Have you ever worked with a physician who was challenging to communicate with? How did you overcome this challenge?

"Yes, I have worked with several physicians who were challenging to communicate with. I overcome this challenge by trying to get to know the physicians to understand their mindset better. Once I understand where they are coming from, it is easier to decipher what they are trying to say. If I am still unclear about what they want, I come right out and ask them to clarify."

"I realize everyone has their own communication style, and if a physician has a different personality, approach, or communication style, I'm adaptable and can work effectively alongside them. I don't take things personally, and I keep my focus on providing the best patient care. I will have a candid, private conversation with the physician to address my concerns if a communication issue causes a delay, hinders treatment plans, or prevents my staff from doing their job. I firmly believe in direct communication and problem-solving; however, if issues continued to put my staff or patients at risk, I would escalate that to my manager."

When I first graduated as a registered nurse, I worked with a physician who would hang up on you if you took too long to answer his questions and would yell at you if you didn't know the answer to something. As difficult as this was to encounter as a new grad it actually helped me make sure I was prepared when I called or talked to a physician. It made me improve my assessment skills and anticipate questions the physician might ask so that I had all the information already prepared before talking to them. Not only did this make me a better nurse but it also helped me gain respect from the physicians.