The Doctor-nurse Relationship

The doctor-nurse relationship is a constantly evolving connection

. Although historically the dynamic between doctors and nurses has been a bit less than ideal, in the last twenty years there have been steady advancements for a better rapport. The main issue is, and continues to be, communication between doctor and nurse, between patient and doctor, between nurse and patient. The need for collaboration and teamwork is evident.

Fifity years ago, there was a clear distinction between doctors and nurses. Most specifically, doctors were men and nurses were women. Doctors would see a patient once or twice a day, engaging them only to make assessments of their condition, while nurses would deal with all their physically intimate and demanding aspects of the care, like baths, toilet trips, and administering medicine. Today, though there is still a majority of female nurses, there is no gender divide in the healthcare industry and almost half of every medical school class is comprised of women. Nurses are also more educated, generally with a bachelors degree, and often with a masters or a PhD. They are highly skilled and some have specialties that allow them to only perform certain duties. Nurses are no longer just caregivers.

With this new level of equality in the doctor-nurse relationship, it is no surprise that effective and polite communication can be an issue. The doctors are making very important, but very few decisions, while the nurses are making scores of decisions every shift about a patients care. A doctor may prescribe a medicine, but a nurse administers it. One nursing journal described a nurse as the intermediary between the patient and the doctor.

Obviously, working in a hospital or other healthcare environment can be incredibly stressful, and tends to impact the staffs attitude and responses. That is why it is incredibly important to approach the doctor-nurse relationship with the idea of teamwork in mind. You are working together to provide patients with the best possible care. When stress or mis-communication come into play, try to take a deep breath and remember that you are working toward the same goal.

Remember that whether you are the doctor or the nurse, you are not the all-knowing authority on anything or anyone, and be open to learning from each other. A nurse can learn a lot about medicine and how diseases work from a doctor, and a doctor can learn a lot about bedside manner and treating patients from a nurse. Be sure to recognize each others successes and celebrate them. When emotions are running high, try to focus on the task at hand and redirect your energy into something more positive. Try not to dialogue with the other members of your team when you are overly frustrated. This team is your workplace family, and just as you would get annoyed at an unruly brother, so will you find issue with a seemingly over confident doctor or nurse. There are thousands of doctor-nurse relationship conflicts how have you dealt with some of the conflicts in your workplace?

by: Kevin K. G.

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