional and you don't appreciate it. Or that his behavior is unacceptable to you and request that he stop. However you want to say it. If you don't say anything then he assumes that you are ok with his behavior and keeps it up. If, after you tell him, he keeps it up, then go to your supervisor. Always stay in the chain of command. He will probably stop when you bring it to his attention that it is not acceptable to you.

Good luck

pywon8 · Aug 1, 2006

Thank you lady star 42. Actually my supervisor also know about these Drs. behaviour. they also can't do anything to them. U know.....They are Drs.and they are the one who makes money for the hospital unless there is court case then only the management will do something about this. On the other hand, if I scold him or slap him, I will have problem to follow his round next time. they will simply make my life miserable. One of the Dr. invite me to go out and and refused it, the next minutes, there will be a lot of complaint about me. Luckly my supervisor smart enough to handle it but I don't know how long I can stand it !.

Cerebrum · Aug 1, 2006

Tell him his behavior is unprofessional and you don't appreciate it. Or that his behavior is unacceptable to you and request that he stop. However you want to say it. If you don't say anything then he assumes that you are ok with his behavior and keeps it up. If, after you tell him, he keeps it up, then go to your supervisor. Always stay in the chain of command. He will probably stop when you bring it to his attention that it is not acceptable to you.
Good luck

Well said... ... I suppose things become more difficult in a paternal society...

LadyStar42, LPN · Aug 1, 2006

I don't know much about your society in Malasia, what is acceptable and what is not, but to me and I'm sure most american nurses this is beyond wrong. We have laws that cover this sort of thing and most hospitals would rather say something to the Dr. than have a harassment suit brought against them. I am at a loss as to what else to tell you. Maybe work your way up the chain to the Chief of Staff? I don't know but I wish you luck. Let us know how it goes.

LadyStar

RNgirlie · Aug 1, 2006

pywon8,

Is this happening to other nurses? If it is, then maybe you would feel better if you all (nurses being harassed) supported each other and work together to expose the offending doctors and have disciplinary action taken against them. Make sure to file your complaints up the chain of command as Lady Star42 has said. Nursing is very stressful and even more so when you are getting harrassed. You do not deserve to be uncomfortable and taken advantage of this way. I wish you look. Let us know how everything goes.

Cheyenne RN,BSHS · Aug 1, 2006

[evil][/evil] sometime, i feel stress of this working environment. how to act to stop all this harrassment? please help!!

i encourage you to first stand up for yourself with this doctor or any male who's behavior is inappropriate.intervene on your own behalf as you would advocate for your patients.

tell him clearly and firmly that "i do not like that kind of talk/behaviour/touching/etc. do not do that again or i will report you to my supervisor."

look him in the eye with determination just as you would if someone were trying to harm one of your patients or a child.

silence is often understood as accepting the behavior. avoidence is not feasible when you have to work as professionals.

if you have to document the conduct in writing and hand it in to your supervisor and always keep a copy. try to advocate for yourself as you would for one of your patients if they came to you as a victim of a doctor's unwanted sexual advances.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

You must be a strong presence, and do not allow for that type of behavior. If that occurs, you tell them that that was unprofessional and that it will not be tolerated further.

I have never run into sexual harassment as a nurse except for a few demented elderly gent patients (which I handled in the same way as mentioned and charted it, and let my RN supervisor know). Never have I ever had a MD be inappropriate in this mannor (yelling and complaining yes, and I can handle that with grace now that I have the experience...typically the same thing...I inform them they are being very unprofessional and that if they wish improvement, a team approach is faster and more proactive...and if they needed to vent, we can go into a room and get it out of their system with the administrator.).

There are also State Labor Laws in place for just such things...they should be posted in a common employee room (by OSHA requirements). You may wish to check those out!

Good luck to you, and you are the power to stop harrasment that is done to you...inform it is not to be done, be a strong presence, and inform the proper administrative staff and or the State.

TrudyRN · Aug 1, 2006

What is the law in Malaysia about sexual harrassment?

Also, can you get a group of other staff to stand up with you?

Maybe you need to talk with a lawyer for advice before doing anything.

Could you simply say to the doctor that you don't want him to touch you or say sexual things to you? What would his reaction be, do you think?

TazziRN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

If you have no laws in your country to protect you and other nurses from being harrassed, perhaps you should find another job that gets you away from this doctor. Do not put up with it, or you could find yourself being assaulted.

indigo girl · Aug 1, 2006

If you have no laws in your country to protect you and other nurses from being harrassed, perhaps you should find another job that gets you away from this doctor. Do not put up with it, or you could find yourself being assaulted.

So true. It does not feel like a safe situation if you are alone on that unit with no one but comatose patients, and this inappropriate doctor.

If your supervisor already knows about this behavior as you indicate that she does, you have no choice for your own safety, but to speak with someone higher up in the chain of command where you work. If this has happened to other nurses that you know of, take them with you when you speak to a higher authority. You want to do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to avoid an actual assault. Nothing is more important than your safety. Find another job or transfer to a unit where you are not alone. If they won't help you, quit if you can. This may be easier said than done if no other jobs are available. I hope for your continued well being.

pywon8 · Aug 3, 2006

I don't know much about your society in Malasia, what is acceptable and what is not, but to me and I'm sure most american nurses this is beyond wrong. We have laws that cover this sort of thing and most hospitals would rather say something to the Dr. than have a harassment suit brought against them. I am at a loss as to what else to tell you. Maybe work your way up the chain to the Chief of Staff? I don't know but I wish you luck. Let us know how it goes.
LadyStar

Dear Lady Star, Tazzirin, RNgirlie, TrudyRN and to whom reply to my message, of course there are law in Malaysia.it was the process make us don;t feel like doing anything. We are still under agreement to work in this hospital. Here, I mean one of the hospital in malaysia I guess, is treating the Doctor is a god, we always scolded by the Doctor eventhough we felt we are right, we are just the handmaiden of the doctor eventhough we disagree with that. However, I discuss with my colleague and we plan to ignored the doctor when he came for round and we indirectly asking our sister to follow the Doctor and we promise to ourselves not to leave anybody with any doctor especially in the night. well.......just wait and see what we can do further.....and thank you very much for that.