Do doctors know learn how to work the machines and do iv's and such like a RN?

Question

I am currently a pre-nursing major at WSU, but i was thinking of switching to pre-med. However, I wanted to know if MD's (doctors) know how to do everything like a nurse. I would be nice if i can get some factual information instead of opinions or guesses. Thanks to all that respond !

Answer 1

Yes, doctors normally and for the most part know how to do jobs expected of nurses; however, doctors do not perform these tasks often enough to develop the finesse expected from a skilled nurse. For example, a doctor is not expected to be able to do tasks such as a trained Phlebotomist is expected to perform, nor is he expected do give enemas or empty bed pans. The key here is the degree of training.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Doctors and PAs can do many of the things that nurses do however they wouldn't have time to manage their patients which is why nurses are there.

If the nurses can't get an IV then I place one. I also can use the IV pumps and push meds.

We work as a team and pitch in when needed.

If you do decide to go to medical school then some of your practical training as a nurse may be beneficial although you will learn the basics in school (IV insertion, foley insertion etc.)

Answer 4

We are not nurses, however, we know how to do most of what nurses do.



Yes, we start IV's, we can run the pumps, and I suppose we could bathe patients or clean up their poop, but we're usually busy doing other things. Sometimes I help the circulating nurse if she's busy and I'm not. I can throw suture onto the sterile field, or plug in the cautery cord, etc.



Who do you think the nurse calls if he/she can't do something? Anesthesiologists often get called to place IVs in people when nobody else can (an all the veins have been blown...)



We don't document the same way a nurse does, though. They have their own phrases for things.

Answer 5

MD - Doctors of Medicine



There are many different area a doctor can specialize. Cardiology, Hematology, Family Medicine, Neurosurgery, Psychiatrist (yes they are doctors who specializes in psychology)... and so on.



Basically the doctor's job is to : Diagnose, Identify, Treatment.



It really depends on what area you specialize in. Radiologist are doctors who deal who x-rays and stuff, they have to know how to actually work one(well duh).



The more passive doctors are those who specialized in Family Medicine. They are to diagnose, identify and treat a patient. They have to know all the medicine instead of how a medical machine works.



So you have to decide what area you want to work in the future.