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

[Danielle7]

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?

[LilyBlue]

Of course you should yell if you see someone about to wander into traffic or something.

And of course I've YELLED loudly in a general sense "I NEED HELP IN HERE NOW! BRING THE ACLS BOX!"

But as a charge nurse, when I hear someone start to lose it (as described with the guy sick of cleaning poop) I find it's MUCH more effective and mature to say, "Hey, John, come over here to the break room, let's talk". Then I proceed to tell them it's not acceptable to say that, etc. And of course I'd report this incident to the guy's manager ASAP. But yelling at him in the midst of it is only going to exacerbate the situation.

As far as the people being looky-loos, maybe you aren't seeing the big picture. Please consider this. I've been in various forms of healthcare for a long time, beginning with pre-hospital care, and I've learned that many people, parituclaly if they are new or have had a bad experience, don't know what to do. They may not know what you are asking for or where it can be located. Yelling at them is going to make them more nervous, more uncomfortable, and not going to get you want you want any faster. Of course it's frustrating. Of course they need to know where things are/what things are. Educate them. Nicely. When you yell, communication ceases. Nobody is listening to what you say, they are conentrating on the way you are saying it.

[RN1982]

A handfull of what you do outweighs a truck load of what you say.

I've issued you an offer drowsyMD. I am being serious. I will have a former friend of mine who spent an additional 3 years in jail because he yelled at a bus driver call you. Just PM the info. he needs to reach you. You can argue its not true all you want, but I have actually seen people with your views on verbal assault find out differently. Just PM me. Tell him your story, and he will tell you his. Honestly, he was never within 5 feet of the bus driver while yelling. He went to jail.

Hmmm. An additional 3 years in jail? So he was in jail already? I'm sure there is more to this story. I'm sure he did more than yell to get another 3 years in the slammer.

[LilyBlue]

Again, let me encourage you to take this cop mentality to the hospitals, and attempt to get one of your physicians arrested for raising their voice. You'd be famous in the hospital for years to come, even if your employment was short-lived . . .

I don't see why their emplpoyment would be short-lived if they are hospital nurses. They aren't employed by the physician and the physician is not their boss.

People can talk to cops about their options in any situation; that's a right. If they find out nothing can be done, so be it. If they find out something can be done, and something is done legally, so be it. That should not and would not be cause for firing - unless we are under the Gestapo or something.

[RN1982]

I do have to agree a bit with TiredMD regarding the "cop" mentality. I think there are other mature ways of handling a situation where someone is yelling at you rather than calling the cops. I think one could handle the situation by just walking away, not filing a police report. Don't the cops have better things to do than dealing with people who have complaints about being yelled at?

[LilyBlue]

I wouldn't call the cops (But heck, some lady called the cops in Florida because they didn't have chicken nuggets at McDonald's). I think the point is, that there is a fine line with intimidation/verbal abuse. If directed at the wrong person, it could get someone in a lot of hot water. I can agree there. You need to try to conduct yourself in a manner above reporach when you're a professional and are on the job.

[bluemalibu]

Again, let me encourage you to take this cop mentality to the hospitals, and attempt to get one of your physicians arrested for raising their voice. You'd be famous in the hospital for years to come, even if your employment was short-lived . . .

And may I extend a like invitation to you and your defense of the lack of professional decorum to visit our fair jurisdiction... bring the wife and kids...

You can give us a public demonstration of your tried and true tactics.

"I sure hope you don't employ this theory with kids - your own or anyone else's. Wow."

I absolutely do

.

We'll see just how long your smug disregard for others remains intact while peering out from within the back of a squad car charged with disorderly conduct and breach of peace...

Sheeesh, your poor family and co-workers.

It's glaringly apparent where your priorities lay... as you've repeatedly played the 'termination' card, doc. But a little closer attention to detail might be warranted. I have a comfortable retirement behind me, remember? So you'd hold no threat over me... that dog won't hunt. I work because I want to work. Irrespective, after a lifetime of justly judging between right and wrong, I choose to do what's right and let the consequence follow.

[RN1982]

People need to stop making confrontational posts. This thread will be closed if they continue. There is NO NEED to attack TiredMD for his views/opinions.

[LilyBlue]

People need to stop making confrontational posts. This thread will be closed if they continue. There is NO NEED to attack TiredMD for his views/opinions.

I agree, and I hope my posts haven't been interpreted like that. I disagree with his view, but wholeheartedly endorse his right to express it.

[lpnflorida]

It is interesting how many berate the fact that a doctor yelled. Yes, that is not necessarily okay given the scenario. Yet others proudly gave their thanks to the nurses who yelled back in certain situations.. Now isnt' that a pretty picture. If it is not okay to yell then it is not okay to yell back at someone either. I like the suggestions some have posted of how they calmly handle the situations maintaining open communication, maintaining their own dignity. Without severing professional ties.

[RN1982]

We need to remember that we are ALL human and we all have our bad moments. Please don't tell me that none of the people on this site haven't yelled at someone about something. It's not just about docs, it's about everyone. I've yelled myself. Like TiredMD's example of the lookie-loos that hang around the doorway while watching people bust their rear with a patient. I've yelled at them "You gonna stand there and watch or are you gonna help? IF not, get out." It probably wasn't nice or appropriate but I don't think it's nice or appropriate to watch people bust their humps and not offer to help.

[LilyBlue]

Of course people make mistakes. I am human and I've had my fair share, too. I can honestly say I have never yelled at work, not directed at anyone in particular anyway, and not in anger. I have yelled at my family members before, though. And it didn't help the situation one bit. It caused a worsening of the situation.

I don't take issue with people making less than appropriate choices at times -we all do that. But it's troubling to me that sitting back, removed from the situation that made them yell, the individual is defending that choice and saying that choice was OK and encouraging others to do the same thing. Mistakes help us all grow professionally, but first they have to be recognized as perhaps not the best choice.

[RN1982]

But there is something wrong with a heated debate when people start making references to one's family. I think it's insulting and low to bring one's family into an argument just because you don't agree with their opinions. I'm just saying there are better ways to debate without being rude and insulting.