Getting Over Being Called Nurse

[vengaaqui]

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So I'm a second year resident in my thirties. I no longer get carded. I've found gray hairs. And, I'm female.

I love our nurses and paramedics. They're amazing. They save my butt. They're better at many things than I am, like getting that EJ in the screaming four hundred pound person just to name a recent "small" example.

And, I'm used to getting the "hey nurse" during a shift here and there. I get it. There's a million faces, I rush in with "Hi, I'm Doctor such and such", and what in the world is a resident anyway to lay people. And, some people, are truly having emergencies and it doesn't matter.

However, today, it happened six times in my interactions with 19 patients. From the "hey nurse, I need to pee" to "when is the doctor going to see me" after being in the room multiple times and reintroducing myself, to the answers of all of my questions going to the male paramedic in the room. And, normally it wouldn't bother me. I'm totally happy to get your blanket or water or whatever. I do it all the time. But, the consistency today and the feeling that this was mostly coming from people my own age or younger while the geriatric patrons of the ED who were hard of hearing weren't confused at all irks the $#&* out of me. I'm sure other people are out there who experience this. How do you deal with the
frustration?

/rant

 

[WilcoWorld]

All I can say is that in EM we take all comers. That includes idiots. It sounds like at least 6 of your 19 met that criteria today.

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

So I'm a second year resident in my thirties. I no longer get carded. I've found gray hairs. And, I'm female.

I love our nurses and paramedics. They're amazing. They save my butt. They're better at many things than I am, like getting that EJ in the screaming four hundred pound person just to name a recent "small" example.

And, I'm used to getting the "hey nurse" during a shift here and there. I get it. There's a million faces, I rush in with "Hi, I'm Doctor such and such", and what in the world is a resident anyway to lay people. And, some people, are truly having emergencies and it doesn't matter.

However, today, it happened six times in my interactions with 19 patients. From the "hey nurse, I need to pee" to "when is the doctor going to see me" after being in the room multiple times and reintroducing myself, to the answers of all of my questions going to the male paramedic in the room. And, normally it wouldn't bother me. I'm totally happy to get your blanket or water or whatever. I do it all the time. But, the consistency today and the feeling that this was mostly coming from people my own age or younger while the geriatric patrons of the ED who were hard of hearing weren't confused at all irks the $#&* out of me. I'm sure other people are out there who experience this. How do you deal with the
frustration?

/rant

Do you wear your long white coat? Sometimes it helps. Having come off of an OB rotation where the nurses, pas, and docs wear the same scrubs I was confused between nurse and doc myself. It wasn't because the docs were women that I assumed they were nurses, it was because everyone looks the same after a while. I wouldn't take it personally.

 

[la gringa]

i have no gray hairs, am 35 and look to be in my late 20's. am rather uh, energetic and chipper. by all accounts, i would totally appear to be a nurse. it's quite hilarious when i'm solo coverage with 3 nurses who have kids in college... alas...

being out of residency helps... you're known as THE doc moreso than just A doc, and the nurses will refer to you a lot more by name ie "Dr La Gringa will be in to see you shortly".

i follow that up with "hi i'm Dr La Gringa, I'm one of the emergency doctors, and i'll be taking care of you today".

always wear my long white coat. ALWAYS. most of my younger female counterparts do the same.

i still get the aforementioned comments, but more often than not it's references to my apparent age, not my gender, or possibility of being a nurse... i bemoan this from time to time, but heck, who wants to look older?

oh, and likely you'll never get over it. most people who do it have a lot of prejudices you can't fix, intended or not.

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

I'm still mad that they let women vote. It doesn't make scientific sense; I mean with your periods and hormonal shifts and all.

 

[KLPM]

No one wears white coats where I come from. However everyone except doctors have uniforms. So that's how we tell. 🙂

 

[dotcb]

I think you've gotta get over it. Try the white coat thing, but don't worry about it. Patients don't know any better. They just want help.

As you move forward, it will become apparent to patients who's in charge.

 

[Pinner Doc]

I wish I had a good answer to OP's question.

