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DanChamberlain
Posts: 3,395 Senior Member
Not All Nurses are Intimidated By Doctors!
DanChamberlain
Posts: 3,395 Senior Member
Had a patient who was very ill. Her son was a doctor from another hospital. While I was speaking to him and performing some chore in the room, I caught him glancing at my daily patient record. Not a problem. He asked me about his mom's labs. I told him I didn't have today's labs yet but would bring them in as soon as I'd had a chance to check the computer. I left the room and checked the labs, wrote them down on the record and went back in to brief him.
When I walked out, he followed me into the hall and approached me. This is how the conversation went.
"You can call me 'Doctor' (insert last name) and I won't have a nurse lie to me."
"Just how is it you believe I lied to you" (Note I didn't use 'Doctor')
"You said you didn't have my mother's labs and I saw them noted on your papers."
"Let me explain something to you. If you note, you'll see two sets of labs. One in blue ink and one in black ink. The blue ink - the ones you noted - are 'yesterdays' labs. The black ones are todays. You'll notice that the black ones are new on the record."
At this time he started to sputter and find a way to back out of the conversation. This is when I stepped into his personal space.
"Mister (note I didn't say doctor) I won't have anyone, much less a "doctor" accuse me of lying. I don't know what kind of nurses you're used to intimidating where you work, but you can't intimidate me and if you mom wasn't extremely ill, I'd be filing a complaint with your boss."
Well, that was a screwed up morning! It took me about two hours before my blood pressure was back to normal. Every time I went into the room he refused to meet my eyes, but he was respectful.
His brother mentioned to me later on that the doctor was sorry. I told him that didn't cut it. The good "doctor" could tell me himself, or as far as I was concerned the matter was still an issue to be resolved.
He never did.
Oh well.
When I walked out, he followed me into the hall and approached me. This is how the conversation went.
"You can call me 'Doctor' (insert last name) and I won't have a nurse lie to me."
"Just how is it you believe I lied to you" (Note I didn't use 'Doctor')
"You said you didn't have my mother's labs and I saw them noted on your papers."
"Let me explain something to you. If you note, you'll see two sets of labs. One in blue ink and one in black ink. The blue ink - the ones you noted - are 'yesterdays' labs. The black ones are todays. You'll notice that the black ones are new on the record."
At this time he started to sputter and find a way to back out of the conversation. This is when I stepped into his personal space.
"Mister (note I didn't say doctor) I won't have anyone, much less a "doctor" accuse me of lying. I don't know what kind of nurses you're used to intimidating where you work, but you can't intimidate me and if you mom wasn't extremely ill, I'd be filing a complaint with your boss."
Well, that was a screwed up morning! It took me about two hours before my blood pressure was back to normal. Every time I went into the room he refused to meet my eyes, but he was respectful.
His brother mentioned to me later on that the doctor was sorry. I told him that didn't cut it. The good "doctor" could tell me himself, or as far as I was concerned the matter was still an issue to be resolved.
He never did.
Oh well.
It's a source of great pride for me, that when my name is googled, one finds book titles and not mug shots. Daniel C. Chamberlain
Replies
This man had no knowledge of your military background, did he? He did not, or otherwise he would have carefully chosen his words and subject matter and addressed you very respectfully with the third person approach.
Two careers could not be polarized farther apart than those that you chose. I have thought to myself that subconciously you have chosen your medical career out of anguish at what you observed of mankind in your military career, and that you have a deep desire to leave mankind better off than when you first observed him! But Dan, you are partly responsible for this incident. You never see a Pit Bull working as a Veterinary's chief assistant!
Jerry
I really have to disagree with this.
Dan is the Man.
Rank does not concur privileges. It imposes responsibility. Author unknow
Yep!...Had a Doctor (Cardiologist) show up at a multiple car MVA...before it was all over, the good Dr. had been cuffed and stuffed for interfering with EMS on the scene.
I see what you did there, at least I think I do...
EDIT - Oops you did indeed explain it.
"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and speed is the economy of motion" - Scott Jedlinski
Remember, Dan had a career in counterintelligence activities. Don't mess with these fellows!
Yep, all two years as a Cadidiot and two years as a Butter Bar... Haha!
