Yelling Doctors, How do you handle them?????

Debra ACRN · Mar 6, 2009

Well first of all, it's just plain rude to yell at someone, no matter what. I occasionally have been known to ask someone if they think their mother would be proud of the way they are behaving? It has never failed to stop them in their tracks. Second, for me, 11:00 p.m. is late. So I would apologize for the late call and then explain why you must ask. If they yell then, I get mad with them............I would have yelled back, I know! it's a crappy policy that I have to carry out.......I'd be mad too.........give them the name of the person responsible, and let him yell at the person who wrote the polciy.

It's all part of the teritory. After a while (I've been a nurse since the beginning of dirt) you stop taking it personally and perfect the "look". I can stop a doc with my look, even over the phone.

miko014 · Mar 6, 2009

Second, for me, 11:00 p.m. is late. So I would apologize for the late call and then explain why you must ask.

No!!!!! You shouldn't apologize for calling a doc! You're doing what is right for their patient, and if they don't want to be on call for their patients, then they should arrange to have a resident or partner cover them. Antibiotics are important, that's not something that should wait till the am, and you did the right thing by calling. He should have ordered them on admission - if he had done a med review with the patient he would have known that they needed them and ordered them in the first place.

I absolutely do not tolerate docs yelling at me or any other nurses and I have no problem telling them that. I try not to yell back, because when they are screaming at you and you are calmly telling them that is not appropriate and you are just doing what is right for their patient, they tend to realize how stupid they sound. I also sometimes remind them that if they would have ordered it in the first place, I wouldn't have had to call them. If they do it frequently or do not apoligize, then it's time for a write up. Unacceptable. I love the part about asking them if their mother would be proud of them - that's classic!!!! I might just have to steal it !

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

So I had to page her doctor, which has a reputation of being mean at 11PM

If he's mean at 11pm, I'd call him at 10:30. :chuckle J/K....

But seriously, it is not at all uncommon when doing the med rec that patients cannot remember what meds they are on, let alone the dosage. At that time of night, I wouldn't have paged the doctor either. I would have simply put on the med rec form that the patient does not know the dosage. It's up to the admitting physician to prescribe, and I'm sure that those antibiotics probably have a standard dose. Besides which, depending upon the reason for admission, the doctor may not even want to prescribe the medication. Also, since the patient hadn't taken the med all day, it really probably could have waited until office hours. The most important information here is what antibiotic they were on and why.

Another option is if the person has someone at home, or a trusted friend who can go to their home, who can look at the bottle and tell you the dosage. Sometimes we have the family members bring the pill bottles in the next day.

That being said, the doctor shouldn't have yelled at you.

TiredMD · Mar 6, 2009

At that time of night, I wouldn't have paged the doctor either. I would have simply put on the med rec form that the patient does not know the dosage. It's up to the admitting physician to prescribe, and I'm sure that those antibiotics probably have a standard dose. Besides which, depending upon the reason for admission, the doctor may not even want to prescribe the medication. Also, since the patient hadn't taken the med all day, it really probably could have waited until office hours. The most important information here is what antibiotic they were on and why.

Bingo. If this wasn't the admitting physician, there was no reason to call that late. It's just completely inappropriate. This isn't a case of a "rude doctor", it's a rude nurse. Would the OP have called a family member that late to ask the same question? And I wonder, if a telemarketer had called the OP that late, if maybe they wouldn't have done a little yelling too?

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

I'm glad I dont have to be the ying to the yang in here. I was reading the post and thought to myself "not something I would call about". The exact dose of the antibiotics is not............something that cant wait. Just isnt. Let your charge nurse yell if she wants, it just isnt worth getting a physician up for. If your charge nurse complains about it, they are being task oriented.

Dont let it get you down. Learning when to call and when not to is a sceince in and of itself. I will say this, one thing someone who oriented me at my first job told me that sticks with me today is "Get along with the other departments, they can help you in ways you will never be aware of." This includes the doctors. Make them happy, learn when to call and when not, and they will make things easier for you when it is time to call.

massrn116 · Mar 6, 2009

After quite a few years you learn not to apologize for calling a doctor who has not followed through with HIS/HER job. I have held the phone up in the air while the MD was yelling and then got back on and stated "that is all well and good but what are we going to do about it..." I find the one that stays calm usually makes the other feel like an idiot, if not ,then they truly are idiots and don't deserve your agonizing over them. Overall, I stand up for myself and don't put up with the crap. Lately I find the doctors that I have to keep calling for things are the slackers, they know the rules but don't follow them.

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

We have to do that at our hospital when we get an new admit who can't remember a med as a part of med reconciliation. Yes, I think it could wait, but no, my bosses don't think it can. And it's the idiots down the hall who keep me on the payroll, not the PO'd doc on the other end of the phone.

I do make a point of saying, "Sorry, Dr. X, but my manager requires that I call you and clarify....."

lpnflorida · Mar 6, 2009

Doctors upset on the phone, I let them do their thing for a bit, then I say" Now can we start over?" I do not say it sarcastically, just matter of fact. Usually it gets us back on track.

I would not call a doctor at night over a medication reconcilliation sheet. Those can wait until morning.

LilyBlue · Mar 6, 2009

No reason for him to yell. He could have taken it up with the nurse's manager if necessary. Most doctors are not absuive to me in any way, but when they are, I say, "I called you professionally as a nurse to address an issue. When you are ready to address it, call me back and we can talk sensibly. I have fulfilled my obligation and can document that". Then I quietly hang up. I've actually only done that three times in my career. All three times I was called back within five minutes and the doctor apologized.

rngolfer53 · Mar 6, 2009

Write the orifice up. Or is it write up the orifice?:wink2:

More seriously, if the doctor won't act professionally after you explain in a calm manner what you need and why, then file a complaint according to your hospital guidelines. Since you are following protocol, the hospital management should back you. If they don't, then you might start looking quietly for a better workplace, and leave on your own terms.

Don't forget to tell them why you're leaving during any exit interview. It probably won't make a dent in their "thinking" but you'll have done what you can for the nurses and others still there.

Thankful RN,BSN · Mar 6, 2009

you could have called the pharmacy where the med was filled. why would the md know off hand what he prescribed?