Calling the doctor is nerve-racking, especially for new nurses and nursing students who don’t have much practice. The key to calling the doctor is to stay calm, get right to the point, and know what you’re talking about! The following are tips to help make calling the doctor a lot less scary.
1. Have all your information together
When calling the doctor, the first thing to say is who you are and where you’re calling from. Next, you’re going to want to say what patient you are calling in regard to, so be sure to have all of this information handy.
For example:
“Hi Doctor Smith, this is Courtney calling from the 4th floor here at the community hospital. I’m calling in regard to patient Jane Doe in room 534-A. She’s here for appendicitis.”
At this point the doctor should pretty much know exactly what patient you’re talking about but if they have more questions, they’ll ask them here.
2. Know what you’re going to say ahead of time
Practice what you’re going to say to the doctor in your head before you actually call them. If you’re a new nurse and unsure if there is something you can do for your patient before calling the doctor, then be sure to ask a more experienced nurse before waking the doctor up at 2am. Trust me, they’ll appreciate it.
Also, make sure there isn’t already a PRN or standing order per hospital policy that could help your patient out before calling the doctor.
3. Have the patients chart open and in front of you
If at this point the doctor still doesn’t know what patient you’re referring to, having the chart open and in front of you is going to help answer any questions they may have.
Plus, if your call is regarding pain, then they’re likely going to need some more information. Such as when the last pain medication was given? What medication was it? What is their level of pain now? And what was their most recent set of vitals?
Visit Charting Tips for New Nurses for more charting info. Plus Nursing Fundamentals: A Guide to Pain and Patient Education: How to Effectively Manage Acute and Chronic Pain for more info on treating a patient in pain.
4. Offer a solution
What do you want to see happen with the patient? Do you want a different pain medication ordered? Or maybe just a higher dose of what you already have? Or even just a one-time dose for breakthrough pain?
Knowing what the right solution will be for this patient takes time and skill. And let’s face it, new nurses simply don’t have this yet. And that’s totally okay! After all, you didn’t go to school for a bazillion years to become a doctor, you’re a nurse! So don’t let that imposter syndrome feeling come creeping in. If you don’t have a specific medication in mind, just let the doctor know that you’re hoping to have their pain medication changed to something that better fits that patients needs. Be sure to visit Imposter Syndrome as a New Nurse and Nursing Fundamentals: An Intro to Pharmacology for more information.
The doctor isn’t going to expect you to do their job for them, at least they shouldn’t. But if you’re standing in front of the patient, seeing what they’re going thru, and you make a recommendation for a one-time dose for breakthrough pain, you’re likely going to get it.
5. Write everything down
While on the phone with the doctor, make sure you have a pen and paper handy. You’re going to want to write down everything the doctor orders. Doctors typically talk fast. Sometimes too fast to be able to enter their orders straight into the computer; especially if you’re still learning the system. So make sure to write it all down and transfer it into the computer once you’re off the phone.
Also be sure to visit Medical Abbreviations You Must Know so when you’re taking down notes from the doctor, you can write as little as possible.
6. Repeat new orders back
Before getting off the phone, you need to make sure you understood the doctor correctly. Be sure to repeat all new orders back to the doctor and clarify anything you might have missed. Doing so will help prevent medication errors and/or you having to call them back just to clarify a new order.
Make sure you have the medication name, dosage, route, and frequency the medication can be given before hanging up. Also be sure to visit Nursing Fundamentals: A Guide to the 10 Rights of Medication Administration before administering any medications.
7. Ask all your questions
If you called the doctor for breakthrough pain, but you realized the patient is now going to be receiving a lot of pain medications and will probably need a stool softener, ask now!
If you have a question on a different patient that has the same covering doctor, just ask! Clustering your care, and phone calls, will help save you time in the end.
8. Stay calm
You never know when the doctor’s going to be in a grumpy mood. But if you’re calling them at 3 in the morning, there’s a good chance they aren’t going to be the happiest. Make sure to follow the previous steps, stay calm, and be confident. You’re going to be okay.
If the doctor is rude to you, just take a deep breath and continue with your call. Don’t be rude back adding fuel to the fire, but also don’t apologize for calling. You’re simply doing your job in caring for your patients.
Plus be sure to check out the following for more tips!
- How to Organize Your 12-Hour Nursing Shift
- Nursing Bag Essentials for New Nurses
- Essentials of a Good Bedside Handoff Report
- How to Handle Aggressive Patients
- What to Expect in the First Year as a New Grad Nurse
And if you’re working nights, these posts are for you:
- What Do Night Shift Nurses Do? An Hourly Survival Guide
- Adjusting to Night Shift
- I’m a Night Shift Nurse, What Should I Do with My Days Off?