"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and speed is the economy of motion" - Scott Jedlinski
I've actually responded to care facilities that had a doctor on staff with a patient that needed to be transported to a facility that offered higher care. Most of the time when we got there, the doctor actually backed off and let us take over. Most good doctors (not including some of the crackerjack ER docs) will tell you that EMTs are usually better at dealing with certain things, as we usually see more of it.
I am pretty dense and I saw it was a humorous statement....
I remember a few Physicians like that.....
I understood what you were talking about. The problem is, I can't wear my previous career on my sleeve. However, if he'd gotten physical...we would have had to discuss the pretzel position.
Dan
Dan
Honesty and ethics is a problem everywhere.
In my business, I have learned to be tactful when dealing with others, whether I am accused or accusing. When I was younger, I was easily angered when my integrity and loyalty was questioned.
When the stakes are high, one needs a thick skin; the scrutiny goes with the job.
More like Dr Killpatient.....
The bottom line is that 'superior' knowledge, skills, or education does not give anyone the right to be disrespectful to someone who is conscientiously performing their duties. One has to initially assume that a person is being conscientious, unless there is blatant evidence to the contrary. That doesn't mean that you don't ask questions and check and double-check the important things - it just means you do not behave in a disrespectful or accusing manner until you have evidence that has been properly verified.
I have no problem with big egos, as long as they are kept in check. But a person who attempts to inflate himself by diminishing someone else's reputation should meet some very determined and sustained resistance, until they back off. I think Dan handled his situation well, without escalating the situation unnecessarily.
I was a little indignant last week when I went to see my Elctrophysiologist. First you check in, then go get an EKG prior to seeing the heart doc (usual SOP) . Anyway to make a long story short they give you disc with lights/buzzer that goes off and you meet the tech/nurse at the door and they ask you some questions (DOB/address...again) as they walk you to the EKG area down a long hallway.
So I get buzzed and greeted by a gal at the door, she says turn left and go straight. I thought she was right behind me and start walking. Unknowing to me she gets held up at the door for some reason. A door opens and out comes a doc and he immediately starts grilling me with questions asking me what I'm looking for, why I'm in there unescorted and so forth.
I tell him I there because my buzzer went off and the nurse let me in, he say what nurse and I say say the one who opened the door for me. I then turn around and see she isn't behind me. For some reason he just rubbed me wrong that afternoon.This goes on for a minute or so and I'll just say my answers were truthful, but I was purposely giving him answers that irritated him because he wasn't polite (as most are and have been).
Finally the nurse/tech comes around the corner and I say there you are and Dr Inquisition shuts up. I understand the reason for asking, patient privacy (rooms/curtains open) and they don't want folks wandering around unescorted and they have had a shooting there in the emergency room a few months ago. However this guy really wooled me wrong. Most I run into are very polite/professional/helpful , but this guy was treating me like I broke in to steal something or cause trouble and I felt like his attitude and behavior was uncalled for and I responded in a manner that probably irked the living feces outta him on purpose, I was sorta playing with him and spun him up pretty good.:devil:
I know, I probably should be ashamed of myself and don't know what kind of day or night the feller has had or what troubles were on his mind, but I just couldn't help myself. I don't remember all the to and fro conversation or if he was close to hitting a buzzer in pocket for security.
The bright side is my EKG was good, Beta Blockers seem to be working and keeping my VT and BP in check and the heart doc says he doesn't need to see me for another 6 months.:guns:
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
"when the stakes are high" you'll get no argument from me. After the stakes are lowered a bit and the temp cools, I have no problem telling a doc to be very careful in the future how he/she address me and the rest of the staff trying to perform to their expectations. Tact and diplomacy have always been one of my strong points when necessary. Another strong point is my ability to speak clearly and succinctly when telling someone they've crossed a line their brains should have told them not to. Once a major put his hands on me in a threatening manner. I told him "Remove your hand or you will be personally embarrassed in front of your crew." Life is too short to let someone diminish you for their own enjoyment. I won't let strangers treat waitresses like crap either.
Regards
Dan
Well, Dan is just a young buck. Perhaps when he gets a little older, he'll be able to control himself better.
+1, sarcasm is lost in this forum.
DPRMD