The Spring 2011 Issue of Scrubs magazine has a particularly touching feature: Doctors “Heart” Nurses. In it, a number of MDs reveal how nurses have not only taught them important lessons, but saved their butts as well.
We thought the theme of doctors thanking nurses would be wonderful for the scrubsmag.com website too, so we assigned one of our writers to interview even more doctors for their sentiments. And yes, it does get sentimental! Read on.
Perhaps the doctors you work with seldom, if ever, thank you or show you their appreciation. It could be that it’s simply not their style, but chances are that deep down they’re more appreciative than you can imagine—of you, your nursing skills and the valuable role you play on their healthcare team. Not buying it? These stories, volunteered by doctors who genuinely delighted in sharing them, are sure to erase that doubt and show you that doctors do appreciate nurses.
Humble Brilliance
“In our training, doctors are so separated from nursing staff that we don’t really get to appreciate their input until we’re independently practicing,” says Anita Swamy, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist and the medical director of diabetes at La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago. “I’ve learned so much from the nurses I work with—both professionally and personally. I feel that in the field of medicine, they’re the humble, brilliant people.”
Swamy explains that prior to her arrival at La Rabida, the nurses were running the pediatric diabetes program without a medical director, and doing it very well. They had developed comprehensive components that included working in schools with school nurses, holding nursing conferences for nurses throughout the state and delivering a formal lecture series. When Swamy arrived, they accepted her into the fold as part of the team and gave her a level of respect that surprised her.
“Some of them have been doing this much longer than I have, but they still come to me to ask me for advice, even though they likely already know the answers,” says Swamy. “That’s an incredible personality trait, and it has taught me to be a little more humble. And, as far as diabetes management goes, my knowledge has been significantly enhanced by exposure to the nurses and their ways of practice. Each of us has a role, and each role is equally important.”
Dr. Swamy thanks you, Rosemary, Andrea, Anita, Cathy and Kate.
Next: “Nurses are my eyes and ears…” –>
For more Inspiration and Stories pick up the latest issue of Scrubs magazine, available at a retail store near you!
RN
Registered Nurse
I have, for years, been of the opinion that wannabe doctors should be REQUIRED to get their 1st degree in NURSING and work for a minimum of 5 years as an RN AT THE BEDSIDE before they are allowed to apply to medical school. This, I believe would give the future MD a whole different perspective on the role that nurses play.
Also comes with a serious dose of humility…
AMEN to that!! So, so many doctors forget that without the nurses, they couldn’t do THEIR jobs and, as someone else pointed out up there, just how many times a doctor’s career will be saved by a nurse!!