unfriendly doctors

I was just wondering how many nurses work with doctors that are not very friendly. I worked in a larger teaching hospital for many years and a large majority of the doctors were very friendly and treated us like one big family. It was great. I left there many years ago due to a commute that I got tired of. I am working in a smaller rural community hospital where the doctors walk down the hall and don't even look at the nurses. I have been in the elevators with some of them and they just make out I'm not even there. I have never seen anything like this. Even my primary care doctor sees me and doesn't even talk to me. Recently I went back to my original hospital for some testing and the doctors there were so nice to me. It makes me want to go back because I felt like I was respected as a nurse and it is a good feeling.

If you think you can do the longer comute, then maybe you should go back to where you were before. I sure wouldn't want to work in an enviroment that I don't feel uncomfortable in. Not only is it bad for you (and I) - but I bet it's probably bad for patients too. I am a medical student and I have seen some really shady doctors out there.

And I would bet that a lot of those bad doctors don't know as much acadmeic and clinical medicine as the good doctors do either. I really do mean this because you can just tell by talking to them. The doctors at my school who are really dedicated to their patients - these guys - they just seem to treat everyone right. They literally are encyclopedic brains walking around. It's amazing.

But then there are the guys who walk around like they have a tight rectum or something. Not only are they mean - heck they don't know aywhere as much as the other doctors either. I really do fear for the lives of the patients whom they are taking care of. I would not want to have them as my familar care physican.

That's life I suppose. There is good and bad everywhere.

Small town docs are sometimes stand offish d/t the fact it is a small town and they see patients in social and well as professional settings. Sometimes they adopt a more distant attitude in order to maintain a professional line.

Now, why did you not speak to these physicians? Just a smile, a good morning and let it go? Nothing unprofessional about that, just being human.

Some facilities promote a line between staff and doctors, sort of a "out to get me" attitude, depending on what side of the line you are on. Why not address this issue in a staff meeting, with the DON, administrator, COS, sort of a way to improve patient care issues. Good communication and respect promote good morale.

I have a mixture...some docs are great, others need to be flushed down the toilet with the waste I excrete. It is hard, because we need to communicate with them to obtain orders, get their support and keep them in the loop, but sometimes, it is like pulling teeth to get them to say 'good morning'. There are some that really appreciate us, and buy coffee and donuts to maintain a positive relationship. But, then, there are the others that make us feel lower than roaches.

This is sad, because it does impact on patient care. Now, after becoming a nurse myself, I realize why sometimes, it takes time for a nurse to obtain an order for things like pain meds...some of them have to actually gather their nerves together to speak to these rude monsters, or to make a good excuse of why, because some doctors 'just don't feel like it' and we have to figure out how to squeeze water out of rocks.

if i were you, i'd try to get back into the hospital you were happy at. i also have a long commute to work, but i refuse to leave because i love it there. most of the doctors are great and very observant to the nurses and their needs. i don't want to chance leaving and being unhappy somewhere else. i know gas prices are through the roof, but, i'd rather be happy at work and drive an hour then be unhappy and hate my job.

When people complain to me about the rudeness and indifference of some providers, I always remind them that the provider works for the patient not the other way around and to not be intimidated by them and to demand that the provider treat them with respect or they will fire the provider and seek another one!! And I don't care how good a provider is. If they treat me like cr*p I refuse to put up with it. Since they're the ones getting the big bucks to treat me they darn well better treat me like royalty!!

Where I work, you get what you give. If you're friendly, you attrack friendly MD's in return. Otherwise they come and do their thing and leave quietly, not being rude, but not being overly friendly either.

On the flipside, I've seen nurses treat interns and residents like crap.

I know what you mean I am 37 weeks pregnant , and my OB-GYN is a total ***** , she has the worst social and communication skills. She walks into the room doesn't even say hello , and does the usual 5 min visit. Not to mention I drive 30 minutes to go and see her every week since I am due very soon. There is just no respect sometimes I find myself wanting to tell her she is the rudest healthcare professional I have ever had to deal with!!!!!!!!! She even told me if I am not willing to be induced then she will not be delivering my baby, because it would be inconvient for her The only reason decided to use her as my OB is because my dear mom recommended her because they work L&D together .....so needless to say alot of docs have this attitude , BUT some docs are fabulous people who really do give a rats behind about there staff and patients:yeah: unfortunately I got the bad apple out of the bunch !!!!

I do believe that the threat to not deliver your baby unless you "want to be induced", is situation that you could, and should, be reported to the Board of Medicine, not to mention the hospital where you plan on delivering your baby. I would dump this bimbo NOW and find another doctor. I would demand a refund of any money that you have paid.

Lindarn, RN ,BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington