Talking with physicians about patients' problems can be challenging for nurses.
Physicians are often pressed for time and don't have the patience to hear what the nurse has to say.
Doctors aren't always respectful to nurses.
Before talking with the physician, follow these 3 guidelines: 1.
Don't be afraid You are a professional nurse.
You know what you are doing.
Do what you do best.
Assess your patients.
Advocate for high quality care.
Remember, physicians are people too.
They put their shoes on one at a time just like you do.
2.
Build trust Just like a nurse doesn't automatically trust a physician, neither does a doctor assume a nurse is competent.
Present yourself as the professional you are.
Each interaction between you and a physician builds trust.
This is how you form collaborative relationships with physicians and other health care professionals.
3.
Respect yourself The physician is not the only one who is busy.
You are too.
The physician's time is valuable, and so is yours.
The physician may know more about medicine than you do.
You know more about nursing than the physician does.
Assert yourself.
Do not allow the physician to continue to yell at you or put you down.
Here are two examples of what you might say when calling a physician: "Your patient, Hazel Nottingham, has not slept for two nights.
She is yelling and screaming and trying to crawl out of bed.
She is in danger of falling.
Her vital signs are within her normal range.
She has no symptoms of a respiratory or urinary infection.
Her lungs and urine are clear.
We have tried all the environmental interventions in her care plan.
The prn Haldol she has received six times in the last two days has had little effect.
What would you like to do?" "John Drew is a 84 year old patient of Dr.
Young's with a history of coronary heart disease, hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
His heart is irregularly irregular with a rate between 130 and 140.
Normally his heart is regular with a rate of 80.
His last EKG showed he was in normal sinus rhythm.
He feels fatigued but denies chest pain or increased shortness of breath.
His lungs are clear.
His oxygen saturation is 95% on room air.
The rest of his vital signs are within his normal range.
He prefers not to be hospitalized unless you absolutely think there is no other option.
How would you like to proceed?" Physicians are trying to get their jobs done just like you are.
They can't do it without your knowledge and expertise.
Nurses and doctors depend on each other to provide the highest quality care to their patients.
And that only happens if we work well together.