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.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I usually start of with "sorry to be waking you" or something along those lines because I do feel I owe them a little courtesy given the situation even though it is their job to take the call. Plus, it buys a little time to allow them to come to their senses a little more before making a potentially life or death decision.
If after saying "sorry to be waking you" they responded "you better be sorry", then I'd probably clarify that I'm not really sorry, but otherwise it's just polite.
You know what... My BFF at work reminded me of a nurse we used to work with who once said to the on call (a real difficult person) "Hi Dr. Looney I'm sorry I had to call you, no one else would..."We laughed all weekend over that, and she never got in trouble, as far as I know...
She's retired now, BTW living the good life in the Keys!
She didn't tell the nurse she annoyed her. She was making a statement and as such is entitled to her own feelings it's a shame you don't remember when you where a new nurse. Alot of things you see are intimidating and you look to your more experienced nurses for guidance, unfortunately for some strange reason alot of people don't want to help the new nurses I choose to be supportive and stand up for them and help them and be a mentor not discourage. I think her complaint is valid and it seems that alot of other people do as well.
I certainly do remember the days of being a new nurse, and I sure didn't have the time or inclination to be annoyed by other more experienced nurses' phone conversations with doctors. This new grad is NOT looking to experienced nurses for "guidance," she is being critical of something that is really none of her business. She has no reason to "complain" about how other nurses choose to relate to doctors. She can say whatever she likes to the docs when she calls, but really, how does what someone else does regarding their own patients and practice affect her? In this scenario, it doesn't.
This has absolutely NOTHING to do with not being supportive of new grads.
Wow. I would never apologize or thank someone for returning a page. I skip that and get to the reason I called. I'm not into mindless chit chat just to make one of us feel better. After all, It wouldn't make me feel better, and I could give a **** if it makes them feel special, lol. FTR, I don't think you would be able to find anyone that would suggest I have ever been rude. I am cheerful, professional, clear and to the point. They provide the appropriate response to my comment or query, I say "have a good night" and "goodbye."
What boggles my mind is that anyone spends any time thinking about this, lol. I wouldn't ever consider being apologetic for doing my job with excellence and professionalism. I am not a child and I will not grovel or demure.
Wow. I would never apologize or thank someone for returning a page. I skip that and get to the reason I called. I'm not into mindless chit chat just to make one of us feel better. After all, It wouldn't make me feel better, and I could give a **** if it makes them feel special, lol. FTR, I don't think you would be able to find anyone that would suggest I have ever been rude. I am cheerful, professional, clear and to the point. They provide the appropriate response to my comment or query, I say "have a good night" and "goodbye."
What boggles my mind is that anyone spends any time thinking about this, lol. I wouldn't ever consider being apologetic for doing my job with excellence and professionalism. I am not a child and I will not grovel or demure.
"Little courtesies like these oil the cogs of the monotonous grind of everyday life and incidentally the hallmark of good breeding."- Dale carnegie
Wow. I would never apologize or thank someone for returning a page. I skip that and get to the reason I called. I'm not into mindless chit chat just to make one of us feel better. After all, It wouldn't make me feel better, and I could give a **** if it makes them feel special, lol. FTR, I don't think you would be able to find anyone that would suggest I have ever been rude. I am cheerful, professional, clear and to the point. They provide the appropriate response to my comment or query, I say "have a good night" and "goodbye."
What boggles my mind is that anyone spends any time thinking about this, lol. I wouldn't ever consider being apologetic for doing my job with excellence and professionalism. I am not a child and I will not grovel or demure.
I completely respect your or any other nurse's choice to refrain from saying "sorry" in any form when calling docs in the middle of the night, to remain completely "all business," yet cordial and professional. However, to imply that those who might say "Hey, Doctor Jones, sorry to wake you again, but Mrs. Jones didn't do any better with the xyz we tried. What do you think? How about we try abc instead?" are being a "child," "groveling," or being "demure" is a huge stretch, imo. For some it's just an expression, one of courtesy or manners perhaps, which they give little thought to, much less use as an expression of subservience. It's all in the intention and the delivery...
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?
I often do apologize for calling and waking them... even when it's the ER doc. It's just human decency... regardless of whether they're being paid or not, it's still unpleasant for most people to be awakened by a telephone from a deep sleep. My apology is simply a way of acknowledging that I'm waking them up.
For sure, any doc who yells at me for calling them will no longer be receiving anything beyond an SBAR... that, and a face-to-face talking to about basic manners, courtesy, and appropriate professional interactions.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
wow. i would never apologize or thank someone for returning a page. i skip that and get to the reason i called. i'm not into mindless chit chat just to make one of us feel better. after all, it wouldn't make me feel better, and i could give a **** if it makes them feel special, lol. ftr, i don't think you would be able to find anyone that would suggest i have ever been rude. i am cheerful, professional, clear and to the point. they provide the appropriate response to my comment or query, i say "have a good night" and "goodbye."
what boggles my mind is that anyone spends any time thinking about this, lol. i wouldn't ever consider being apologetic for doing my job with excellence and professionalism. i am not a child and i will not grovel or demure.
you just found someone who would say you are rude. the entire first part of your post struck me as rude.
as far as doing your job with excellence and professionalism -- everyone thinks they're excellent and professional. like it or not, "mindless chitchat" is social grease -- it makes everything go smoother.
Don't know any docs that yell, but I do know of a nurse who attempted to readjust the attitude of physician. She got a security escort out of the building. We don't work FOR them but you can bet they've got a hotline to administration.
It's just a common courtesy. My docs appreciate it and respond in kind. But then, you'll always get the few that act like buttheads regardless. It's then that you show your true professional self by rising above it.
Amen. A lot of doctors think nurse are idiots anyway, when you can set up the conversation on a pleasant note, it may help. And it REALLY is a pain to be woken at 3 am, whether you get paid for it or not.
And it also gives the Doc on the other end of the line at least 5 seconds to clear their head.
~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN
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