While working on a literature review on medicine and power, I came across this unfortunate quote. I really, really hope that this is not the general opinion of physicians, but I am curious what others think...
"I think that our working relationships [Between ICU doctors and nurses - ETA] are very forward—we are all part of the team—if the doctor isn’t there it fails, and if the nurse isn’t there, it fails. . . . I think we (doctors) lead the team by involvement and motivation.
"I think that our working relationships [Between ICU doctors and nurses - ETA] are very forward—we are all part of the team—if the doctor isn’t there it fails, and if the nurse isn’t there, it fails. . . . I think we (doctors) lead the team by involvement and motivation.
We promote, motivate, demonstrate respect, call each other by first names. I think that some of the nurses may feel that there is a hierarchy, but I think that it’s their problem. They’re shit scared of medicine, but that’s their problem.
The junior staff (junior doctors) have a rough ride if they don’t know the patient. They are trained by embarrassment [BBM -ed]. Nursing is different, it’s high on molly coddling. Nurses appreciate handholding."
-- Anonymous ICU Physician
Coombs, M. (2003) Power and conflict in intensive care clinical decision making. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing 19, 125–135
Joy.
ReplyDeleteOMDG - Do you think that medical school teaches by embarrassment? TV shows seem to portray it that way, but I wonder if that is a common experience.
ReplyDeleteAs I am neither a doctor nor a nurse, this is very interesting to me, but totally foreign territory.
That wasn't my experience, but I was usually pretty well prepared. :-)
ReplyDeleteAlso, they've really tried to do away with that stereotype at my med school, so maybe I was just fortunate.
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ReplyDeleteI hope you post your lit review or the title so I can search for it and read it. It sounds very interesting.
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