Problem
Dr. Jackson, a world-renown heart surgeon at Memorial Hospital, is known to have a short temper. The hospital has a high turnover rate, in part, because of his treatment of staff. Today a young nurse bore the brunt of his anger. The entire staff on the 8th floor of the surgical intensive care unit could hear his loud voice mercilessly berating the unfortunate nurse who had taken too long to move a patient. You, as a nurse, realize the importance of being an advocate for your patient, as well as patient-centered care. You are more outspoken than your colleague, so you decide to come to her defense about the situation. What would you say to alleviate the tension between the doctor and nurse? What communication skills are necessary in order to try to resolve the problem? Do you think it's appropriate to speak directly to Dr. Jackson or consult with a charge nurse? Why or why not?