Ok, I am a nursing student in an RN program and we are currently on rounds at a local hospital. I am also the daughter of a physician and RN, who was taught from a very young age to speak up about things, in a professional manner.
Scenario in point, I was on rounds at the hospital and we were at the nurses station setting up meds and a conversation is starting between 2 doctors who involve us in the conversation. My senior nurse instructor is standing with us doing the meds and hears the whole thing transpire.
Doc 1 says, "Nurses around here have it easy." (my ears burning, mouth is shut)
Doc 2 says, "Yeah, I don't know why they don't prioritize better. If they did they would not have so many complaints about so many things and tasks would be completed." (mouth still shut, face red, glaring at my instructor who is giving me the "PLEASE don't say anything or I will kill you look.")
Doc 1 says, "I should come down here and do my own rounds." (I laughed out loud thus involving myself into a now volatile situation)
Doc 2 turns and says, "Young lady are you alright" (now I could take the moral low road and just lie and say I was talking to my friend) Not me, LOL.
Nursing student (me) says, "I heard your conversation and was little surprised is all." (Nursing instructor is now bright red and praying I am not going to say what she already knows I am)
Doc 1 says, "Oh, what about our private conversation was surprising"
Nursing student says, "My dad went to med school and is a physician and he didn't tell me they had nurse training while they were there" (Nursing instructor slaps her forehead, blinks 400 times, and runs off to find a body bag for me)
Doc 2 chokes then says, "Well I went to medical school and I can surely do any nurses job. Besides you're a student you can't possible know things as of yet.
Doc 1 is standing with his mouth gaping open, speechless.
Nursing student says, "I am sure these nurses would appreciate some assistance. BTW I have to give meds out, would you like to help"
Thus resulting in both of them shaking their heads and walking away.
Now, I realize this conversation could have, and probably should have went a different direction, but it gives me sunburn on my ass when I hear doctors say things like that. Of all places, in FRONT OF the nurses station. That is adding insult to injury. Most of those nurses standing around weren't going to say anything, for obvious reasons, but the idea that they have to put up with that nonsense is enraging to me. I am a foolish nursing student, but I don't believe what those docs did was right, professional, or even tolerable. The fact they BELIEVE the things they were saying was a laugh.
Anyways, do you all have to listen to Docs speak that way on a regular basis?
I thought the comment was quite funny and applaud you for speaking up. I don't think anything was said "Out of Line" that had already been said by the doctors. If the doctors were talking privately, they wouldn't have been degrading nurses in front of the nurses station.
None of the above. I would have simply walked away, not because I'm a martyr but because I would consider myself above responding to such a petty, immature "discussion" especially if they did not address me directly.
I would love to see some middle ground in these never-ending discussions on this forum about physicians. On the one hand, we had a new nurse crying because a doc she thought was her friend gave her her "first butt-chewing" and on the other hand, we have nursing students engaging a couple of morons who had nothing better to do other than to try to bait the nurses.
Be an advocate for yourself, be professional and do not allow others to denigrate you or our profession. This does not mean you have to walk around with a chip on your shoulder, defensive and ready to slay the first person who says something you don't like. Make it count. That was my only point.
P.S. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year as well,
When within earshot of my prioritizing abilities, is rude number 1. that is precisely why i would not work with a chip on my shoulder. I have no problem confronting ethical isssues. My Choice, just as you have your choice. By speaking out to a clearly insulted language of sorts I feel Iam being an advoate for myself and my-coworkers. What I say I mean and I mean what I say. Jut two different ways of handling a situation. So first-butt chewing and "moron nurses" IMO should not even be in your vocabulary if you are walking away to advocate yourself. By addressing such comments in ear range I feel I am not denigrating my profession or myself.
I don't put public or lay people in a different category either, it is my nature.
By constantly talking about them, analyzing them, scrutinizing them, worrying about them, we give them so much power! For goodness sake, it seems like every day there is a topic on this board about physicians: what they think, what they say, how they act, how they dress, their home lives, how they raise their children, how they treat their wives, how they treat nurses, can we date them, can we marry them, do they approve of us, do they accept us, if they don't do it, believe it in it or accept it then why should we and on and on and on.
You would think they are the only discipline we work with. On an individual basis, they are really not that fascinating. The only other discipline that seem to get as much attention are the poor nursing assistants.
Giving them so much attention be it positive or negative gives them so much power. Yes, they have power.....but not nearly as much as so many of you think.
If you want to change nursing culture, then start by NOT defining yourselves by the way physicians perceive us.
So just lie down amd lick their shoes.... I think not. I worked for my license as well and address all M.D.'s with repect until I have been direspected.
Is that your interpretation of my comments? If so, then you didn't understand what I wrote at all. In fact that is the exact opposite of what I meant. The exact opposite.
Is that your interpretation of my comments? If so, then you didn't understand what I wrote at all. In fact that is the exact opposite of what I meant. The exact opposite.
I can't speak for the rest of you, but when I was in nursing school we were taught that patients have rights during life and during death.
We were taught that is was incorrect to gossip.
We were taught to respect our co-workers and to help them out.
We were taught to respect the doctor. Which I do. But when conversations that are obviously discussed in front of me that question my work, without addressing me personally, I feel I have the right to ask them respectfully, what would you have me do differently as it seems you are not satisfied with a procedure or patient.
The OP did just that. Confronted doctors who choose to belittle nurses at the nursing desk at the time they were doing there jobs. I commend the OP for doing just that, and the fact she grew up in a home where both parents are professionals tells me she was taught the difference between right and wrong. I believe her future in nursing will be a shining example of this.
On this bb many times have I read comments from other posters how they have handled situations from families and others in the medical profession. And how they stop certain behaviours right now...... So what is the difference?
It's doing what is nec. to help prevent misunderstandings, abusive behaviour, and to allow resolution to a problem.
To JUDGE how a person or professional wants to address these issues to a family or doctor or nurse respectfully, is wrong. Opinions are just that opinions, and that does not change the reality of any situation going on.
In life in and out of work, I'm a firm believer that you treat people the way you would want to be treated. Sometimes the truth hurts when one has to hold strong to their belief, and if that involves confronting a rude undertaking or lack of understanding to help find resolution than so be it.
I don't expect at all for everyone to agree with this, but in respect it will need to be accepted, just as I would have to accept different avenues of this discussion.
Nurses at the bottom of the totem pole??? Well, I've seen even WORSE treatment of CNA's done by nurses! And in my experience, I would much rather be mistreated by a "male" than a female anyday. Women can often be the cruelist. Strange that you would find such behaviour in a profession that is supposed to be about caring. So where did the saying come from...that "nurses eat their young". I guess that is why I love hospice nursing so much. You really have to be a compassionate human being to work in hospice...and truly compassionate people seem to value and care more about everyone around them.
skittlebear
408 Posts
I thought the comment was quite funny and applaud you for speaking up. I don't think anything was said "Out of Line" that had already been said by the doctors. If the doctors were talking privately, they wouldn't have been degrading nurses in front of the nurses station.