Vault: Are There Power Struggles Between Doctors And Nurses?

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Bert Show

Episode: Vault: Are There Power Struggles Between Doctors And Nurses?
Air Date: February 3, 2026
Host: The Bert Show (Pionaire Podcasting)
Cast: Bert, Kristin, and callers (nurses and medical professionals)

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show dives into the dynamics and tensions between doctors and nurses, focusing on whether there are underlying power struggles, feelings of underappreciation, and issues of respect within healthcare settings. The hosts explore this topic through personal anecdotes, candid listener calls, and vivid real-world examples, highlighting the everyday realities of nurses and their interactions with doctors.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. Origins of the Discussion (00:00–01:41)

• Bert initiates the topic by reflecting on his own observations during his wife's childbirth and subsequent hospital visits:

  • Nurses appear to do the bulk of the work, with doctors showing up last minute and receiving much of the credit.
  • Raises the question: Do nurses feel underappreciated because doctors get the "glory"?
  • Suggests that the structure of the hospital may contribute to these feelings, but wonders if appreciation is lacking regardless of job description.

• Quote:

  "You sort of see it from time to time... where she just sort of feels like she doesn't get enough credit and the doctor is like the glory dude." – Bert (00:38)

B. Societal Perceptions & Underappreciation (01:41–02:44)

• Kristin discusses the societal view that treats becoming a doctor as preferable to being a nurse, noting broader cultural underappreciation.

  • Nurses, despite their expertise and hard work, are often seen as those who “settle” for not becoming doctors.
  • Personal anecdote of closer interactions with nurses due to a chronic condition, observing mutual respect in her case but acknowledges this may not be universal.

• Quote:

  "I don't think that they get the appreciation from everybody that they deserve, not just the doctors." – Kristin (02:44)

C. "Occupational Confessional": Candid Calls from Nurses (02:50–10:58)

• Sarah (trauma ICU nurse, voice disguised, 03:40–05:42):

  • Confirms tension and resentment, particularly over condescending treatment from doctors.

  • Shares that doctors often give orders without writing them properly, then blame nurses for following up.

  • Ultimately left the hospital environment due to persistent disrespect from doctors.

  • Exception: A few doctors treat nurses well, but they are rare.

  • Quote:

    "The way they talk to you, I'm sure... a lot of these doctors wouldn't even talk to a dog." – Sarah (04:32)

• Male Nurse (ER/ICU experience, voice disguised, 05:49–07:22):

  • The relationship varies greatly depending on the department.

  • In critical care (ER/ICU), better teamwork due to urgent situations. More friction on general wards, where doctors show more attitude.

  • Notes that medical residents, still learning, often have the worst attitude—despite having less knowledge than experienced nurses.

  • Quote:

    "You snotty little punk, I've been doing this for so many years." – Male Nurse (07:07)

• Jennifer (nurse since 1985, no disguise, 07:33–08:27):

  • Broadly confirms doctors’ disrespectful attitudes, with nurses initiating care changes and doctors taking the credit.

  • Emphasizes nurses' crucial, life-saving presence at the bedside.

  • Quote:

    "The nurses are the ones who saved the lives because they're the ones who are there all the time." – Jennifer (08:06)

• Alicia (office and hospital nurse, voice disguised, 08:57–10:19):

  • Left hospital job due to lack of respect; even in office settings, experienced hostile acts (e.g., doctor throwing a patient chart).

  • Laments loss of compassion among doctors, with some seeing patients only as 'dollar signs'.

  • Memorable Moment:

    "What happened to the compassion in the medical field? … They just see them as a dollar sign, what type of insurance you have. That's it." – Alicia (09:43)

D. Systemic Nature of Disrespect & Hierarchy (10:24–10:58)

• Host commentary notes that a high percentage of callers express frustration at lack of respect and the “taskmaster mentality” from doctors.

  • A technician calls in to say this trickles down: Doctors disrespect nurses, nurses disrespect techs, and so on, cementing a hierarchical culture.

