8 steps to improve the cooperation

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Nursing shortage is one of the most urgent problems in healthcare. Considering demographics this is all just the beginning. Is this a problem that only affects nurses? Of course not. Beds are blocked due to nursing shortage and critically ill patients have to be transferred from one hospital to another to provide adequate treatment. Soon staff reductions will also affect doctors.

Hence, doctors have to deliver on their part of the solution soon. What can we do to make the profession of nursing more attractive? Here are 8 suggestions how doctors can change a nurse’s worklife to the better.

1. Case discussions

 

Patients who are treated on the ICU for several weeks have to be discussed in a special setting. Doctors and nurses should engage in case discussions on a regular basis. Powerpoint presentations are counterproductive here. Instead, this should be a platform to ask questions regarding prognosis and ethical questions

• What’s the concept?
• What’s the prognosis?
• How are the relatives coping with the situation?
• What can we do better to help this patient?
• What are the goals for this patient for the next 3,5 and 7 days?

Many time nurses have a special view on the situation and in some cases, this may even be closer to reality than the doctor’s opinion.  That doesn’t mean they get to decide but surely: they want to be heard. If they are ignored frustration and resignation will follow.

2. Be present

Case discussions are important, even more important is to show up every day. Show up in the patient’s room, be present and ask the responsible nurse how it’s going. Ask: How I can help you? What can I do to improve this difficult situation?

It shows that we genuinely care and that we embrace their difficult situation.

3. Question unnecessary diagnostics. 

Does the patient really need the CT scan at 2 AM in the morning?

Of course I have never been asked to limit diagnostics or treatment because of nursing shortage, but some of the examinations that require additional manpower can easily be postponed. Just be aware.

4. Be polite-1:

Shall it be mentioned? When you enter the room, you greet the nurse and the patient and smile!!! “Good morning!” Sometimes the nurse won’t greet back; well, so be it. Don’t take it personal. She probably has a bad day.

5. Be polite-2:

Leave the room as you would like to find it, meaning: Clean up your mess. Redress the patient, remove the garbage etc., take your coffee mug with you! And don’t justify a mess with an emergency that never happened.

6. Talking to relatives is the doctor’s job.

Many nurse have noticed the lack of time of doctors and take good care of the patient’s relatives. They explain, teach and answer questions and collect relevant information. Great. But this is the doctor’s job. etc.

For the first years of my career I hated talking to relatives. Part of it was that I feared that I couldn’t answer their questions. But mainly I thought these conversation keep me from helping the patient. The opposite is true. They help them to understand what to expect the next days and weeks. 

And they help me to understand the patient’s previous life circumstances. Also good conversations with relatives prevent them from suing us. They don’t sue good or bad doctors. They sue unfriendly doctors. 

7. Teach them.

Most nurses are eager to learn from us. Start a monthly courses and deliver short presentations on relevant topics. 10 -15 minutes max. Doctors can teach about their favorite topics 

8. Express gratitude. 

Thank nurses after a rough shift. Of course it their job and they get paid for it. But sometimes one simple sentence can change their mindset from “close to burnout” to “It was rough, but it felt good”. 

One sentence like:

• “Man that was a rough shift for you. Thank you for all you did there.”
• “This guy is really critical, I’m grateful to have an experienced nurse like you on my team. Thanks.” 

Believe me, they won’t forget this that easily. 

What else can we do to improve the cooperation with nurses? Leave a comment below.