Who's the boss?

Re: Who's the boss?

supamog — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:07:30 GMT

Hi you're absolutely right there, very high staff turnover resulting in staff shortage! Wish they could just take a breath and step back - perhaps something we don't know about is happening in the background - such a shame tho.

Re: Who's the boss?

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:06:58 GMT

[quote user="supamog"]

but surely she is outwith her remit to tell a vet with method to use? I think this vet will not be around for long unfortunately, not worth the hassle.

[/quote]

I believe you are correct in this case. Certainly I've had nurses ask me on occasion about a treatment or surgery, but it's nothing we haven't been able to have an interesting discussion about. Granted, I have never been in the situation where I've been forbidden by a nurse to do anything; I did have one occasion where a nurse was not comfortable nursing one type of reptile anaesthesia so we did a different one she was very comfortable with. (Operation was uneventful and patient recovered fully.)

But then, I'm lucky. I've never worked in a practice where I couldn't talk to my colleagues.

Re: Who's the boss?

Sal the 1st — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:43:25 GMT

[quote user="supamog"]

Thanks for the imput folks. Sorry I may not have made it clear that the nurse is married to the boss and they together own the practice. This happened in theatre so no time to refer back to client. To keep the peace the operating vet just said ok and went ahead with an "old" method or else nurse runs off to tell hubby that no one listens to her and there will be a row. Not ideal at all but I dont think they actually realise that they do it, its more of a bad habit! She sees herself and the "employer" but surely she is outwith her remit to tell a vet with method to use? I think this vet will not be around for long unfortunately, not worth the hassle.

[/quote]

this was exactly the scenario I was thinking of - and isnt the first time I have come across it, it usually results in a high staff turn over because people get fed up and move on, vets and nurses alike

Re: Who's the boss?

supamog — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:25:58 GMT

Re: Who's the boss?

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 22:15:50 GMT

Legally, owner. Clinically, it's the vet that will get strung up from the nearest tree if it goes wrong, not the nurse. If you are joint partners and can't agree on treatment, then the clinical treatment isn't your biggest problem. Unfortunately, this situation is unfair for all involved - we don't know the situation, the treatment, the reasons for or against. It wouldn't be right for us to pass judgement in this case.

Re: Who's the boss?

Julie-Anne Wilson — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:34:22 GMT

Last call over treatment always goes to the owner. If the owner wants surgery, you do the surgery, if they don't, you don't.

Re: Who's the boss?

Chris Geddes — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:21:12 GMT

I think the copout answer is - it depends entirely on the circumstances! But one would hope the two could come to an agreement! If I were in that position whereby I constantly disagreed, I'd change jobs!

Re: Who's the boss?

meep_ kitten — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:50:14 GMT

Ultimately - the owner of the animal has final and most important say!!! Particularly if there are treatments options to be decided upon and discrepant opinions, then it is up to the owner to be made aware of choices and them to decide

Re: Who's the boss?

Sal the 1st — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:52:42 GMT

nightmare - but not unusual