  • Quote:

    "Doctor takes it out of the nurse, nurse takes it out of the technician, technician takes it out to the assist." – Bert (10:52)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Host Bert on hospital roles:

  "Doctor comes in, takes all the credit, takes off, you know." (00:32)

• Sarah on why she left hospital work:

  "It's so condescending...the way they talk to you. And you're just a task-oriented profession." (05:34)

• Male Nurse on residents' attitude:

  "They're probably the ones that seem to get slapped around a little bit for their attitude with the nurses." (07:13)

• Jennifer on nurses' contributions:

  "Who was the one that was there for all of it? And that's the nurses. And they don't get the respect they deserve." (08:16)

• Alicia on compassion:

  "Some of the doctors don't have the compassion. What happened to... the compassion in the medical field?" (09:41)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – 01:41: Introduction to the episode’s main question and personal observations.
• 01:41 – 02:44: Societal perceptions of nurses and doctors, and underlying biases.
• 03:36 – 05:42: Call from Sarah, a trauma ICU nurse, detailing real examples of disrespect.
• 05:49 – 07:22: Call from a male nurse, discussing differences by hospital department and hierarchy issues.
• 07:33 – 08:27: Call from Jennifer, a seasoned nurse, reinforcing the recurring theme of disrespect and underappreciation.
• 08:57 – 10:19: Call from Alicia, recounting a hostile incident and lack of compassion.
• 10:24 – 10:58: Wrap-up: Recognizing systemic nature, hierarchy, and summary of caller sentiment.

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Conclusion

The episode reveals that, while not universal or always overt, there is a consistent theme of nurses feeling underappreciated, undervalued, and often disrespected by doctors and by the wider healthcare system. The issue appears especially prevalent in more traditional hospital settings, with "trickle-down" disrespect in medical hierarchies. While some departments exhibit better teamwork and respect, the overwhelming experiences shared by callers point to ongoing systemic issues in the doctor-nurse relationship. The show’s candid, relatable tone and compelling personal stories make this episode an insightful listen for those curious about life on the hospital floor.

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Transcript

[A]

The bird show. All right. I have a suspicion, and this is just my own personal observation, that I'm hoping I could either get confirmation on this morning or complete denial. I have a theory here. And nurses can't say it while they're at the hospital, that's for sure. But you could sort of see it from time to time with nurses that I think there's like this bubbling animosity between nurses and doctors. And I think it's because nurses do. Nurses, they bust their ass. I'm not saying doctors don't, but I'm saying, like, nurses put in a good amount of time. I know in watching my wife's delivery, for instance, like, the nurse is there the entire time. She's doing everything. Doctor comes in last minute, literally last minute left, last couple of pushes on our first baby, and game over. Doctor comes in, takes all the credit, takes off, you know, And I'm not sure that it's like that outside of delivery rooms and other areas of the medical industry, but I know I have seen from time to time in hospitals where a nurse, maybe it's a personal thing, or maybe it's more of a generalization where she just sort of feels like shouldn't get enough credit and the doctor gets. Is like the glory dude. But couldn't it be argued that there are so many. There are more nurses than doctors, so, like, that's their job, is to get everything ready, and then the doctor is just essentially coming in to sign off on it? Well, I mean, wouldn't that be the argument even if that was the job, that wouldn't mean that the nurses wouldn't feel like they just weren't appreciated because they are working harder, right?

[B]

Well, I think it just depends. I think that. I mean, they're two completely different jobs. The doctor is totally responsible on every level for everything happens with that patient. So there's a level of responsibility that the doctor has that the nurse may not have. So it's not to disregard the level that doctors play. But the nurses certainly do have interaction with the patients more often than the doctors do. In my case, I have a chronic condition. So when you have a chronic condition, you have a specialized doctor and nurses, then there's a closer relationship with them. I haven't experienced that in my. My time that the nurses and the doctors have resent. There's a resentment because they work so closely together. And the nurses, from what I've seen, feel appreciated by those doctors because they're constantly working together. But I said this earlier. I don't think it's just doctors that don't appreciate nurses. I think society doesn't. Because I think that if you are a person that went to your parents and said, I'm going to medical school. I'm gonna go be a nurse, then, you know, people always will question, well, why not just be a doctor?

