I'm a new graduate. I just wanted your thoughts/opinions on this. When calling doctors at night, I noticed that a lot of the nurses start the call with 'I'm sorry to bother you doctor, but....."
Don't they realize that the doctor is not on call out of the goodness of his heart? He/she is getting paid. That's his/her JOB.
I'm not heartless and can sympathesize with someone being woken up/sleep deprived/etc. but I'm not calling to talk about the weather or chit-chat about a game - so it's definitely not a BOTHER.
I feel like everytime a nurse apologizes for calling the doctor to do his job - they get this entitled feeling and that's why most act so nasty and bothered and start yelling at nurses for calling them. Some nurses just dread calling certain doctors and always make apologizes and it just annoys me.
(1) I have to call for something ridiculous like a critical value which is better than the previous critical value 4 hours ago (we already knew about it) but I'm still required to call.
(2) I'm calling 'again' d/t a dumb error from a prior shift or my error and not getting all my bases covered the first time.
Other than that, I'll be pleasant, but I'm definitely not sorry to call you about sending a sickler up my way and refusing to give them a PCA pump and now they need constant "one time" dilaudid doses
I work nights, so I always have my facts together before I call. I monitor as long as I can, but my DON expects me to call when I would like to wait a little longer. I have to answer to my DON. The doctor is not my boss, and they are recieving extra money to on call. So, in otherwords they are being paid to take calls, so if they sleep - that's their decision. I do apologize for calling. I give the doc the full run down of events. Once I had a doc giving out all kinds of questionable orders, I could hear them yawning, and cursing every other word. So, in order to save them,and me from a weird mistake, I asked for clarification. I was told to listen to what I am saying, what is it you don't understand. I won't give this particular doc the benefit of the doubt anymore. I won't process an order I feel is wrong, but I will let the doctor explain it to the next nurse who comes on. If worse comes to worse, I will just send the pt in to the hospital. If I can at all wait to call the doct until just before 7am, I will, that's common sense. But, in some cases you can't wait, bite the bullet, and call. I am not mouthy went a doc is upset, but, I don't say I am sorry either if they are mad they have to take the cotton out of their mouth and speak clearly. It's my word against theirs when the sun comes up. Just give me the orders already, you can go back to sleep sooner, while I am up in the middle of the whole night. My DON says to tell her if a doc is giving us a hassle over calling them. I haven't done that, but it's a nice idea.
Some of you guys can quit being passive-aggressive. I think as adults and professionals, most of us know about being courteous in our dealings.
If you have read my post properly, I said that I understood that it is not nice being woken up that late and my issue is not saying 'I'm sorry to wake you up at this hour" but...."I'm sorry to bother you..." and several nurses being 'scared' to call certain doctors and mostly prefacing those calls with apologies.
I often start with "Hi doctor XYZ, this is Indigo Summer, thanks for returning my call etc. etc. etc.". It works for me.
I'm a new graduate. I just wanted your thoughts/opinions on this. When calling doctors at night, I noticed that a lot of the nurses start the call with 'I'm sorry to bother you doctor, but....."
Don't they realize that the doctor is not on call out of the goodness of his heart? He/she is getting paid. That's his/her JOB.
I'm not heartless and can sympathesize with someone being woken up/sleep deprived/etc. but I'm not calling to talk about the weather or chit-chat about a game - so it's definitely not a BOTHER.
I feel like everytime a nurse apologizes for calling the doctor to do his job - they get this entitled feeling and that's why most act so nasty and bothered and start yelling at nurses for calling them. Some nurses just dread calling certain doctors and always make apologizes and it just annoys me.
I think this has happened is because of exactly what you said. I feel personally Doctors are not our bosses unless we work in their private pratice or if they are the Director of your facility. With that being said respect is a two way street. If I call a Doctor with a LEGITIMATE concern and get an attitude I am respectfully giving them an attitude back. I feel this way, I am looking to them to care for the patient assigned to them or that they have chosen or that has chosen them. As nurses we are front line in caring for the patient. I don't want to have to call them at 2:00am or send a patient out to the hospital depending on your position any more than they want to answer a call. It is all part of the job and I do believe that some nurses have created this monster. I will say and as I have rI am completely in agreement with you and I too feel that it is there job. I think the reason thiesponded in many of the articles and blogs. I for the most part have always been respected by the Doc's. However again I add alot of the problem comes from nurses not realizing when they should and shouldn't call a Doctor. No matter if you are a new or seasoned nurse get your facts straight and distinguish what to call for and what can wait and you will find that those attitudes don't come as often. Trust me as in any profession there will be difficult people. Last but not least remember we are held to a standard when being a nurse so keep in mind a Doctor wants to be able to trust us at that. Food for thought I am for my fellow nurses and had to bring to another fellow nurses attention this statement from a Doctor "Why does I will call her Jackie, call me 15 times a day why doesnt she wait if these things are not emergencies and call me with everything at once." The only time I apologize to a Doctor is for the same reason I would apologize to anyone is if they are busy and I just got off the phone with them and had to call them right back because of something I forgot that was important. I completely understand how you feel.