I'm a (female) attending, 2+ years out of residency at a community gig. I saw a patient who syncopized and hit his head, introduced myself to him AND his three friends, sewed up his head lac, told him I'd like to admit him for a rule out when his initial troponin came back 0.08. Hell, I even brought him a stuffed animal as a sort of a kind gesture because I was admitting him on his birthday. Then I told him our hospital was out of beds and he had the choice of boarding in the ED vs transferring to another hospital. He opted to board.

I came back in the next day for my next shift, and found out from the nurses in the ED that he and his friends had thrown a stink - YELLED at the hospitalist when she (finally) came down to admit him, claiming he had NEVER seen a doctor. She turned it around on our staff, believing the patient. It was ugly. Admins were involved. All because he claimed he never saw a doctor. Last I heard, he was going to file a formal complaint.

I'd like to file a complaint of sexism on his ass.

 

[Pinner Doc]

Do you wear your long white coat? Sometimes it helps. Having come off of an OB rotation where the nurses, pas, and docs wear the same scrubs I was confused between nurse and doc myself. It wasn't because the docs were women that I assumed they were nurses, it was because everyone looks the same after a while. I wouldn't take it personally.

I effing HATE wearing my coat. Admittedly, it helps. But it's hot. And cumbersome. And, quite honestly, a fomite.

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

I effing HATE wearing my coat. Admittedly, it helps. But it's hot. And cumbersome. And, quite honestly, a fomite.

I don't like it either but not for the fomite argument.

 

[Birdstrike]

I wish I had a good answer to OP's question.

I'm a (female) attending, 2+ years out of residency at a community gig. I saw a patient who syncopized and hit his head, introduced myself to him AND his three friends, sewed up his head lac, told him I'd like to admit him for a rule out when his initial troponin came back 0.08. Hell, I even brought him a stuffed animal as a sort of a kind gesture because I was admitting him on his birthday. Then I told him our hospital was out of beds and he had the choice of boarding in the ED vs transferring to another hospital. He opted to board.

I came back in the next day for my next shift, and found out from the nurses in the ED that he and his friends had thrown a stink - YELLED at the hospitalist when she (finally) came down to admit him, claiming he had NEVER seen a doctor. She turned it around on our staff, believing the patient. It was ugly. Admins were involved. All because he claimed he never saw a doctor. Last I heard, he was going to file a formal complaint.

I'd like to file a complaint of sexism on his ass.

Just keep in mind,

Rule 39: No matter how great of a doctor you are, you can't cure STUPID. It's a terminal disease and all treatments are palliative.

 

[dchristismi]

Ok, so I was mulling a reply, when the other night... I was referred to as a nurse practitioner BY A TECH! (Although now that I think about it, she might have been floating... I've seen her before but not frequently)

I gently corrected her (it was in front of a patient), and she said something like "oh, when did that happen?" Um. I'm the medical director of this department, and I've worked here for 5 years. I'll give her that she's relatively new, and we do have 2 female nurse practitioners, and this was a psych patient and therefore simpler, which usually our midlevels handle, but I was a bit miffed.

I'm guessing someone set her straight. Generally my nurses are pretty protective and assertive on my behalf. But old stereotypes die hard. And yes, I was wearing the long coat.

Sigh.

 

[EM2BE]

In the short time I've been in the ED, I have found no change in this issue even if I'm wearing a white coat. I hate the white coat and found it to be of no benefit, so I quit.

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

At our institution I have seen IT even wear white coats. Just wear a shirt that says doctor.

 

[gman33]

Last year, one of my female upper year residents was called a nurse by an off service intern.

She calmly asked him why he thought she was a nurse.

Guy started digging a deeper whole with his idiotic answers.
Female attending was right there as well.

I'm glad I don't have to deal with this BS.

It really sucks, but I've seen a bunch of female docs who wear the white coat.
Maybe this helps.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

Last year, one of my female upper year residents was called a nurse by an off service intern.

She calmly asked him why he thought she was a nurse.

Guy started digging a deeper whole with his idiotic answers.
Female attending was right there as well.

That would have been fun to watch.

