Years ago while working acute care psychiatry. A patient had a consult order for IM ( internal medicine) This consult doctor was the one of the best. He was always kind and respectful with our patients we all just loved him as did his patient.
He had rushed over to our unit, grabbed the patient's chart off to the pt's room. I saw him enter the patient's room and followed.
He asked all of the usual questions, it was when he started asking the usual questions about when was last menses and such I had to start holding my breathe.The patient answered all questions as best they could.
The doctor then began his physical examination of the patient. Within moments he asked me to step outside so we could discuss further care of the patient.
Once alone he said" why didn't you tell me she was a he? etc. etc." To which in between my laughing at this point I said " Doctor so and so, I assumed you read the history and physcial"
We both ended up laughing. Went into the black humor as a means of coping with what was potentially a very uncomfortable situation.
I could tell he was embarassed that he had not taken the time to read the H & P which he most often always did. I will say he went back into that room and continued to treat this patient with the up most respect.
Never a time that I think back on this don't I bust out laughing remembering " what the heck are you doing asking about menses and such, this is a guy who looks like female and not a pretty one at that"
I had a pt several yrs ago that had DIC. She had received many units of blood, everything was tried to break the cycle to no avail. Instead she was sent to the Med Surg floor to die. Her MD was a terror about orders being followed, and she was on a clear liquid diet. I asked her if there was anything she really, really wanted, and she replied chocolate ice cream. I had to argue with dietary to send it up, and finnaly told them she was dying and would be gone in the next 24 hrs. She got her ice cream and ate every bite. Her MD, the terror, arrived demanding in a loud voice, what nurse fed her ice cream, and I admitted it. He then proceeded to hug me, and let everyone know that I was a true nurse who cared about pts. She died 12 hrs later.
One memorable interaction I remember was when I was working on the HIV floor of a county hospital. One of my pts had neurosyphilis and was getting penicillin IV that was very important and needed. However, it was mother's day. This patient, in his foggy neuro-impaired way, was agitated. Despite being unable to walk and having no money, he wanted a pass to leave and get his mom a present. She was visiting later that day. I paged one of our docs and he came.
I stood outside the door while I heard this doc tell the patient, "It is important for you to stay here and get this medicine. Tell me what you want for your mom and I will go get it." He came back later with a card, balloons and some chocolates. He helped the patient write a note to his mom on the card. The patient was delighted. I caught up with the doc later and let him know how caring I thought that was. What a guy!
We have wonderful Dr.'s at our clinic but seeing a doctor cry, is tough for me.
A dear patient camein for a " good bye" visit, no more treatment options, she was going to die. Doctor comes out of the room and tries to say something to us MA's but breaks down in tears and runs back to his office to cry.
This is an experienced doctor, award winning, highly intellegent man in his 50's, always propper and no nonsences, breaks down crying and we MA's all start crying with him.
Oncology can be the hardest and most rewarding specialty. :heartbeat
My Dad died of cancer a few years ago. I had a bad gallbladder and about 2 1/2 weeks after his funeral, I had a lap chole.
During a pre-op visit, the surgeon inquired about my father, as he had operated on him on a couple of occasions. I told him that he had passed; and proceeded to thank him for his care and concern both then and when my dad had been hospitalized. I told him how much my dad thought of him and we thanked him for giving him 5 years of life before the CA came back.
Well, this MD stood up, hugged me and then promptly left the room (but not before I saw the tears in his eyes.)
Let me say sisters and brother of healthcare. Your sharing of these stories have made my day, and from reading the positives of others,it is making theirs also. Keep the great stories coming.
We never hear enough positives. Maybe someone can start a thread on the best /most memorable time with another nurse/co-worker.
Do pharmacists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, chaplains, dieticians, social workers, housekeepers, secretaries, occupational therapists, speech therapists, maintenance and all the other people we interact with in order to provide care to our patients get their own thread or is it only the almighty, Godlike physicians we are supposed to gush about? Just curious.....
Do pharmacists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, chaplains, dieticians, social workers, housekeepers, secretaries, occupational therapists, speech therapists, maintenance and all the other people we interact with in order to provide care to our patients get their own thread or is it only the almighty, Godlike physicians we are supposed to gush about? Just curious.....
If you wanted to post something positive I doubt anyone would fault you for that.
Do pharmacists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, chaplains, dieticians, social workers, housekeepers, secretaries, occupational therapists, speech therapists, maintenance and all the other people we interact with in order to provide care to our patients get their own thread or is it only the almighty, Godlike physicians we are supposed to gush about? Just curious.....
aw geez sharon, lighten up please?
there doesn't seem to be any problems with the typical dr or nurse bashing threads.
for once, it's nice to read something positive about our interactions...
Let me say sisters and brother of healthcare. Your sharing of these stories have made my day, and from reading the positives of others,it is making theirs also. Keep the great stories coming.
We never hear enough positives. Maybe someone can start a thread on the best /most memorable time with another nurse/co-worker.
Sharon,
co-worker to me is everyone working in health care. Yes, I believe positve threads should be started on them also.
co-worker to me is everyone working in health care. Yes, I believe positve threads should be started on them also.
I'm sure you do lpnflorida. I didn't mean it to sound like I am attacking you per se; this is an ongoing peeve of mine. Some of us nurses are so starstruck by physicians, it's a real disappointment. At least you aren't asking about dating or marrying them. And by the way, I enjoyed your story, it was funny.
there doesn't seem to be any problems with the typical dr or nurse bashing threads.
for once, it's nice to read something positive about our interactions...
regardless of who it is.
leslie
Thanks leslie for the suggestion but no, I don't think I will "lighten up". If I want to be annoyed, I'll be annoyed. But thanks for the advice anyway.
Neveranurseagain, RN
866 Posts
I had a pt several yrs ago that had DIC. She had received many units of blood, everything was tried to break the cycle to no avail. Instead she was sent to the Med Surg floor to die. Her MD was a terror about orders being followed, and she was on a clear liquid diet. I asked her if there was anything she really, really wanted, and she replied chocolate ice cream. I had to argue with dietary to send it up, and finnaly told them she was dying and would be gone in the next 24 hrs. She got her ice cream and ate every bite. Her MD, the terror, arrived demanding in a loud voice, what nurse fed her ice cream, and I admitted it. He then proceeded to hug me, and let everyone know that I was a true nurse who cared about pts. She died 12 hrs later.