Why do you think they do that?
And do you do it?
I think this has happened because of exactly what you said. I feel personally Doctors are not our bosses unless we work in their private practice of if they are the Director of you facility. With that being said respect is a two way street. If I call a Doctor with a LEGITIMATE concern and get an attitude I am respectfully giving them an attitude back. I feel this way, I am looking to them to care for the patient assigned to them or that they have chosen or that has chosen them. As nurses we are front line in caring for the patient. I don't want to have to call them at 2:00am or send a patient out the the hospital depending on where you are employed any more than they want to answer a call. It is all part of the job and I do believe that some nurses have created this monster. I will say and as I have in many of the articles and blogs for the majority of the time been respected by the Doc's. However again I add alot of the problems come from nurses not realizing when they should and shouldnt call a Doctor. No matter if you are a new or seasoned Nurse get your facts straight and distinguish waht to call for and what can wait and you will find that those attitudes don't come as often. Trust me as in any profession there will be difficult people I'm sure I don't have to tell you that. Last but not least remember we are held to a standard when being a nurse so keep in mind a Doctor want to be able to trust us at that.
Food for thought. A Doctor ask me this once about a fellow nurse I will call her Jackie. "Why does Jackie call me 15 times a day with different issues why doesnt she wait if these things are not emergencies to call me with everything at one time." In answer to your question I do not apologize to the Doctor for calling them or for anything I wouldn't apologize to a friend for. Everyone deserves respect I give it and I expect it back. I completely understand how you feel.
I'm a new graduate. I just wanted your thoughts/opinions on this. When calling doctors at night, I noticed that a lot of the nurses start the call with 'I'm sorry to bother you doctor, but....."
Don't they realize that the doctor is not on call out of the goodness of his heart? He/she is getting paid. That's his/her JOB.
I'm not heartless and can sympathesize with someone being woken up/sleep deprived/etc. but I'm not calling to talk about the weather or chit-chat about a game - so it's definitely not a BOTHER.
I feel like everytime a nurse apologizes for calling the doctor to do his job - they get this entitled feeling and that's why most act so nasty and bothered and start yelling at nurses for calling them. Some nurses just dread calling certain doctors and always make apologizes and it just annoys me.
Why do you think they do that?
And do you do it?
Just because it is someone's job doesn't mean you don't exchange pleasantries. What if patients felt the same way about us? What if they acted like there was no need to be pleasant or considerate towards us since we too, are being paid to do our jobs and aren't just working out of the goodness of our hearts. Wait.....they do sometimes act that way and we don't like it one bit, understandably so.
I think this has happened because of exactly what you said. I feel personally Doctors are not our bosses unless we work in their private practice of if they are the Director of you facility. With that being said respect is a two way street. If I call a Doctor with a LEGITIMATE concern and get an attitude I am respectfully giving them an attitude back. I feel this way, I am looking to them to care for the patient assigned to them or that they have chosen or that has chosen them. As nurses we are front line in caring for the patient. I don't want to have to call them at 2:00am or send a patient out the the hospital depending on where you are employed any more than they want to answer a call. It is all part of the job and I do believe that some nurses have created this monster. I will say and as I have in many of the articles and blogs for the majority of the time been respected by the Doc's. However again I add alot of the problems come from nurses not realizing when they should and shouldnt call a Doctor. No matter if you are a new or seasoned Nurse get your facts straight and distinguish waht to call for and what can wait and you will find that those attitudes don't come as often. Trust me as in any profession there will be difficult people I'm sure I don't have to tell you that. Last but not least remember we are held to a standard when being a nurse so keep in mind a Doctor want to be able to trust us at that.
Food for thought. A Doctor ask me this once about a fellow nurse I will call her Jackie. "Why does Jackie call me 15 times a day with different issues why doesnt she wait if these things are not emergencies to call me with everything at one time." In answer to your question I do not apologize to the Doctor for calling them or for anything I wouldn't apologize to a friend for. Everyone deserves respect I give it and I expect it back. I completely understand how you feel.
In response to some of the comments other nurses wrote I wanted to add this with all do respect. It is not about entitlement and ranks. I respect someone who works as a cab drivers as much as I do someone that is a brain surgeon. As people we are all equal and as nurses or people in the medical field we, especially seeing people die everyday no matter what your title in life are going to be in that same spot someday. I am simply saying this is not about being rude or giving an attitude to anyone. Kindness is wonderful and I pride myself on being kind every single day. However, some days as kind as you can be you don't get it back and that is when you need to stand up for yourself. Doctors seek you out and look for answers because they trust you and the feedback you have given them not just because your nice. Many nurses have been nice to Doctors and been given an attitude and if you have been a nurse long enough or not you see it. I have seen Doctors for no good reason come onto a floor and scream and curse. That is not exceptable behavior from anyone. Just because a person has a title does not mean they get automatic respect.
