Nursing Tips: Guide to Dealing With Difficult Doctors

Are doctors really difficult?

Most doctors would suggest that from their personal perspective, doctors are not difficult. Doctors are held in high esteem by the majority of registered nurses. They would also argue that the majority of doctors are not  usually difficult either, although there are others who appear to be difficult to deal with, at times. From a patient's perspective, doctors may be regarded as difficult or almost divine.

Dealing with difficult doctors from nurse's perspective is not always easy.

Imagine this scenario. The elevator door on the pediatric ward opens. Out walks an elderly, bow-legged doctor, with dark black hair and big, bushy eyebrows, wearing a frown on his face, He strides down the hallway, heading directly for the nursing station. All the nurses on the floor disappear from sight immediately. He slams his briefcase down on the desk. "Where is Nurse XX?" he demands. "Room 212" the ward clerk replies. To those on the floor, a confrontation appears to be on the agenda.

But not so, this particular doctor has been called by Nurse XX, as a child is vomiting and appears to be hemorrhaging following a tonsillectomy, earlier that day. Nurse XX is in the child's room. She has quietly re-assured the frightened child. She takes his vital signs and elevates the foot of his bed. She sends the other nurse for an ice pack. She notes the child's appearance and vital signs in his chart and reports everything to the doctor, as soon as he walks into the room. A sterile tray with everything the doctor will need to help the child, is on the bedside table.

Many doctors have to deal with different kinds of critical life and death situations throughout the course of the day, almost every day. Is that what makes doctors difficult? No, but doctors need to have competent registered nurses, who comprehend the reality of what is happening in emergency situations, at any moment. It is crucial that registered nurses know what to do and how to meet the nursing care needs of the patients.

Many times, doctors are not understood, either by nurses, who are attempting to assist them or by patients who need their help. Doctors speak from their own level of expertise which may exceed that of registered nurses and the majority of their patients. Where there is a communication breakdown between doctors and nurses or doctors and patients, registered nurses need to clarify pertinent information. Most doctors are willing to take the time necessary to make certain that their medical instructions or directives are understood by both registered nurses and patients.

Doctors sometimes speak abruptly to registered nurses or appear to make unreasonable demands, but this does not necessarily make them difficult to deal with. 

"Doctor, is there something that I can do to assist you?" is an excellent way to resolve this kind of a problem. The doctor will recognize immediately, that as a professional registered nurse, you are on his side and trying to help him.

Time is often of the essence, in a doctor's day-to-day practice. Many nurses, who work with the same doctors on a regular basis, know what the doctors need or want and make preparations ahead of time in order to have those demands met. Some nurses keep a file on doctor's preferences. Other nurses can access these files when necessary.

Doctors and nurses both have the patient's best interests at heart.

While there may be instances when nurses feel intimidated, the majority of doctors will do their utmost to make certain that this does not happen. It is never in their best interest to intimidate anyone, either the registered nurses they work with or their patients. In fact, to do so would be detrimental to any doctor's practice.

Registered nurses, who show a friendly smile, offer a warm welcome and use kind words when speaking with the doctor, while demonstrating a sincere concern for their patients, immediately make the doctors they are working with feel comfortable. Most doctors will sense immediately, if there is an area of concern when working with registered nurses and will do their best to resolve or alleviate work-related issues.

A high level of professionalism on the part of registered nurses, is always appreciated by doctors, though they may not express their appreciation verbally. Perhaps they are tired, worried about other patients or have personal concerns of their own. The words, please and thank you, can go a long way towards maintaining effective communication and can help to improve relationships between nurses and doctors. Doctors are not necessarily difficult, but are they are busy. They may not have time to talk about non-medical issues, entertain nurses or engage in activities that tend to bolster the ego of registered nurses. This does not mean that they are being difficult.

Whatever registered nurses can do to assist doctors is appreciated. Knowing how to assist doctors properly and professionally, is something that registered nurses strive to learn. Avoiding the doctor in question or being difficult with him or her, is not going to lead to effective resolution. At times, speaking directly to a doctor about a problem may resolve it immediately. Sometimes the intervention of a third person as a mediator, may be required to resolve a difficult doctor-registered nurse scenario, but not always. Having an aggressive, direct confrontation with a doctor is not a good idea. Talking quietly about an issue, may be more helpful in terms of problems solving, particularly when the doctor is not aware that there is a problem.

Continually demonstrating professional conduct, in conjunction with a high standard of medical ethics, is important for both doctors and registered nurses. In nursing, there are always going to be various kinds of stress with different levels of tension. Dealing with these effectively, can help to make and keep nursing a more pleasant occupation. Maintaining an attitude of integrity, honesty and mutual respect at all times, ensures the doctor-registered nurse relationship will continue to head in a positive and constructive direction.