Surgeons who make me cry!!!

[pamc217]

Hi everyone

Im new to the OR 8 weeks now, and there is one arrogant surgeon who treats everyone like crap. Well most people have learned to put up with him. Twice now he has brought me to tears, once I had to break scrub and get a replacement. I am not doing anything wrong, but its his demeaning tone of voice, like how dare I talk back to him. Other than him i like my job. I have to scrub for him on monday and it has ruined my weekend thinking about it. Any suggestions on what I can do to be able to control my tears and not break down, because my nose starts to run etc. You know how bad that can be when your scrubbed. I know everyone says dont let it bother you hes just a jerk etc. But thats not helping me at this point,. HELP!!!

Pam:angryfire

[ebear, BSN, RN]

Hi, Issey!

I guess I never thought about vet. medicine in those terms. I'm sure it can be just as stressful at times. There are workplace harassment laws that would still apply here. No one need tolerate that behavior. A lot of time, young workers are abused like this because the doc (or anybody else) thinks they can get by with it--and usually do. That day is gone! I finished RN school at the ripe old age of 20. The abuse the young nurses took was unbelievable, including sexual harassment. Not much could be done about it in the 70's. It's a different world. THANK GOD! All I can say is, it's a good thing I don't work with the idiot! Of course, after that, I wouldn't be having to work ANYWHERE for long!

Good luck to you!

ebear

[Satori77, ADN]

Thanks for the support everyone.

Some vets can be horrible, he was definitely the worst I have ever met. Not only did he think anyone that wasn't a dr, or a surgeon for that matter, was beneath him, but that women were lower than dirt. He did not treat the male vet techs half as bad. I am lucky, I work at a huge emergency/specialty vet hospital: he was forced to leave, we have two surgeons left which I adore, 8 specialists, 11 generalists, and 7 interns....such a gig hospital is rare. I love most of them. If anything, the only one I (and many others) have a problem with ego wise is an intern. But we are putting him in his place.

But when I do get into (human) nursing, and hopefully the OR, I will be prepared for jerk dr's. This one surgeon, and a few others from my past (I worked for one that was bipolar and when he didn't take his meds, watch out! Insults weren't the only things flying) really did me a favor. I have a backbone now and I don't let anyone treat me badly. That is why I take this topic very seriously. I hope I didn't offend anyone, but it really makes me angry when dr's, or anyone, think they are better and can treat people like crap.:trout:

[ebear, BSN, RN]

So glad to hear that one's gone! :balloons:

ebear

[Marvie]

i would accidentally cut him with a scalpel.

:jwdrp:WHAT? and let him go to court and win? NEVER!

[ebear, BSN, RN]

I don't recommend that you "accidentally cut him with a scalpel, unless you want to face assault charges. He needs to be reported (in writing) to the Chief of surgery, Chief medical officer, and administration. (Skip the nurse managers--they are usually wusses) Also consider reporting to hospital attorney regarding hostile work environment. These little "God complexes" DO have someone over them and they look unfavorably upon such displays of childishness.

When I was a young OR nurse, a surgeon through a scalpel within an inch of my head! Ended up he was suspended from surgery for 6 months at my facility. It hurt him in the old pocketbook for a while and he never pulled that BS again! Once you have all your documentation together, also report instances that you've observed concerning other staff members and their abuse by this orifice!! I guarantee you the admin sorts cannot afford a lawsuit and will bring the rectum down a few notches!!!

Also for you nurses who are called "you stupid, fu*#king nurse," etc, as soon as he said the word "nurse", that becomes professional slander. Seek an employment attorney immediately!

[justjenny]

Laugh at him, he's just a two year old having a big old temper tantrum.

Ask him if he needs a nap.

:yeahthat:

LOL! That is how I think of Docs that act like that....they are no worse than my children having a hissy fit!

I feel like I carry myself in a manner that "demands" respect...and I certainly would tell any surgeon "You will not speak to me in that way" I don't need to say more about how they are acting, etc. Just simply stating that their comment was unacceptable. I do like the comment about cursing in your head! That was a good one! My problem is...I might actually say some of those things out loud!

Jenny

[feiying88]

in china , many doctors are ,too. my idea is that try our best to adopt the cooperation. if you feel unhappy or nervous when he or she acts as a dog,the case will be worse, they could bite our nurses. so keep calm and silent,try to do better in the coorperation. if he or she is still discontented,and this arrogant people are still arrogant,hold a grudge and let him or her do the operation himself or herself.

