[technurse]

Is it a common thing that surgeons (not all, but most), are screamers? I have worked in the OR in West Texas for years and have not found a place that this does not happen. This verbal abuse is unreal and management turns their back to it. I would hate to be a newcomer to the OR ( and not look like Pam Anderson ). I am a veteran and it does not bother me as much, but I don't understand how this is allowed to happen. If a nurse makes waves against a Dr. she or he is looked at as a trouble maker. Many of the surgeons even throw instuments.
I stopped working in the OR several years ago to have a child. I have not returned. I miss the work terribly, but I don't think I can handle the abuse now. I have a child and I would just die if someone talked to him the way I have been talked to in the OR. Thanks for your input.

[hsieh]

what are they screaming about? what type of verbal abuse? name calling? do they use the B word? do they use the N word? i'd like to figure it out also being a psych nurse. can you give more details of the abuse? i realize screaming in itself is verbal abuse.

[technurse]

I have heard stupid, dumb A., I have watched a surgeon shove a nurse out of his way because he thought she was taking too long to prep. Eye rolling, sighs, the screaming comes when a question is asked, for instance there is a Dr. with a heavy accent that was hard for me to understand. I would have to ask about the exact names of specimen that were to go to pathology (very important of course). He would scream in anger if I had to ask what location or what it was exactly. Some surgeons are difficult to hear under there masks and with their head down. They just don't want to be bothered with questions. My favorite situation is with the pager. They don't want to be bothered, but it is my fault if they don't get a message right away. It's a loose, loose situation. I could write a book on this.

[sunnynurse]

If anyone ever throws an instrument that has been used in surgery and hits you - charge them with assult with a dangerous weapon... It is your leagal right (from what I understand...)

This months MCN- maternal child nursing magazine has an article by kathleen Simpson on Zero tolerance. There is no reason we should be subjected to abuse. This is one thing that we are going hopefully work up at my hospital

[hsieh]

why in the world would anybody want to be a OR nurse if this is the working conditions? are they masochistic or what? if somebody talked to me like that i would quit. i realize cutting open a human body and keeping it alive while doing so must be EXTREMELY stressfull - but do surgeons in other countries act this way or just america? for example in england and africa where they have different cultures.

[technurse]

We do have surgeons from other countries visit and do fellowship stays. These surgeons are very nice to work with. I just don't know why our surgeons get by with this. I have always wondered if this is just happening in my area of Texas. Some of the traveling nurses could not believe the behavior.

[MagRedC5]

Originally Posted by technurse

We do have surgeons from other countries visit and do fellowship stays. These surgeons are very nice to work with. I just don't know why our surgeons get by with this. I have always wondered if this is just happening in my area of Texas. Some of the traveling nurses could not believe the behavior.

I have been an RN since 1998, and in healthcare since 1995. I've worked in the OR for +7 yrs, both as a CST for 3 yrs, and as an OR RN for 4 yrs, as well as worked in ICU and Tele Floor. I definitely prefer ICU nursing.

Technurse is correct, civilian Surgeons in Texas can be verbally & physically abusive. It is hard to explain unless you have worked in the OR environment. I have witnessed female nurses being verbally abused more than male nurses. I have seen Surgeons throw hemostats not directly at a person, nonetheless thrown. All I can figure is Surgeons have an extreme amount of responsibility and some do not deal with stress as well as others. I fault the hospital admin just as much that allow such poor behavior to continue even when a known history exist. Bottom line is the Surgeons bring patients to the hospital, which means $$$ for the hospital. Another reason I'm glad to be an active duty Army Nurse. I've seen some Surgeons that were excellent regards to professionalism towards staff. IMHO, the Surgeons coming out of school these days are better taught the team concept and don't belittle others like those Surgeons of old.

BTW, Technurse did you ever work in San Angelo?

[Marie_LPN]

There's no way i would tolerate such behavior. Luckily i work in a facility that feels the same way, and it's very rare that we have any incidents of verbal abuse from surgeons.

[technurse]

I reolize it is hard to imagine someone staying in these conditions. I was trained as an OR nurse, and at that time, felt I had no options.
When you are in the situation, you just do your job and move on the the next case. You hope that maybe, someone will stand up for you or that the surgeon will apologize.
Before I quit, I did stand up for myself on several occasions. Some of the surgeons began to request other nurses in there room, which is a red flag for management. I decided not to return after I had my son. It has been difficult financially. I now work PRN for a friend, doing assessments for MHMR group homes. I will never work in a hospital again. I would like to get into case management or something flexible that would allow me to make good money and work around our family schedule.

[HarleyNurse_Sue]

I am sorry that you had such a terrible experience with worst kind of surgeons there are out there; the i am god surgeons. These are the guys that truly stink at being a surgeon so they have to make you feel terrible for their inadequacies. In my experience, which is not extensive but I am an observer of human nature, I have found that they guys that are yelling throwing instruments are the ones that I would not let operate on my dog. I know it doesn't excuse their behavior but you can always sercretly giggle to yourself knowing that they suck and can't do anything about it. You also have options, you can report these misbehaving surgeons to the administration. Behavior that endangers the staff is not tolerated in the OR. Administration knows that without circulating nurses and scrub nurses that they would have to deal with the jerks so they should be doing whatever it is to make you happy. I have seen several surgeons reprimanded for their behavior and if that doesn't work you can always refuse to work with that surgeon.