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

Nurses Relations

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The other night at work (I work 7PM shift), I admitted a new patient. She was seen at her doctors office a couple days before and was started on PO antibiotics TID. She did not take her antibiotic all day. At my hospital we are to clarify meds upon admission and she could not remember the dose perscribed. So I had to page her doctor, which has a reputation of being mean at 11PM (not that late). He interrupted my question by yelling/screaming at me, asking me how he would know the dose (he prescribed it), demanding I answer why it couldn't wait till morning while huffing and puffing on the phone!!! I know if I didn't address it, the charge nurse or someone would of had my neck due to policy...Can't win!!

I've only been a nurse for 8 months and I haven't had much experience with this.

My question is... How do you respond to a doctor who talks to you this way- I mean screams at you this way?

Specializes in ER and Home Health.

I just got out of the Marines a few years ago. These doctors yelling just do not come across as that impressive to me. They really seem rather infantile.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
I just got out of the Marines a few years ago. These doctors yelling just do not come across as that impressive to me. They really seem rather infantile.

Like a young toddler throwing a tantrum. :chuckle

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I just got out of the Marines a few years ago. These doctors yelling just do not come across as that impressive to me. They really seem rather infantile.

One of the best things an ex-marine said to me, and this was not in a nursing environment but an office environment was:

"These people talk of stress and that's why they're angry. You want to know stress? You have a fourteen year old kid with a loaded gun pointed towards you and it's him or you. That's stress."

He'd just come back from Bosnia , working under UN conditions three months ago. This situation was in the late 1990's.

I'll always remember that quote, and the US marines and what they do.

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I am too old to cower.

If I do wrong, take me aside and explain, do not be unprofessional. :yawn: I have little tolerance for primadonnas... with me, you usually have to prove your worth to me before I give you any clout. I will be a new nurse, but don't hold others above me as deserving more respect. You see, I just chose to go to college for a different thing the first time around, (medical school was my other choice back then) that is all the difference I see (personally) between me and MDs. I have good personal friends that are MDs. And about male RNs getting a little more breathing room... I am tall and said to have a commanding presence (LOL), I could be just as much a threat if we have to "take it outside" LOL... just kidding. :lol2:

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Specializes in ER and Home Health.

I am certainly not petite and I am combat trained. If I desired I could take most of them outside also. While I have gone back to my peacefull hippy roots. My Mother always had me train in judo and karate, that was left over from her bra burning, protesting days.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
I just got out of the Marines a few years ago. These doctors yelling just do not come across as that impressive to me. They really seem rather infantile.

I'm a marine military brat. Same thing happens with me. I sometimes have to fight off snickering when the docs get loud. Then they see that, and get more ****** off. Hey, its not my fault my dad was a marine for 22 years and had the temper of a thousand bulls. Docs just dont measure up.

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I just got out of the Marines a few years ago. These doctors yelling just do not come across as that impressive to me. They really seem rather infantile.

Maybe they just need a juice box. :D j/k j/k!!!!

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
Maybe they just need a juice box. :D j/k j/k!!!!

:chuckle

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

I am responding to the OP as MDs yelling at Nurses....not MDs being called during inconvenient hours, why the MD was called, why the order needed clarification, etc......

Now, I haven't read through all the posts, but I've read some of them.....so, on that note, I'll throw in my personal opinion regarding 'ol YELLERS in the workplace:

Yelling in not acceptable. Period. I personally view yelling as a form of overt verbal abuse, bordering on assault, depending on what BS that is being shoveled.

I can't think of anything positive that comes out of yelling between Adults in the workplace (or in general) and I personally find someone YELLING at me, as threatening behavior.

Odd, but I have found that the vast majority of yellers will fire back every lame excuse regarding why their yelling is somehow "acceptable", often placing blame for their childish behavior back onto the victim (a red-flag of an abuser, BTW).

"If you didn't ______, I would not have yelled!" :yawn:

Think of the last time a person started yelling at you.