It's just pleasant and social....kind of like asking someone, "How are you?" when you really don't care. It also gives them at least a few seconds to get oriented to what's going on. No one wakes up from a deep sleep at 3AM ready to have a question thrown at them like a brick being thrown through a window.
I think she was asking why people preface with I apologize. Nothing wrong with being courteous. Everyone doesn't choose to be a Doctor just like movie stars complain about the paparazzi. It's part of the job.
You're a new graduate and this is nit-picking. Honey catches more bees than a sharp tongue. In time, you will learn and alter your approach to certain matters.
Offering that empathy takes nothing from you. PCTs sometimes do that, when they know they have to take your attention away from something you're working on.
I haven't heard any gripe about it...yet. So lets put things in focus and try not to run away with much. K.
Being kind is one thing. If you do not assert yourself with confidence and knowlege you do get walked on as a new nurse. As the person said prior, know your facts but I am not a new nurse and I am a good one and I will not stand for anyone talking down to me and I have seen it happen. It gets old all of this tip toeing around the Doctors, again respect deserves respect. I have as a nurse had many over time nights and had to be at work the next day. Doesn't mean I should treat or take it out on anyone. Lets not underestimate what we do.
I don't practice apologetics at work. Ever. I think when other people do it, it is sometimes/often (you pick the descriptor) from insecurity or a inferiority complex. I suffer neither.
I also apologize when I have to call repeatedly, or for "dumb stuff". Example: we have certain lab results that our policy requires we call within 1/2 hour (critical results). Even though the result doesn't need to be treated immediately (like a low calcium level in a pt who also has low albumin levels) or isn't all that much higher for that pt, we still have to call. Plus, the lab will not call all the results at the same time. So you call for the first critical lab, then 30 minutes later they call another one on the same pt, so you have to call again.
Sometimes, you have to call again right after you talked to them about something else, such as new symptoms, or the pt just told you they want something else (that they failed to mention to you earlier or to the doc when he was just there, but now all of a sudden it's urgent). Or the pt deteriorates.
I just say, "Sorry to have to call you so early (7am), but I have to call you XYZ lab," or, "Sorry to have to call you again, I know we just spoke, but since I last talked you, XYZ has happened."
Again, I feel it is just a courtesy to recognize that the MD is as busy (or tired) as we all are.
:paw:
I realize some of those policies but, if you talk with you Doctors they may say only call with x,y and z and fax the others. I have also seen some want everything called in. In my experience most Doc's don't want called for results that are not important, have you seen them go through the labs and initial them? You might however maybe make a suggestion to your facility on that if they are open. We had a list hung by the fax machine saying who to fax for what, who to call and who not to bother unless.
I don't think it's good to say sorry to show sympathy. Well, not really, to show sympathy with the 'sorry' word, I'd phrase it like this: "I'm sorry that you are called in the middle of the night. I want to let you know that your patient blah blah blah .... insert SBAR". Better yet, I would say 'Hi doctor. I know it's late and I thank you for picking up the phone. Insert SBAR." I would not apologize, it's the policy to ask your doc about how to take care of your patient. It's a mutual agreement. Think about the patient, who's in the worse case, me or the doc or the pt? Also, docs are expected to be called. I did not do anything wrong, so why apologize?
I AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE WE FORGETTING THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE DOCTOR IT IS ABOUT THE PATIENT. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PATIENT ADVOCATES. IT'S NOT BEING RUDE OR INCONSIDERATE IT IS CARING FOR YOUR PATIENT. There seems to be alot of strong feelings about this subject. We need to not lose focus on why we chose this profession, not to impress the Doctors or each other and makes friends and don't misunderstand me if you make great friends along the way thats great but you cannot put those feeling in front of what your job is and why you are there. Being professional and knowledgeable and reliable are key to being respected by anyone. I'm not there to brown nose I'm there to do a good job in a professional manor and with knowlege of that profession. Frankly as long as I am courteous I don't give a good hoot about anything else. Nobody is saying you should call anyone with an attitude at 4AM. But I'm sure nobody wants to make that call just like some people don't like doing the 11p to 7a shift. Somebody has to be there for the patients. I don't mean to sound synical but I really am an advocate for my fellow nurses as well as my patients, I have to many times seen nurses caring more about brown nosing the Doctor and what the Doctor thinks of them than they do what is going on with the patient. I had a nursing supervisor that would screen what she thought the Doctor should see. Not only was she being disrespectful to her fellow nurses but at the patients expense because she didn't want to bother him. This is utterly ridiculous. We used to have to wait for the other supervisor to come on to get important things done for the patients. This is not how can we win the popularity contest it's about caring and doing the right thing.
felineRN
87 Posts
The ONLY times I say "sorry..." is if
(1) I have to call for something ridiculous like a critical value which is better than the previous critical value 4 hours ago (we already knew about it) but I'm still required to call.
(2) I'm calling 'again' d/t a dumb error from a prior shift or my error and not getting all my bases covered the first time.
Other than that, I'll be pleasant, but I'm definitely not sorry to call you about sending a sickler up my way and refusing to give them a PCA pump and now they need constant "one time" dilaudid doses