As an NNP, you deal with a variety of stressors on the job: staffing shortages, demanding patients, physical exertion, and occasional confrontations with intimidating physicians.
Stress comes in all shapes and sizes. But emotional stress can take a serious toll.
Disruptive behavior from a physician may include: demeaning or profane language; rage or violence, such as throwing instruments or physical abuse; and insulting comments, inappropriate sexual comments or contact.
We’ve all dealt with a difficult colleague at some point in our career, but an unpleasant episode with a physician can be far more challenging, for obvious reasons.
Of course, we need to appreciate the lay of the land — and the importance of diplomacy and hierarchy on the job. So, it’s important to walk a fine line when dealing with the discomfort.
Nevertheless, it must be dealt with.
Here are some tips for managing subversive physician behavior:
1. React without emotion or opinion
Stay calm and cool at all times. Remember, your behavior is being witnessed at the same time as the physician’s — this isn’t the time to steal the spotlight. Maintain your composure at all times.
2. Control your body language
Stand straight and project self-confidence. Avoid collapsed, victimized postures and overt expressions of anger.
3. Behave respectfully
Maintain the expectation that your respect will be returned. Don’t stoop down to the physician’s level. Again, your reputation is on the line during these public and tense moments.
4. Expect occasional confrontations
Sometimes you can just intuit what type of provocation will set a physician off. So make every attempt to be organized, communicate well and provide important information that may help diffuse public outbursts.
5. Refuse to accept inappropriate treatment
Walk away, stand silently, or ask to be spoken to in a respectful tone. If a conflict occurs during rounds when it may be unacceptable to walk away, you can suggest discussing the issue at a later time.
6. Document the behavior
While not every incident needs to be reported, nurses who keep records can make a stronger case if and when they decide to escalate and report. Keep a running journal and document unacceptable situations or confrontations. Note the date, time, and setting of each event. Don’t forget to include the names of any witnesses.
7. Report to a manager
If you’ve followed all the steps above but the behavior still continues, it’s time to report to your manager or administrator. This way, you ensure official acknowledgment of the physician’s offensive behavior.
Patient care is most successful when teams communicate and collaborate. When the lines of communication between nurses and physicians are kept open and healthy, a feeling of mutual respect and recognition begins to take hold.
While you cannot control the actions and reactions of the physicians you work with, you can take steps to protect yourself, and your staff, from needless stress and poor patient outcomes resulting from abusive and disruptive behavior.
How do you maintain your composure on the job while dealing with difficult physicians? Please share your tips in the comments section below!