Did the yelling make you feel calm, relaxed, confident, secure, proud, happy? Do you now view the individual that did the ranting and carrying-on as one that you will respect and/or admire? Do you look forward to dealing with that person again and/or feel that you would go out of your way to do this person a favor? Does it help make patient care more efficient and safe?

(No, I do not mean the one-time-yelling during a Code, for example. I am referring to continual, unpredictable YELLING!)

I am a well educated Adult. I am not a child. I am not "less than" you. I am not here working, only to be belittled by you because you, ol' yeller, cannot handle your frustrations and have anger management issues.

Yes, I find yelling demeaning.

The reality is, yelling is only a short-term "solution" for the person who is choosing to yell. Words can sting and they are not easily forgotten. Yelling amplifies this negativity x100.

Bottom Line: Everyone has a choice in the way we talk to another person. You choose to yell? I choose to ignore you.

Oh, and BTW, I have never yelled at a co-worker.

Why?

Because I don't need to! I get all of the positive results I need by treating all of the people that I work with in a kind and respectful manner.

I recommend 'ol Yellers try courtesy sometime. They might surprise themselves with the positive results.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
I am responding to the OP as MDs yelling at Nurses....not MDs being called during inconvenient hours, why the MD was called, why the order needed clarification, etc......

Now, I haven't read through all the posts, but I've read some of them.....so, on that note, I'll throw in my personal opinion regarding 'ol YELLERS in the workplace:

Yelling in not acceptable. Period. I personally view yelling as a form of overt verbal abuse, bordering on assault, depending on what BS that is being shoveled.

I can't think of anything positive that comes out of yelling between Adults in the workplace (or in general) and I personally find someone YELLING at me, as threatening behavior.

Odd, but I have found that the vast majority of yellers will fire back every lame excuse regarding why their yelling is somehow "acceptable", often placing blame for their childish behavior back onto the victim (a red-flag of an abuser, BTW).

"If you didn't ______, I would not have yelled!" :yawn:

Think of the last time a person started yelling at you.

Did the yelling make you feel calm, relaxed, confident, secure, proud, happy? Do you now view the individual that did the ranting and carrying-on as one that you will respect and/or admire? Do you look forward to dealing with that person again and/or feel that you would go out of your way to do this person a favor? Does it help make patient care more efficient and safe?

(No, I do not mean the one-time-yelling during a Code, for example. I am referring to continual, unpredictable YELLING!)

I am a well educated Adult. I am not a child. I am not "less than" you. I am not here working, only to be belittled by you because you, ol' yeller, cannot handle your frustrations and have anger management issues.

Yes, I find yelling demeaning.

The reality is, yelling is only a short-term "solution" for the person who is choosing to yell. Words can sting and they are not easily forgotten. Yelling amplifies this negativity x100.

Bottom Line: Everyone has a choice in the way we talk to another person. You choose to yell? I choose to ignore you.

Oh, and BTW, I have never yelled at a co-worker.

Why?

Because I don't need to! I get all of the positive results I need by treating all of the people that I work with in a kind and respectful manner.

I recommend 'ol Yellers try courtesy sometime. They might surprise themselves with the positive results.

I have never yelled at a co-worker, either. I don't see that yelling is going to make working conditions more pleasant.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

For me, it all depends on the needs of the patient. What was this patient getting the antibiotic for? My first thought would be to get her to call someone to get the dose off her bottle. If her pharmacy was still open I would call them. If she is getting an antibiotic for a more minor issue, I would just leave the doc a note and let him deal with it in the AM. He is not going to know her dose either, especially if he is the on call doc. Unless it is some kind of emergency, it can wait until the AM. My next question is why didn't she take her medication in the first place?

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Specializes in CTICU.

An older nurse I used to work with had a great response when a doctor had a tantrum and yelled. She'd look at them real sweet, and ask "does someone need a hug??". It usually defused the situation as they realized how ridiculous they were being.

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