[A]

Right. Why don't you go a little longer? Why don't you stretch yourself a little bit and really earn?

[B]

Yeah. And I think that's. I think that they don't. I don't. They get the appreciation from everybody that they deserve, not just the doctors.

[A]

So we kind of sort of call this, like, occupational confessional, where we'll put you on the voice disguiser. And you just got. We're not gonna ask you where you work. We're not even gonna ask you what your real name is, how long you've been a nurse. But is there a bubbling kind of animosity towards doctors general, as general rule? Is it there?

[B]

And does it go both ways? Does it come from the doctors to the nurses, too? And I think that if you're a male nurse, definitely call. Because I think that you talk about being disrespected for what you do and feeling like you're not doing enough, which is ridiculous. My best friend is a nurse, and so is her husband. And so I also have heard that the male nurses get all the tougher jobs. Like, they get all the heavier patients. They have to do all the heavier lifting and that sort of thing. And don't really get any credit for that.

[A]

We will call her Sarah, and she is on the voice disguiser right now. Good morning, Sarah.

[C]

Hey, guys. How are you doing?

[A]

Good. How are you?

[C]

I'm good.

[A]

Can I just ask you.

[C]

I talk to you guys. I've been listening from the beginning, and I never get through.

[B]

Thank you.

[C]

I think I can bring some clarification to all of your questions.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

All right. Okay. Well, I'll address. First of all, you were talking about, like, the animosity or is there any, like, bubbling jealousy? And I think that one of you guys. I think, Melissa, you said it. That I don't know that they're two different jobs. And so I don't know that I have, like, a jealousy towards doctors. But I think where the tension comes in or where the resentment comes in is that as a nurse, you're in the hospital setting, which is all I can really speak to because that's all I've ever done until recently. You do all this work to help get your patient ready. I did trauma ICU so it was very intense. You have a lot of things going on and the doctors kind of swoop in. That's what you said. And they kind of take all the credit, which is fine because that's what they do. And they went to school a long time. I have no problem with that. But the way they treat you behind the scenes is what has ultimately led for me to leave the hospital, because they will in general, and there's a few exceptions. But in general, the way they talk to you, I'm sure these people, a lot of these doctors wouldn't even talk to a dog. The way they talk to the nurse, it's like so condescending, giving us these orders and saying, why did you do this? You need to do this. And then they leave. So in the aftermath, then you have to kind of say, okay, well, I need to do all these things that he said and go check the chart. And they forgot to write the order. So then you have to call them and say, you forgot to write the order. You wanted me to do xyz, but you didn't write the order. And then they're kicked off because you're calling them. So it's more of just the relationship, I think. And again, there's a few exceptions, but for the most part, I've done nurse for a long time and I've worked at some of the best teaching university hospitals on the east. And in general, that's the way they treat you. It's like so condescending. They talk to you horribly and you're just a task oriented profession.

[A]

Okay, all right, thank you very much. That's just the first one. If the phone's lit up with nurses. Good morning. Q100.

[D]

Hey, how are you?

[A]

I'm okay. You're on the voice disguiser.

[C]

Good.

[A]

You're a male nurse.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Do you feel any of this anytime?

[D]

You know, I think it actually depends on which area of the hospital you work in. Because in the emergency room and like in the icu, it seems like the critical care areas, the nurses tend to get along with the doctors a little bit more just because there's a lot of emergent things that go on and the nurse has to do the work, just has to get it done without the physician being around. Whereas if you work on the med surg floor, it's kind of a more laid back environment. The patient's there a little bit longer and the nurse really, there's not that much to do as far as immersion things that need to be done. They give the patient the med. They go by what the orders the doctors wrote, and that's pretty much it. And then if the physician does need to come in, like on the med search floor, they have to call them to get orders. And it seems like that's where the doctors throw more. Attitude is up on those type of floors, whereas nurse room is not.