[Vikingkitten]

Another thing that encourages bad behavior from surgeons is staff that kiss ass. There are nurses and techs who will treat a surgeon like gold even if he is a royal jackass. This is just positive reinforcement that encourages them to keep acting like a jerk. If ALL nurses and techs were unfriendly to jerk surgeons, the surgeons would be nicer.

I disagree. I've been in ORs (mine one of them), where Surgeons were Not allowed to act like that! You would not believe the difference! Shorter cases, faster turn-overs, much better communication and the benefit of not having to own stock in Tums just to get through the day.

I once pulled the crew of a Really nasty ENT who had a habit of abusing Everyone in the OR and the rest of the Hospital. Told him he could have his crew back as soon as he learned to behave. Left him in the room with just the CRNA. And no, Administration didn't back me. Amazing what a little bit of standing up for your people will do. Was the nicest Surgeon for the longest time after that!

Sometimes, it doesn't hurt to remind Drs. ( in the most diplomatic way, of course), that they only have to remember how They do cases. We, on the other hand, have to remember how All of them do their cases!

"And now, for something completely different!":bugeyes:

[Vikingkitten]

Hi Pam.

When i started in the OR about a year ago i could not believe the attitudes of some of our surgeons. But what really hurt me when i was learning and tolerating the verbal abuse of not knowing instruments, draping etc was the senior nurses standing there DOING NOTHING. My advice to all senior OR nurses reading this is when a surgeon is having a go at someone new don't just scurry off to do his/her bidding, stick by your work mates, tell them their fantastic when their being yelled at and don't let this type of behavior continue!

My advice, if he yells or gets abusive, strip off your gloves and threaten to unscrub. You should not have to go through this type of abuse.

Have several thoughts about this one:

I've had it with Managers, Charge nurses, Directors, Administration etc. who tell us, " well, they're Doctors, you can't do anything about them." - B.S! I have been there for 30+ years, and I've seen and been places that Do Not allow that behavior. It CAN be done, if the above mentioned "Leaders/Managers " had Gonads!

"The Doctor will go somewhere else". This one drives me up the wall! Surgeons need somewhere to practice. Do you really think they are going to want to start over somewhere new? If things were so great at some other Hospital, they'd already be there! Stand up for your people! Is there any wonder there is a Nursing shortage, and Dr.s are the #1 reason for Nurses to get out of the profession.

Stand up for your co-workers. I stay on the S. List all the time for doing just that.

Sorry about the Soapbox Preaching.

[NewNurseyGirl2009]

In my hospital we have kudos comments. Anyone can say a nice comment on anyone who they think deserves it. I would write a nice letter about how much you appriciate his attitude and willingness to work with others. I would say his compassion and understanding has facilitated a great work environment and you appriciate him. He will read it and know you are bs-ing but that will be the fun of it :)

[Vikingkitten]

Hey Pam,

You need to get thick skin if you are going to make it in the O.R.

Unfortunately, it is the nature of this beast.

Rule #1. Say to yourself, "Thank God I do not have to home with this

person

Rule #2. Do not waste good mascara on anyone:lol2:

Best of luck to you!

Thick skin has nothing to do with it! I've found that statments like that are usually cover-ups for not doing anything about the situation. And no, I don't think it has to be "the nature of the beast". That's giving up without even trying. Well, not me and not in my OR. It can be dealt with and should be. What would your wife(husband) do if you acted like that at home? I think the results would be somewhat different!

[lostfromlatex]

Vikingkitten,

You misunderstood me. I was merely making generalized statements regarding the "nature" of the operating room. This is an incredibly stressful environment and one should not take behaviors personally when the surgeon is reacting to the situation at hand, i.e a trauma/or case going downhill.

I have spoken to the surgeon after the case in neutral territory, "the hallway", on several occasions regarding the manner to which he/she had spoken/treated me during the case and have had good responses to "calling them on their behavior. "

The key is trying not to add fuel to the fire during the case. Afterall, we are there for that patient on the table and we need to rise above the "baby- having- a- temper- tantrum " in the room and keep things running smoothly until the patient is on their way to the PACU.

If you are truly in danger from being physically assaulted, i.e., being cut by a scalpel, that is when immediate action needs to be implemented.