questions from a new guy out in practice

[doctadre]

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so i finished my residency in july and i just started working at my first gig. it's a private practice place where i'm doing my own cases.

a few random questions i had for the more experienced out there:

1. how do you address your collegues?

in residency, i was accustomed to referring to my attendings as "dr" until they told me to call them by their first name (which was usually in the beginning). do i do the same at work? on the one hand, i want to seem respectful, especially to the older partners. on the other hand, i want them to view me as a colleague and not some med student/resident who is below them.

2. how do you address the surgeons?

same issues. i don't want to seem rude to the older surgeons but at the same time i don't want them to view me as a med student/resident.

3. should i rush the nursing staff?

i've noticed that the OR and turnover time is often prolonged by nursing issues. as a new guy, should i tell them to hurry the F up? i don't want to be mean to the nurses but at the same time, i don't want to have the reputation as the guy whose room takes forever to start or turnover.

 

[pjl]

In private or OR after patient asleep:
1. First name basis or last name, no Dr.
2. Definitely first name basis, otherwise you are putting yourself beneath them.
Where patients can hear (even in preop hallways)
Dr. ____.

3. Depends on the situation for me. I normally ask if there is anything I can do to help them get ready and assume my passive aggressive hints will speed them up, while sounding relatively nice.

 

[urge]

Call them by their first name. If they don't complain that's their problem. If they complain tell them you are Dr soandso to them.

 

[seinfeld]

Only 2 years ago did i have the same questions.

Surgeons- always by first name or last but no DR, its hard to do at first but gets easier over time.

Colleagues- first for sure, if they want a special title then they are probably a special person. 😉

I expect the nurses to always introduce me to patients as Dr. X. and I talk to patients about the surgeon as Dr Y. In not patient situations first name is fine with me.

When it comes to hurrying nurses its best to take the approach afore mentioned. Be the active assistant in getting room turn over to speed up. Be a team player, lead by example, and when things go wrong or a question of integrity comes up you'll come out on top from the nurses. I often take out the garbage, help push in the different OR table etc.

 

[jetproppilot]

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