>>We nurses have been
socialized
to never disagree with physicians, or if we do to
believe it's a big
deal.<<


I think that's been changing over the years & I hope
it hasn't changed back when I wasn't watching.  When I
went to university (eek, almost 20 years ago now), I
was certainly taught to speak up to physicians &
question their orders/instructions when they were
doubtful.  I was taught that it was part of the safety
net for patients & I value them as well as my license
too highly to risk either to just go with the flow.
Of course, I didn't have a whole lot of problems
keeping my mouth shut when I thought I was right--that
doesn't apply just to work!  LOL  If the MD requested
journal references to back up my information, I was
happy to find the info.

I've found it's also empowering to instruct
patients/clients that it is okay for them to question
what the physician (or whatever type of healthcare
provider they are seeing) wants them to do for a
particular condition.  I've had to help educate people
involved with my healthcare because of a couple of
conditions & try to make it sound matter of fact since
no one can be an expert on everything.

Maybe part if it is how I was raised as well since my
mother nearly died in a hospital due to medical error
& also had a surgery performed on the wrong leg due to
another series of errors during a separate
hospitalization.  So, my siblings & I were raised even
in the 60's not to have the opinion that paternalistic
medical care was in any one's best interest.

Just my thoughts,

Linda Madsen, RN, IBCLC

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