A shout out to the docs

Yes, some physicians seem to think lately the nurses are out to get them. That we don't appreciate them. That we're conspiring.

Why? Because we talk amongst ourselves in online forums, blogs, etc., when we see injustice perpetrated in our hospital, in our state, in our nation. Injustice meted out by insurance companies, circumstance and by our fellow human beings.

And yes, some people think if we disagree with one thing, we're automatically against all physicians. So, I'm forced to use those debate team skills and favorite marketing tricks to demonstrate that I'm not.

Some days I am in awe of the physicians with whom I work. The physiatrists who know just how to stop spasms that wrack people with pain. The internists who craft treatment plans for some of our awful medical messes patients find themselves in. The surgeon, who even though he can be surly, stops everything in the hallway and says, "Do you need me? I'll be right there." when they page him from the floor.

Luckily for me, in my little world at the Hotel, respect is a two-way street. I make sure Dr. X gets coffee when she shows up because she takes care of my surliest patient first, and by the time he's done, he's singing. It makes life much better for me. When that spasm-reducing physiatrist Dr. Y sees me in the hall, she stops me to ask me what I think and she thanks me when I help her. Dr. Z, who works with us remotely, stays on task and does whatever she can for our patients to make them comfortable, and she teaches me something every day, by her actions, her demeanor, and her enthusiasm.

As the saying goes, there is no I in team. It's a good lesson to remember.

Stay tuned...