Tips for first job after graduation

[CSIPAIGE]

I've been told it's a normal thing for doctors to yell at nurses, but every doctor I've worked with as a student has been so nice; I realize it's probably because I'm a student. Being fresh out of school (and passing the NCLEX) at my very first job as an RN, what are some tips on how to not **** off the more experienced nurses and doctors besides the obvious?

[duskyjewel]

Why should anyone regard mistreatment as normal in their workplace? Demand to be treated as an adult and a professional and don't allow anything else.

[RN403, BSN, RN]

Would you tolerate yelling from a co-worker at any other job? I didn't think so. There is a professional way to go about telling someone that you will not tolerate their behavior. It's as simple as that.

[AliceTrout]

I have never been yelled at by a doctor, and the only time I have ever witnessed a doctor yell at a nurse, she deserved it. See this post for the story on that.

[RunBabyRN]

Few docs do that anymore, and most nurses stand up to docs that do that. That's very old thinking. I have been in healthcare a long time, and only one doctor EVER treated the "lowly" people that way. Thankfully she transferred soon after my arrival (this was in the military, and she WAY outranked me, so there was no standing up to her!).

[chiandre]

I've been told it's a normal thing for doctors to yell at nurses, but every doctor I've worked with as a student has been so nice; I realize it's probably because I'm a student.

No it is not normal. If anybody yells at you , it is considered workplace violence, and the abuser should be disciplined immediately.

[SubSippi]

It's not normal, but it happens. It's not just doctors yelling, if you work in a high stress environment you're bound to see people with several different jobs lose their tempers. But like the other posters have said, it really doesn't happen often.

The times I've encountered a "yeller" or even just a seriously bad attitude, I've responded with a two second stone cold, blank-faced stare (or two seconds of silence on the phone), and then continue with what I was saying in my normal tone of voice (after I spent several months as a new grad thickening up my skin and training my voice not to squeak when I was nervous). This has gotten me anywhere from more attitude and a dial tone, to three separate apologies that day from a physician. But, I have never gotten an attitude from the same person twice!

Most doctors I work with are smart, work hard, and have their patients best interests in mind. Jerks are everywhere, it's best to go ahead and get in the habit now of not letting them intimidate you. Or at least learning how to fix your face to where they can't tell you feel intimidated.

Besides, THEY are the ones that have to go home every day and live with their ornery selves. If I lived my life with a chip on my shoulder and my head up my butt, I'd probably be grumpy, too.

[cdsavannah59, CNA]

Yes I've seen a few nurses and staff to get yelled at by doctors. I worked as an Ophthalmic Tech for 8 years most of the time he was great to work for but there were a few times on a rare occasional when he was rude to me in and on rare occasions he was ride to me in front of patients I thought. I voiced my opinion to him about it privately in hallway about it and later he called me to his office, I quit my job and on my way out the door i told him he was a egotistical a..hole.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

every doctor I've worked with as a student has been so nice; I realize it's probably because I'm a student.

And it is also probably because you are a man. Based on your avatar photo, I assume you're a male. I've noticed that physicians, patients and families tend to be a tad bit friendlier with males.