ADVANCING HEALTH-CARE PRACTICE
1.4 Helen's Story
I had just started working on a busy maternity unit. I was caring for Julie who had been in labour for several hours. She was progressing slowly and getting pretty tired and discouraged. She requested something for pain and I gave her information and discussed what her options were for analgesia. She said she wanted an epidural. I checked her, called her physician and got an order for an epidural.>> ACTIVITY
I called Dr. Dale, gave him a report and requested an epidural for Julie. I hadn't met him yet but I had been "warned" about him and his "eccentric" ways. He yelled, gave me heck and told me that a nurse cannot request an epidural, and that he needs a consult from a physician, then he hung up on me. I couldn't believe it! I've called other anesthetists here and none of them had a problem with needing a consult. I've never heard of this -- and there was this poor woman in pain and wanting an epidural.
Reflecting on what has happened, what is your reaction to this incident?
Taking this incident in isolation, you may view Dr. Dale's actions as "bad behavior", rudeness or simply having a bad day. Perhaps you are thinking about similar experiences you have had in your workplace. Maybe you view it as "all part of the job" or just Dr. Dale blowing off steam on a stressful day. We often minimize or rationalize away the behavior Helen describes or we attempt to ignore it and move on from the encounter.
If it is an isolated incident, it may indeed be called "bad" behavior. Even so, is it acceptable for Dr. Dale to interact with a nurse in this manner? Is it acceptable for him to behave this way with a patient, his department head, the hospital administrator?
If the answer is 'no', then why is it acceptable for him to behave this way with a nurse?
Why is behavior such as Dr. Dale's ignored, rationalized or minimized?
In what ways do you think this interaction will affect Helen's ability to provide care to her patient?
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