Do nurses hate doctors? This is a common question people ask me. In all my years as a nurse, I can never recall hearing other nurses say that they hate all doctors or the doctor’s profession as a whole.
Doctors have their scope of practice and role to perform, and nurses also have their scope of practice and role to perform. We work together as a team to care for patients. Doctors need nurses, and nurses need doctors. So I certainly don’t hate doctors, and I don’t think most nurses hate them, either.
Some Doctors are Great
Having said that, as a nurse, you’re quickly going to find out that you’ll probably prefer working with certain doctors over others. It is very easy to talk with some doctors. They will listen to your concerns and care about what you have to say. They will also listen to their patients, exam them thoroughly, and have a great bedside manner.
I’ve noticed that if a patient goes on and on about how much they love their doctor, most nurses tend to also like that particular doctor. The two go hand-in-hand.
Some Doctors are Not So Great
In contrast, it’s not so easy to talk to some doctors. They can be grumpy or rude. They can roll their eyes or cut you off while you’re trying to explain something. They can go in and out of a patient’s room without examining the patient thoroughly or consulting with the nurses. And their bedside manner isn’t the greatest, either.
(Note: If you need some tips on dealing with doctors, you might want to watch my videos on tips for talking with doctors as a nurse.)
Of course, the above can apply to any healthcare professional, not just doctors. You’ll find it very easy to work and communicate with some nurses (or other coworkers), while other nurses will make your shift difficult and frustrating. We’re all human, and we’re all different.
Conclusion: Do Nurses Hate Doctors?
In conclusion, some doctors are great and very easy to work with, while others are not so easy to work with. But overall, I’m very thankful for doctors. I’m also thankful for all healthcare workers, including (but not limited to) other nurses, CNAs, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and so forth. We all have our unique role to perform, and we work together to provide care to patients.
At the end of the day, that’s what matters most.