I sympathize. The white coat, a big fat name tag that says DOCTOR, and always introducing yourself with an emphasis on Doctor can be helpful

"Hi there. I'm DOCTOR Smith. I'm one of the emergency DOCTORS here at County General. I'll be the one responsible for your care, ordering and interpreting tests, and prescribing you any medications. Bob, your NURSE, will be in here in a minute to start an IV and give you some pain meds. Now, before I go, do you have any questions for me as your DOCTOR?"

I'd still expect someone to call you nurse once a week though.

 

[Cerberus]

Let me preface by stating that I am not a woman so take my advice with a grain of salt. However, at my institution, Attendings generally wear business casual clothing. I started doing the same when I graduated as I assumed if I didn't that I would forever be considered a resident. I've noticed a huge change in the way staff (even ones who don't know me from the last several years) and patients treatment. It might be worth a shot for you.

 

[la gringa]

business casual for women, to me, is either 1. inappropriate ED wear or 2. androgynous... i get messy WAY WAY too much. very very few docs in my group wear anything but scrubs, but the nurses at all of our ED's have to wear a particular color. we don't... so i wear anything BUT what they're wearing, and a professional type color.

you'll see my comment above echoes White Coat Investor's suggestion - it's what i do ALL the time. i often go in WITH the nurses, and there are also white boards with our names to help too. again - a much better setup in the community compared to residency. i got the whole "no doctor saw me" crap a ton in residency, but with 8 hour waits, stays crossing over shift changes, med students/residents/attendings, multiple nurses... it was tough on the patients.

 

[Spinach Dip]

I wish I had a good answer to OP's question.

I'm a (female) attending, 2+ years out of residency at a community gig. I saw a patient who syncopized and hit his head, introduced myself to him AND his three friends, sewed up his head lac, told him I'd like to admit him for a rule out when his initial troponin came back 0.08. Hell, I even brought him a stuffed animal as a sort of a kind gesture because I was admitting him on his birthday. Then I told him our hospital was out of beds and he had the choice of boarding in the ED vs transferring to another hospital. He opted to board.

I came back in the next day for my next shift, and found out from the nurses in the ED that he and his friends had thrown a stink - YELLED at the hospitalist when she (finally) came down to admit him, claiming he had NEVER seen a doctor. She turned it around on our staff, believing the patient. It was ugly. Admins were involved. All because he claimed he never saw a doctor. Last I heard, he was going to file a formal complaint.

I'd like to file a complaint of sexism on his ass.

There's your answer. Doctors don't do nice, fluffy things like touch stuffed animals. That's a thing nurses do.

Don't you know that doctors are all business? Come in. Hi, I'm Dr Spinach. I'm going to sew up that laceration. This might sting. Get it done. Leave. Tell the nurse to get him a stuffed animal. That's how doctors act.

Ami right?

 

[tinkerbelle]

I do enjoy when patients tell me I am the best nurse they have ever had.

I tried wearing my white coat and it didn't help much. I don't bother anymore (plus it's hot and since I'm short, it gets caught on the bed rails all the time). The patients who do pay attention to my introduction tell me I look too young to be a doctor. I should come up with a better response as I hear it at least once a shift.

The other female docs either wear white coats or wear professional attire.

 

[dchristismi]

"I'm 29, just like my mother."
Usually gets a chuckle.

Starting to show a few gray hairs, but not really enough to make a difference.

 

[Apollyon]

One thing about which I was thinking - why not try a t-shirt with "Yes, I am a doctor" on it (with the white coat over - when I saw residents just wearing a pair of scrubs and a shirt, I always thought they looked like they woke up late - there was one Mt. Sinai IM resident to whom I referred (in my mind) as the "bag lady", because she ALWAYS looked like a vagrant; throw a little NYC snobbery and condescension, and she was quite a work).

The graphical representation of "doctor" would be a tool to see if perception changes.

 

[Cerberus]

Even as a Male (a bearded male which probably adds a few years to my appearance) I still get the "No Doctor ever saw me" thing. I chalk it up to the fact that our patients aren't necessarily the brightest in the world.

 

[FemaleMD]

It never ends, grey hair, dyed hair, white coat, scrubs, formal wear --- it doesn't matter.

I've gotten the formal patient complaints as well "we never saw the doctor!"

