Never undermine the work of a nurse

A few months ago a nurse I know vented her frustration at a misperception she had received several times, unfortunately. She recalled a conversation in which someone had asked her in a condescending manner if she does anything else at work besides “handing out pills.” I became visibly irritated at this, not only was this person purposely making disrespectful comments to bring her down but was also perpetuating her own biased notions to a larger audience. As anyone who has ever been admitted to a hospital or visited a loved can tell you, it is usually the nurse who is readily available for a patient. When it comes down to the actual amount of time spent with a patient during their hospital stay, it is the nurse, not the doctor, who is in and out of that room tending to the patient’s needs. This is not an oversight on the part of your physician; it is just the nature of the job. In fact, during medical school, we take an exam known as the USMLE Step 2 CS that grades us during our patient encounters. You cannot begin residency training without passing this exam. To interview and examine a patient, we get 15 minutes. That’s how we are taught, that’s how we pass, and that’s how we practice. On a typical day, physicians will see the patient in the morning then discuss the case during rounds, and maybe stop by again in the afternoon to explain a test or results. Throughout the remainder of the day, it is the diligent effort of the nurse that remains vital to whether or n...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Physician Hospital-Based Medicine Source Type: blogs