[B]

Have you ever felt a lack of respect for being a nurse?

[D]

Yeah, definitely. I work at a facility that has med students and has the residents, and the residents are the ones that have the attitude because they are just learning to be doctors.

[A]

Right.

[D]

And so you kind of get a little upset because you're like, listen, you snotty little punk, I've been doing this.

[C]

For so many years.

[D]

And here you are, you know that you know, 10 times more than they do, but they're sitting there, you know, being jerks. And they're probably the ones that seem to get slapped around a little bit for their attitude with the nurses.

[A]

We've said it's kind of the same rule with celebrities in here. If they're on their way up, generally they're really arrogant and standoffish. But if they've already made it, they're cool, right? Totally cool.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Good morning. Jennifer, you're on Q100.

[C]

Hey, guys. Good morning.

[A]

Hi. You're on the voice disguiser. Go ahead.

[C]

I don't have to be on the voice disguiser.

[E]

I don't really care.

[A]

Okay.

[E]

I've been a nurse since 1985, and I've worked in the hospital. I've worked in chronic dialysis. I've worked all over. And nine times out of ten, doctors disrespect nurses. We're the ones who, when we see a problem, we call them and say, this, this. This is going on. They say, oh, yeah, you're right. Maybe we should do this. And then they make it all big like, oh, I fixed them. I made them better. And, you know, you just only do what I say. So again, it's that test that's, like, so not it at all. I mean, the nurses are the ones who saved the lives because they're the ones who are there all the time. And like you said before the doctor came in, oh, two pushes. I delivered the baby. Well, who was the one that was there for all of it? And that's the nurses. And they don't get the respect they deserve.

[A]

So again, it's that taskmaster mentality, right?

[B]

Well, yeah. I mean, it's doctor, write the order, and the nurse fulfills it. But it's almost like the well, you're here for me, and that's all you're here for. When it really is a profession that should stand on its own. And there's a shortage of nurses. Like, there's been a bubbling shortage of nurses for almost a decade now. So this must be. It's all relative. I think the fact that if I'm not respected and I'm not getting paid what I should be paid, then why am I going into this profession and is one of the most important professions out there?

[A]

Alicia, do you want to be on the voice disguiser?

[F]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. You are.

[F]

Hi. Good morning, Bertco.

[B]

Good morning.

[F]

Hey, thank you, guys. Every morning.

[A]

Thank you. Now you have a form. All right, go ahead. You've been waiting for somebody to.

[F]

Well, I left my last job because I transferred from a hospital setting because I wasn't getting the respect that I deserved, and went to an office setting, and in the office setting, a doctor actually threw a freaking chart at me.

[B]

Really?

[D]

Yes.

[F]

It was something about an order that was supposed to be written and faxed to the hospital for a patient, and it was important, and it was done. She just didn't look. So out of spite, she threw the chart. And we deal with that every day. All the time. We deal with the patients one on one, face to face every day. The doctors, all they do is write the orders, and that's what we're supposed to do, go by the orders. It's not fair. It's not fair to us, and it's not fair to our patients because sometimes they lack on a different type of care that they need. And some of the doctors don't have the compassion. What happened to. To the compassion in the medical field? What happened to the compassion for the doctors they supposed to have for these patients? And they don't. They just see them as a dollar sign what type of insurance you have. That's it. That's the end of it.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, the days of the, you know, house calls and stuff are gone, unfortunately, over.

[A]

Yeah, I'd say that we could probably do this for the next two hours if we wanted to. But just to give you kind of an indication of what's going on in the phones, about 75 to 80% of the calls are from nurses saying, yeah, there's not only that bubbling tension going on, but, yeah, it's just that taskmaster mentality and just. They don't get the respect from doctors that they. They think they deserve. Some assistants were calling ups, calling out the nurses, though. Like, it trickles down.

[B]

Like, it trickles down like a technician.

[A]

Is saying, doctor takes it out of the nurse, nurse takes it out of the technician. Technician takes it out to the assist.

[F]

Pay it forward.

[A]

Yeah, the Birch Show.