H for "Dr. Run Away From Him," who has kicked out every person
that's ever been sentenced to work in his room. Even though running
away will hurt like hell, it's better than never walking again.
The brutal honesty we're looking for might be hard at first, because
we nurses won't just out and out tell you not to go to a certain doctor.
We're more diplomatic than that. We might say, "Hey, I know some
great physicians. Do you want some names and numbers?" Or, "Wow,
surgery, I work with some of the best surgeons in town. I can get you
in earlier and let him know I'm sending you." You'll know we don't
approve of your pick if we ask in a concerned tone: "Oh ... you already
have an appointment with him?" Or, "Hmm, well ... I've never had to
work with that surgeon."
The truth hurts
I had a recent visit from my brother from Wisconsin. He'd had back
surgery and told me how wonderful his surgeon was and how great he
felt. He even wanted me to touch the incision site and give him my
assessment. Then he asked me how people can find out how good a
doctor is.
I didn't have a good answer, other than to tell him I keep a mental
file on every hospital I've worked at over the last 12 years as a travel
nurse. When I go back to some contract hospitals, and I do that a lot,
it makes it easier to get in the flow of things. I remember names, num-
bers, codes, whom to speak to, how to get to, what a doctor prefers
(preference cards are never right) and vendor contact information.
I also keep a list of whom I'd let operate on me, do my anesthesia,
scrub and circulate. For some hospitals, there's an advance directive with
instructions in large print that reads: MED FLIGHT ME OUT OF HERE STAT.
OSM
Contact Ms. Watkins at pwatkins12@comcast.net.
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