Corporate Social Responsibility | Business Wire | PR NewsWire | Marketwire | Realwire | ACN/JCN newswire | 247pressrelease | PRWeb

New Survey Finds Doctors and Nurses Behaving Badly

Posted : Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:14:30 GMT
Author : American College of Physician Executives
Category : Press Release
News Alerts by Email ( click here )
News | Home
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 3 FL-ACPE-survey

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Screaming matches in front of bewildered patients. Angry surgeons hurling instruments across the operating room. Treachery and backstabbing as physicians and nurses try to undermine one another.

It may sound like a script from a television medical drama, but these kinds of scenarios are occurring frequently in hospitals and health care systems across the country, according to a new survey conducted by the American College of Physician Executives. The survey of more than 2,100 physicians and nurses found examples of bad behavior are common in the health care field.

Many also wrote in with personal stories of behavior they witnessed:

  • A physician groping a radiology tech as she attempted to take an X-ray.
  • A nurse who spread false rumors about a new doctor in hopes of getting him fired or disciplined.
  • A surgeon growing so enraged with a nurse that he stuffed her head-first into a trash can.
  • Another physician telling a nurse, "You don't look dumber than my dog. Why can't you at least fetch what I need?"

According to the participants, the fundamental lack of respect between doctors and nurses is a problem that affects staff morale, patient safety and public perception of the industry.

Nearly 98 percent of survey participants reported behavior problems between doctors and nurses at their organizations. The most common complaint was degrading comments and insults, which nearly 85 percent of participants said they had experienced at their organization. Other typical complaints included yelling, cursing, inappropriate joking and refusing to work with one another.

The problem is not new. In fact, it is so widespread that The Joint Commission issued a statement requiring health care facilities to adopt zero tolerance policies for disruptive physician behavior by January 1, 2009. But the ACPE survey illustrates just how pervasive the behavior is.

Survey participants and experts in behavior also offered suggestions about the best ways to address the issue, from improved training for medical and nursing students to strict policy guidelines that carry real consequences.

The survey and related articles are being published in the NovemberDecember issue of ACPE's journal of medical management, "The Physician Executive."

For complete results, please contact Carrie Johnson, ACPE Director of Public Relations, at cjohnson@acpe.org or (800) 562-8088.

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE American College of Physician Executives


Copyright © 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Article : New Survey Finds Doctors and Nurses Behaving Badly
Print this article
Share this article

Stay Updated

News gadget on your Google homepage
Subscribe to a news feed in Google Reader



Related News

Defence Minister Declares Security Forum "World-Class" Event
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- 11/22/09 -- As the three-day Halifax International Security Forum today wrapped up its final sessions, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, declared the inaugural e..

Radiance Fine Jewelry 3rd Annual Holiday Party and Galatea Trunk Show
CHICAGO, IL -- 11/22/09 -- With the coming holidays, why give the same gift that everyone else is giving when you can come by Radiance Fine Jewelry and get something truly special. "Galatea Jewelry by Artist" has created some of the most unique pie..

The Grove’s Annual Tree Lighting Celebration and Concert, Sponsored by Cadillac, Features Special Performances, Celebrity Appearances, Lighting of the 100-ft Tree and Spectacular Fireworks Finale
LOS ANGELES - The Grove will host its annual tree-lighting event, “Hollywood Christmas Celebration at The Grove” on Sunday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m. The festive celebration, free to the public, draws crowds from throughout Los Angeles who come to see the stunning 100-foot Christm

Doctors Day Announces Exclusive Miniature Stethoscope Lapel Pin for Doctor Gift and Nurse Gift
The National Doctors' Day organization today announced the introduction of its miniature stethoscope lapel pin. At only 3/4 inches in height, it is the first realistic stethoscope lapel pin that is small enough to truly be considered a lapel pin. Unique gifts for doctors are difficult to fin...

Zultys Appoints Alloy as Australian Distributor
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA and SUNNYVALE, CA -- 11/22/09 -- Zultys, Inc., the leading provider of elegantly simple

DopeStats.com Provides Statistical Information on Legal and Illegal Drugs in Each U.S. County
Information about drug use and drug information is now just a click away with the recently launched DopeStats.com. The new site is an online statistical database documenting drug use in more than 3,000 counties in the United States. The data is compiled by anonymous users on drugs and herbs f...

Rentrak Announces Box Office Numbers for Weekend of November 20, 2009
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22 -- Rentrak Corporation (Nasdaq: RENT), today announced the weekend theatrical box office estimates for the weekend period of November 20 through November 22, 2009 according to the company's

Have your Say
Name
Email
Subject
Your Comment

Enter Verification code
 
  

 
Follow The Earth Times
Subscribe to RSS Follow Earth Times on TwitterNews by email
Share/Save/Bookmark
 
 



 
Subscribe to free Earthtimes
News Alerts by Email Click here
For RSS Feeds Click here
or Create your own RSS

Add to Google Toolbar
Breaking News
Press Releases

 


The Earth Times
News Category

© 2009 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
Earth Times accept no responsibility or liability either directly or indirectly for views or opinions expressed in articles or comments.