Violent Physician

[blondesareeasy]

An MD threatened to "kill that nurse." The nurse involved and I have reported it. He is suspended and ordered to take classes on "Anger Management."

1.) We don't believe that's adequate punishment.

2.) We have been instructed to "not mention this to anyone."

He's a previous offender.

1.) That is an assault and creates fear in the workplace and creation of a hostile working environment.

2.) The nurse involved, entirely by coincidence, is leaving the hospital anyway for a new job.

3.) She followed the exact directions and order of a "covering" physician in his own group. Did nothing wrong.

I'm respecting her request to me to keep it quiet. But, I believe this also does a disservice to our other nurses who, indeed, work in daily fear that he will round and subject them to the same behaviour.

I also believe that this "Anger Management" class will be nothing more than an on-line 30 minute sales job purchased by the hospital.

She filed for a restraining order with the local police department. This IS a serious offense but it's ALWAYS toned down by the hospital as bad PR.

Thoughts?

[andi.w]

Unfortunately, this sounds familiar to me. I have worked with a couple of physicians that have been ordered anger management classes for their behavior. In my experience, it didn't make a difference. Aside from the fact that no one should have to work in that type if environment, this behavior and treatment of nursing staff could also be detrimental to patients. Nurses don't want to reach out to these physicians for help when they constantly fear being belittled and verbally abused, or in your experience, threatened. They will avoid contact with a particular physician for as long as possible, possibly delaying patient care. I feel that hospitals should give offending physicians more than just a slap on the wrist.

[poppycat, ADN, BSN]

You could make an anonymous report to the state medical board. That is totally unacceptable behavior!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

In all my years of nursing I have had only one facility that held physician accountable...his admitting privileges were suspended for 6 months and on probation for a year....he threw a chart at me......although this extreme behavior is actually rare.

I saw a ED MD punch a patient once for being drunk and obnoxious....the facility did nothing for he "hadn't done it in a long time"....an anonymous report was filed. (if you are reading this...it was me..:) )

[eCCU]

They must not be in TX....;-)

Never had violent MD experience, but did have a racist patient who hit a pregnant Nurse. Nursing management just shrugged it off until our chief came in for rounds and was updated. ..needless to say he personally filed a police report and had him arrested from the ICU after an MI! Was walked out by cops in handcuffs and we were on the evening news! Lol....love such MDs!

[KeepItRealRN, BSN, RN]

As far as the violent patients go you would think that there would be some OSHA regulations in place and if there isn't there should be. No one should have to put up with being physically assulted, as the facility should be doing everything possible to assure that it doesn't happen, and when it does they need to follow up on it just as if it were a med error, a patient fall, chopping off the wrong limb etc. Factories are held to certain standards of safelty and so should hospitals.

As far as the violent physicians go I personally have zero tolerance for that and when I used to work in the unit and was in charge on the night shift and it happened I've taken those offenders into the office for a private chat and told them in no uncertain terms that I had zero tolerance for that behavior. I ususally had no problems with them after that. I was nice about it, but firm. I never had one of those physicians go to administration and compain that I "told them off" either.

[A&Ox6, MSN, RN]

In NYS, it is a crime (possibly even felony) to harm a nurse at work. There are actually signs all over facilities. Similar to the ones posted about cops, transit workers...

[NPOaftermidnight, MSN, RN, NP]

It's disgusting that this type of behavior is tolerated. Our hospital doesn't put up with this kind of nonsense regardless of title, and for that I am thankful. He should be fired, that is extremely unprofessional. Why do some hospitals let doctors treat other staff members like such crap and get away with it? I don't get it.

[lmccrn62, MSN, RN]

I would call the joint commission if your facility is accredited by them. It's a hot topic on their radar. Unfortunately if a nurse was acting that way they would be terminated. I reported a few physicians who were bullying me on a daily basis. And the result was a breakdown in which I was out if work for 3 months. I was transferred out of that department thankfully! But it's the good old boys club and nothing was done to them.