Difficult docs

[RN1967]

I welcome advice on getting along w/docs who are offended when nurses inform them of things within guidelines

[cougarnurse]

I would suggest talking with a supervisor first. Mention the 'problem' to her, and see if saying. 'Per our policy. XYZ is happening.' would be OK.

[hppygr8ful]

I welcome advice on getting along w/docs who are offended when nurses inform them of things within guidelines

I once had a doc order a very big dose of IM Thorazine for a ten year old who was pretty psychotic. I informed him that Thorazine was contraindicated in children under 15 due to the high incidence of sudden cardiac death. He told me "I don't care, give the shot" I refused and gave him the syringe. I said If you want the patient to have it you give it. We had a pretty contentious professional relationship but he finally came to understand that I was more up to date on the clinical research than he was and he came to respect me for it.


Bottom line don't let a doctor bully you into doing something to a patient that you know isn't right. You are the patient's advocate and unless you work in a Doctor's office - you don't work for doctors.


Hppy

[cali510]

A doctor once made his disdain for me known whenever I accompanied my home care client and his mom on appointments. He totally ignored me, wouldn't look toward me, or even give a perfunctory greeting. Since he was lazy to boot (as verified by mother's reports of inability to get him to take routine actions on orders), I continued to do as much as possible from my end, but I grew to somewhat resent the extra documentation required because he would not pick up the ball when in his court. In other words, I dealt with him by doing part of his job. Unnecessary, if he would have shown more interest in his patient or what he was doing. I could easily see where this man would not have succeeded in another line of work.