And I've got the big red MD tag on my embroidered DOCTOR scubs and coat. (in a department where all the staff wear color code scrubs)

Oddly the only perod of time when I never got the Nurse thing was the last 3 months of my pregnancy.

Then they were like "what do you mean the doctor's the pregnant one?"

I've come around to three tries then your out. I correct them 3 times and if they don't get it by then then no amout of education is going to fix their social/relgious/educational bais agaisnt the idea of a female MD.

live it, laugh at it, and move on -- its all you really can do (then send the complaints to the male scribe they thought was the doctor and them him deal with it.)

 

[crewmaster1]

At our institution I have seen IT even wear white coats. Just wear a shirt that says doctor.

Yes, this drives me nuts. Everyone wears white coats. I remember interviewing at the "Harvard" program and the doctors didn't even get long white coats until they were in their second year of residency, at my shop it is like everyone wears them. good thing we have different colored scrubs!

 

[la gringa]

I do enjoy when patients tell me I am the best nurse they have ever had.

I tried wearing my white coat and it didn't help much. I don't bother anymore (plus it's hot and since I'm short, it gets caught on the bed rails all the time). The patients who do pay attention to my introduction tell me I look too young to be a doctor. I should come up with a better response as I hear it at least once a shift.

The other female docs either wear white coats or wear professional attire.

for the age thing, i usually pick a # too young and tell them that i thought that 23 was old enough to be a doctor, and keep a serious face.

"well 23 is old enough, at least that's what they told me!"... only do this w/ pts who appear like they might have a sense of humor and are totally stable 😉

 

[diphenyl]

My favorite interaction I've ever had with this particular issue was as follows:
A older gentlemen demanded to see a male physician. This was really impossible as it was the middle of the night and I was providing solo coverage. When informed that this wasn't possible he became very irate and began using, shall we say, several more colorful phrases demanding a "real" doctor.
I told him "I wanted a patient that wasn't sexist and had more than two collective neurons, but we cant always get what we want.".

 

[docB]

I feel your pain (jumping in on this thread late, I'm talking to the OP). I look like a paramedic (as much as anyone looks like anything, e.g. a female doctor looks like a nurse). I'll go through the whole H&P and plan and I'll get asked "When will the doctor see me?" It is annoying, particularly because it takes precious time to explain things and they generally want everything repeated once they realize that I'm the doctor and this is it.

Here are some suggestions for what they're worth:

The white coat thing works. I hate them. I'm in Vegas so it's hot to begin with, the coat does not help. But I can attest that people just react better when I wear the stupid things. Old folks can't see the embroidered name or the ID badge and they can't hear. Sometimes the big white blur is the only way they think it was a doctor. I suppose that means they're babbling on about their ailments to the lab techs too but at least that counts as extra bedside time to them.

I agree that you need to get to the point where this doesn't irritate you or ruin your day. But it is important. As mentioned if the patients don't realize that you were the doctor and that they were seen by you they will complain. And when patients complain they never limit them selves to one thing. When they get going they'll write up everything that has ever happened to them. So you have to try to nip the problem in the bud.

I suggest business cards. My group has them specially set up for patients, i.e. no email, no real contact info other than the main hospital number and a name. But for a lot of people getting the card is a tipping point. Even for the demented patients it works. We routinely have patients who gripe to the nurses "I never saw a doctor." and the nurse will point to the card in their lap and say, "Yes you did, there's there card right there."

 

[EM2BE]

I got called a nurse while wearing my white coat last night...by another physician in the hospital whom I have worked with in the past. I give up.

 

[diphenyl]

Perhaps a simple clearing of the throat and a pointing at your ID badge will clear it up

 

[Pinner Doc]

My favorite interaction I've ever had with this particular issue was as follows:
A older gentlemen demanded to see a male physician. This was really impossible as it was the middle of the night and I was providing solo coverage. When informed that this wasn't possible he became very irate and began using, shall we say, several more colorful phrases demanding a "real" doctor.
I told him "I wanted a patient that wasn't sexist and had more than two collective neurons, but we cant always get what we want.".

Oh, PLEASE tell me this story is true!😍