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5 Rules to Follow When Working With Doctors
Kathy Quan | NursingLink
Rule #3: Give a Concise Yet Complete Report
If you call the doctor, give a complete and concise report such as, “Your patient, Mr. Smith, who is status post MVA times 2 days, is experiencing 8/10 pain. I gave him XYZ medication 55 minutes ago for 9/10 pain. He’s complaining of dull, constant pain in the fracture site of his right femur and he’s grimacing and guarding with any movement.
The cast doesn’t appear to be too tight. His pedal pulses are strong and good, his foot is warm and pink, he can freely move his toes, and has no edema. His BP is 152/82 and his heart rate is 90 and regular. His respirations are 20. He’s afebrile. He’s also mildly nauseated. He’s using cold packs, we’ve pulled the blinds, the TV is off and the room is quiet. His wife has been trying some soothing imagery with him, but he’s not getting any relief. He has had 3 doses of XYZ in the past 12 hours. The previous 2 gave him better relief to 5-6/10 pain, but this one isn’t helping. What else do you suggest?”
The cast doesn’t appear to be too tight. His pedal pulses are strong and good, his foot is warm and pink, he can freely move his toes, and has no edema. His BP is 152/82 and his heart rate is 90 and regular. His respirations are 20. He’s afebrile. He’s also mildly nauseated. He’s using cold packs, we’ve pulled the blinds, the TV is off and the room is quiet. His wife has been trying some soothing imagery with him, but he’s not getting any relief. He has had 3 doses of XYZ in the past 12 hours. The previous 2 gave him better relief to 5-6/10 pain, but this one isn’t helping. What else do you suggest?”
JoeKeller
almost 2 years ago
52 comments
I have to say that working with doctors is like working with other people. We are all different and we have to understand and cope with that. Anyways, I just wanted to speak about Dr Salemy. He is a really nice guy who you can talk to. And by the way, I'm a male nurse:)) People have the tendency to laugh about that, but the truth is that I'm doing my job as any other nurse:))
marina_dilbone1
about 2 years ago
26 comments
some good,useful information-but most seems to imply nurses has got to be wrong here-reality is most of the time we are the best advocates for our patients and most of us know to be organized and what to say and how to say it
jakern71
over 2 years ago
6 comments
give me a #### break! everything seems revolve around kissing the doctors ass like you cant talk to them like a regular person .
RitzauRN
over 2 years ago
10 comments
Alright, after reading the article I agree it makes best sense to use SBAR or some other concise report in order to get the best response from the MD. To be fair halfway through the report the doctor is usually saying "Yeah, yeah" and ready to hang up or "just give another dose" but not really assessing the overall situation and modifying the pain regimen as needed. Still as an RN I am happy to defer to the doctor's knowledge and experience as long as they listen to the whole spiel.
RitzauRN
over 2 years ago
10 comments
Before I even read the article can you please stop using these weird and biased pictures. The nurses are almost always thin and blond and young and the doctors are almost always men and attractive. I especially think the suggestive pictures with tape wrapped around the RNs mouth (things not to say) is ridiculous and has masochist suggestions. Or I could be off my rocker, but why don't you use pictures of real RNs and not stupid models...
yaa1979
over 2 years ago
2 comments
THESE ARE REALLY GOOD RULES TO FOLLOW.
RBond
over 2 years ago
4 comments
Don't be afraid to question an order too, Doctor's make mistakes too!
Cleojane
over 2 years ago
10 comments
Lmao, that is a concise report?,,,and Dont waste THEIR time ? I can just imagine the look on a doctors face if I said "..and his wife has tried some soothing imagery" I'd probably be marched off to the psych ward.
Cleojane
over 2 years ago
10 comments
give a back rub!!?????? That was LAST century. We simply do NOT have the time!
michaelo
over 2 years ago
56 comments
i like the five rule to follow when working a doctor, the topics are interesting.
Inara
over 2 years ago
64 comments
fun!