In my 3 years of nursing, I've met many physicians and have had run-ins with some who treat nurses as less than dirt. But patient care can be great when physicians appreciate and value what we do as nurses.

I often take care of patients for the same group of physicians. One of these physicians, who started out as a nurse, is willing to help her patients use a bedpan instead of just looking for a nurse. Another is always willing to discuss patient-care issues with me. This availability gives me some added confidence when I need to talk to a less-than-personable doctor.

It's important to applaud physicians who appreciate what nurses contribute. While the number of supportive doctors is small, I think that it's growing. I believe that in the future, most doctors will value what nurses do because, quite frankly, we spend more time at the bedside with their patients.

MICHELE HALDAMAN, RN, BS

Phoenix, Ariz.