Doctor Versus Nurse
Lately I have been feeling like I am playing for the wrong team. I’ve had a ton of issues with nurses who down right disrespect me because I am not a nurse.
Let me put it this way, you are creating another one of those doctors you hate.
You treat the nurse externs well, why is it that you can’t treat me equally as well?
Someone told me it is because I intimidate the nurses. I make them feel stupid. and I over-step my bounds (I was actually told not to discuss patients with the doctors because it is not my place and it is undermining the authority of the nurses).
I take great pains to try to LEARN from the nurses. I just want to pick their brains. They generally have a wealth of knowledge. I am, as the externs are, a STUDENT. I just want you to teach me.
My only reason for this job is to learn. I have been told several times that I cannot go to training, and I only got to go to the classes I did because I made friends with the education guys.
Anyhow after working for the nurses I think it is probably time for me to start working for the doctors, because obviously I will not be allowed to learn anything here.
Filed under: Lessons Learned, Medicine, The Health Care Mess, Things you don't learn in school | 1 Comment
Quote of the Day- Mary McCarthy"We are the hero of our own story."
- Mary McCarthy
I’m a tech in a busy ER, and I really can relate to this entry! I feel very similar to what you’ve expressed here about the nurse/tech/doctor dynamic. Nurses are the almighty all-knowing beings. And you, why you’re just a tech. What do you know?! I’ve been in school longer than some of the nurses, and have taken higher level science courses than they’ll ever take, but I don’t know anything. I’m just a tech. But maybe when they realize that yeah, you actually do know something, they’re threatened!Maybe that’s why they can act so hostile and demeaning. I’ve recently experienced a situation where I was informed that I “over-step my bounds” and the nurses think I “tell them what to do.” There’s alot more to that that I wont go into here. In my opinion, my job is to make their job easier!! What’s so wrong about that?! And God forbid if I do my job better than you do yours…so hate me. Thanks for this post:)