Surgeon's behavior

[guest974915]

Having been a OR staff R.N. (CVOR, General/Trauma surgery) in quite a few hospitals and several states for almost 25 years, I have come to accept a common unpleasantry. In EVERY practice setting I have been employed, I have witnessed at least one physician (surgeon) who demonstrates egregious and wholly unacceptable behavior. By this, I am referring to a rude, surly disposition in general, but more specifically, excessive sarcasm, constant condescension, demeaning, dismissive comments, blaming, and in short, just a hateful, miserable, petty tyrant. The acceptance of this and the degree that a blind eye is given this behavior by management, is directly proportional to the amount of revenue Dr. X generates for the hospital. All too often, I've told younger nurses, tears in their eyes, that they could report the doctor's incidents or write incident reports until their pens ran out of ink, but the only thing that would ever change, is perhaps their long-term employment status. I hate this fact and it makes me realize the totally powerless, impotent position so many of my colleagues face everyday-a sad fact indeed!

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

There is, indeed, always at least one in every hospital. I can think of two off the top of my head right now that I've had problems with at my current job. It makes me glad to work MICU, where my intensivists are who I have to deal with most often, and who are usually consulted on almost all patients on my unit even if the attending is a surgeon. I really enjoy not having to deal with them often.

[Sage611]

There is no excuse for the departure from human decency; I don't care how high up on the totem pole you are. I honestly don't think I could keep my mouth shut and would probably be fired. Maybe I'm stubborn, indignant or plain old stupid, but I would not tolerate abuse in any form.

[quazar]

My bff had a nasty encounter a neurosurgeon who is literally world famous, as in he has had past presidents and world dignitaries as his patients (vast majority male). He said to her, in a very flippant, rude, dismissive tone, after taking her history and performing a basic exam, "well.....9 times out of 10, in women, we never figure out the cause of stuff like this anyway."

BACK UP THE TRUCK. So you're telling me, Mr. Hot Shot I'm-A-God neurosurgeon, that if my friend had a Y chromosome and a member, that somehow, your assessment and diagnostic skills would magically improve tenfold and you'd be able to figure out what was wrong? Oh, well, my apologies. Next time she'll remember to bring the proper genitalia.

I told her to file a complaint with patient relations so fast that his head spins.

[Sage611]

My bff had a nasty encounter a neurosurgeon who is literally world famous, as in he has had past presidents and world dignitaries as his patients (vast majority male). He said to her, in a very flippant, rude, dismissive tone, after taking her history and performing a basic exam, "well.....9 times out of 10, in women, we never figure out the cause of stuff like this anyway."

BACK UP THE TRUCK. So you're telling me, Mr. Hot Shot I'm-A-God neurosurgeon, that if my friend had a Y chromosome and a member, that somehow, your assessment and diagnostic skills would magically improve tenfold and you'd be able to figure out what was wrong? Oh, well, my apologies. Next time she'll remember to bring the proper genitalia.

I told her to file a complaint with patient relations so fast that his head spins.

[/QUOT

That makes me so mad!!! The nerve of Dr. Know Everything! Blech.

[sevensonnets]

We had a surgeon who was so hateful and mean to OR nurses that all but one refused to work with him ever again. That's when administration finally took action. He threw a chart at a nurse one day and actually injured her, so he lost his privileges. The nurse filed assault charges against him. Her husband handled the situation himself but I can't tell you exactly how without giving anything away!

[guest974915]

In this instance, it seems the straw that broke the camel's back 'so to speak', was apparently the physical act. Barring that, it's been my experience that pretty much all else, while not condoned, is generally tolerated by management. I've learned over the years that reporting and write-ups accomplish little more than casting a dark shadow upon the whistleblower and that the abusive, unprofessional behavior will go on unchecked as before. In 25 years, having worked in several states, in hospitals of all sizes, from modern progressive, university-based hospitals to small, community ones, sadly, it's always the same.

[AliNajaCat]

Without going into too much detail, I dealt with one of those. After his tantrum in the middle of the ICU, with staff, families, and patients all listening in, I told him I was reporting him to the head of his partnership and to the hospital risk mgmt department, because behavior like that puts the hospital and the partnership at risk. He pretty much dared me to do it, because apparently it wasn't the first time. I am pleased to say, however, that it was the last. He was gone, gone, gone in about a month. Maybe it's because of my writing skills. :)

[Sage611]

We had a surgeon who was so hateful and mean to OR nurses that all but one refused to work with him ever again. That's when administration finally took action. He threw a chart at a nurse one day and actually injured her, so he lost his privileges. The nurse filed assault charges against him. Her husband handled the situation himself but I can't tell you exactly how without giving anything away!

Good for her! That's abuse and uncalled for. I worked for a dentist who threw instruments and would talk with his teeth clamped together. Reminded me of a bull.

[Buyer beware, BSN]

This kind of absolute crap has been going on since the "big bang." Everything you describe is nothing but the truth. From the surgeon's surly behavior to the institution's reluctance to curtail in any way the surgical cash cow. Happens a lot in cardiac cath labs too. Mostly nasty men ( some women) letting their IDs run amuck. I and lots of others know of many situations where nurses were physically assaulted with hands laid on them or objects thrown at them. I have seen cardiologists needlessly irradiate (me for one) nurses when their back was momentarily turned away from the cath table to retrieve someting at the psycho's request.

Now, I know there are nurses out there who will say they have never experienced any of these miscreants but to them I would say I never worked Mayberry R.F.D. general hospital either.