What to do: ED physician brought dog to work

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OCNRN63, RN

5,978 Posts

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I shold also add that I am a Director in the inpatient secto rof the same hosptial and am doing Doctoral school hours in the ED.. so that may impact the discussion

​You're not there in an administrative function, so no, it doesn't change anything.

kungpoopanda

215 Posts

I would mind my own damn business and not carry on like an officious prat.

I would mind my own dam business and not carry on like an officious prat.

:roflmao: Had to look up prat and officious . Damn I already knew. Couldn't agree more.

ponymom

385 Posts

I would mind my own dam business and not carry on like an officious prat.

:cat: Best laugh I've had all day. Pup probably a helluva lot cleaner and more well-behaved than half of what else saunters through that ED. Hey, maybe the guy had to either bring pup or would have had to call off. He came to work, be grateful for small favors.

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

Our medical records director would bring her doggie into the facility on occasion and everyone enjoyed seeing how she had dressed her pet, especially around the holidays. The residents enjoyed every minute of it. And so did the nurses. People complained that she did not do it more often. In the ED, ehh, not such a good idea, but he did keep the animal in a crate, away from the immediate patient area. I see no harm and no reason to cause a ruckus. Said ruckus should have occurred when he brought the animal into the area, if it had to occur at all.

Fiona59

8,343 Posts

I would mind my own dam business and not carry on like an officious prat.

I'll buy you bamboo shoots or a beer Panda. that's the best retort I've ever seen on this board.

amoLucia

7,736 Posts

Specializes in retired LTC.

I find it hard to understand how you, a facility Dept director, and a doctoral student, didn't have the courage to speak with the doctor in a concerned and professional manner?!?

You could have checked out the facility's P&P and discussed it with him. How do you avoid clients' conflict?

Personally, I would have had problems AT FIRST. I am truly PHOBIC about dogs, to the point of full blown 'fight or flight" syndrome. But I can desensitize when I've seen the dog to be well-behaved, controlled and not free to roam. And it was a small dog.

The doc prob would heed your concerns for the next time. I'm not condoning his activity, but you don't know his reason, do you?

Even I'm saying lighten up.

87RN

41 Posts

This is a little off topic but involves a dog in my old ER. In the middle of the night, a woman came into our ER frantically crying because her dog was choking, it was a big lab mix and she was caring it in her arms like a baby. It happened to be a slow night so we brought the dog into a trauma room, suctioned and removed a plastic toy with forceps and gave the dog some o2 via mask. We saved that dog, all the patients in the ER were applauding lol.

I don't think it's that big of a deal that he brought his dog. It was in a crate, and well behaved. It's not like it followed him into each patients room. Agree with others that there are far dirtier things that crawl around an ER. If it becomes frequent, then it should be discussed further but I would just try and get over it. Maybe there was a staffing shortage and he agreed to cover if he could bring his dog?

Specializes in ER.

I would also wonder whether he could argue it was a service dog. You don't actually need any proof that a service dog is a service dog or what function they function in. A hypochondriac that I knew from grade school bought a husky for her service dog because she wanted both a husky and a service dog since sixth grade and is now attempting to train cats as service animals despite our state not recognizing cats as service animals and the disabilities act changing the wording to dogs. Basically, any dog can be a service dog even if it is not.

A better question would also be what would be the liability if the dog bites someone? Will the hospital cover the worker's bill if she or he is bit while picking up the dog during work hours? Or will the physician be required to pick it up? What if a patient or kid saw it and stuck a finger into the crate and it bit it?

See if you have anonymous reporting and do it that way. If you talk liability then you may get things done.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I should also add that I am a Director in the inpatient sector of the same hospital and am doing Doctoral school hours in the ED.. so that may impact the discussion

It doesn't impact the discussion at all.

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

I have worked at facilities that have pet visiting hours. I once had an order for "Have dog visit stat". I loved having the pets come everyday. We had restrictions of birds and reptiles being out of patient care areas. The animals had to have proof of vaccinations and health. I personally used to bring my dog for pet days at local hospitals and LTC facilities. Everyone loves a weimaraner....the sesame street dogs.

Having a dog in the department has no bearing of the function or running of the department. If the animal was quiet and under control. It is not in the patient areas nor did it follow the MD room to room. If the staff wash their hands there is not "infection risk. As long as the dog was not defecating, urinating in the department, lying on the sterile field, and covered with fleas....no health risk is present.

Now depending on the policies of your facility you need to make a decision. Bear in mind...the MD brings revenue. You are a guest in that department and frankly it is not your concern. Are you prepared for the fire storm that may accompany your intervention by the medical staff?

Look before you leap....

blondy2061h, MSN, RN

1 Article; 4,094 Posts

Specializes in Oncology.
Sure, animals on a unit like oncology or post-transplant ICU where most/all of the pt's are immunocompromised might not be a hot plan but in the ED?

How do you think those immunocompromised patients often end up readmitted to the hospital? Through the ED!

morte, LPN, LVN

7,015 Posts

OP, you may be right, but is this the hill you want to die on?

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