I decided to be a nurse for the week. I took off the white coat and dressed in blue scrubs. I blended in nicely, but in reality I got an awakening! I’ll share with you the highlights.

Usually when I walk the floors with a white coat, the sense of accomplishment, people saying hello, and indirectly strangers moving out of your way was over. It seems that the general populous in the hospital still respects physicians, which I am happy to say. However, when I disguised myself, I didn’t see much of the same respect! When entering the medical floors, I could command some “attention” even to the point of breaking nursing rounds, having them stop and focus on another pressing matter, nurses saying good morning. Sadly, when I entered looking like a nurse I was left to my own. No welcome greeting, can I help you, you look lost, nothing. I did deep down like the sense of being forgotten for a change. Usually when Dr Sarela enters the floor, I get ambushed with the night nurses trying to ask last minute questions, so they look prepared for the change of shift sign-outs.

As Nurse Sarela, I decided to see how it would be to pick up a patient from a post procedure. This was a wake up call. The room was still quiet, no offered assistants to the newcomer to the unit. I tried asking about a patient, <details voided to protect the involved parties>  and received the pleasant sounds of crickets. I wonder what the outcome would have been if I wore my polished shiny white coat. Do people respond as if there is a higher authority in the room. I feel this may be. Rather than working as a team people still look at the medical “team” not as equal players, but a ladder of authority/ownership/responsibility.

I now sympathize with my wife when she tells me she is burnt out from nursing. In her opinion most families/patients don’t care about the person who is by the patients side, responding to their request, helping them with their food, cleaning after them and doing all this for 12hours a day with a smile. Talk about better service than in a hotel. I see why my wife went back into school for a masters in nursing. I can understand why the burnout rates are so high for nurses. It’s tough work, dealing with patients, families, and being the first one always at the scene. Being the first to be yelled at. Being the first to be spit at. Sadly medicine has become one of patient care to consumer/customer care. Were not focusing on the aspect of medicine that makes us want to help others. Were focusing on the quality, the metrics, the length of stay, the money, the customer. The patient is seen equivalent to a mere customer at a retail store, a restaurant, an IT help line. REALLY, this is pathetic and sad.

This past week was tough. Even though disguised as a nurse I had the attitude of a physician. It’s probably why I got in trouble with administration twice during this experiment. But hey, hopefully people can wake up and realize what is occurring. Most educators, higher ups always ask, “See how it feels from the patients perspective.” I feel, another valuable vantage point is, “See how it feels to be in another colleagues shoes.” Wether it is a nurse, phlebotomist, cook, janitor, etc. Just try it, will it make you uncomfortable, sympathize, have empathy for them?

Overall, this experience has made me more pissed off than anything. I am saddened what I have learned, and observed. I am saddened that when I advocate for the patient rather than the hospital I get blamed. That nurses don’t acknowledge there own colleagues at times. That respect only comes when a white coat is on! That medicine and the way of doing things is to support the “customer” rather than the “patient.” I am saddened by a lot that is occurring. I pray for our new government, and president that we can move towards a better system.  A better way of interaction and a better way of caring for each other.

In the mean time, I can’t wait to put back the WHITE COAT on again….

-DR SARELA,