So mad at people in my class...

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This semester we have a "class" that is 1 h a week and we basically go to different departments and learn what they do there and talk to patients. So today it was psychiatry.

Ok, so we go in, we get a doctor that shows us around and tells us what he does everyday, what kind of patients he treats, different parts of the hospital etc etc, and in the end he brings a patient so we can talk to her.

First, when hes like, ok im going to get the patient, and were left alone in the room, everybody is like whoa were going to get a schizophrenic what can we ask him blah blah, so disrespectful, and as if schizophrenia is the only mental illness.

Second, the girl comes in, super skinny, obviously she has an eating disorder, cuts all over her wrists and sits down. She tells us she tried to commit suicide 6 months ago by jumping in front of the metro and thats why shes there. People start asking her retarded questions as if she was stupid or something, idk how to explain but the way they were talking to her was so patronizing. Then somebody asks her what her job is and she tells us she was doing her surgery residency at the moment of the suicide attempt and she plans on getting back when shes better. OWNED, from then on people stfu and you could tell they were treating her differently and with so much respect.

When oh when will people learn that patients are still people and every doctor is a patient themselves and when will ppl stop making fun of mental illness, idk if i will ever see that day.

this might be one of the reasons your preceptor chose this patient. i'm assuming you guys are first years. many first years are quite immature, come from wealthy families and have had zero experience outside of a college classroom. The reason for these early clinical experiences is to build your professionalism and give you experience talking to real patients and it sounds like your classmates learned their lesson. You'll find out in the clinical years that the best way to learn something is to screw up so i'm not faulting your classmates for the way they acted (which really isn't that big of a deal as a first year).

Originally Posted by alysp13751

This semester we have a "class" that is 1 h a week and we basically go to different departments and learn what they do there and talk to patients. So today it was psychiatry.

Ok, so we go in, we get a doctor that shows us around and tells us what he does everyday, what kind of patients he treats, different parts of the hospital etc etc, and in the end he brings a patient so we can talk to her.

First, when hes like, ok im going to get the patient, and were left alone in the room, everybody is like whoa were going to get a schizophrenic what can we ask him blah blah, so disrespectful, and as if schizophrenia is the only mental illness.

Second, the girl comes in, super skinny, obviously she has an eating disorder, cuts all over her wrists and sits down. She tells us she tried to commit suicide 6 months ago by jumping in front of the metro and thats why shes there. People start asking her retarded questions as if she was stupid or something, idk how to explain but the way they were talking to her was so patronizing. Then somebody asks her what her job is and she tells us she was doing her surgery residency at the moment of the suicide attempt and she plans on getting back when shes better. OWNED, from then on people stfu and you could tell they were treating her differently and with so much respect.

When oh when will people learn that patients are still people and every doctor is a patient themselves and when will ppl stop making fun of mental illness, idk if i will ever see that day.

This was an awesome story!

Originally Posted by alysp13751

This semester we have a "class" that is 1 h a week and we basically go to different departments and learn what they do there and talk to patients. So today it was psychiatry.

Ok, so we go in, we get a doctor that shows us around and tells us what he does everyday, what kind of patients he treats, different parts of the hospital etc etc, and in the end he brings a patient so we can talk to her.

First, when hes like, ok im going to get the patient, and were left alone in the room, everybody is like whoa were going to get a schizophrenic what can we ask him blah blah, so disrespectful, and as if schizophrenia is the only mental illness.

Second, the girl comes in, super skinny, obviously she has an eating disorder, cuts all over her wrists and sits down. She tells us she tried to commit suicide 6 months ago by jumping in front of the metro and thats why shes there. People start asking her retarded questions as if she was stupid or something, idk how to explain but the way they were talking to her was so patronizing. Then somebody asks her what her job is and she tells us she was doing her surgery residency at the moment of the suicide attempt and she plans on getting back when shes better. OWNED, from then on people stfu and you could tell they were treating her differently and with so much respect.

When oh when will people learn that patients are still people and every doctor is a patient themselves and when will ppl stop making fun of mental illness, idk if i will ever see that day.

The problem is, from what I can tell, med students are just awful. Uptight, naive, better than everyone, etc. Sadly, most of the ones that aren't naive are still uptight and, again, sitting upon a high horse, probably because volunteering at a student clinic means they are saving the world. The 4% that don't fit in these groups will be harder to get to know because they avoid the other 96% by skipping class and keeping to themselves. But don't take my word on it; chances are, I'm in the 96% crowd.

Originally Posted by TooMuchResearch

The problem is, from what I can tell, med students are just awful. Uptight, naive, better than everyone, etc. Sadly, most of the ones that aren't naive are still uptight and, again, sitting upon a high horse, probably because volunteering at a student clinic means they are saving the world. The 4% that don't fit in these groups will be harder to get to know because they avoid the other 96% by skipping class and keeping to themselves.

*cough*

But don't take my word on it; chances are, I'm in the 96% crowd.

Yep.

I didn't realize that psych patients were stigmatized. That must explain the **** poor mental health resources and thousands upon thousands of mentally ill homeless

At any rate, hopefully their perceptions were changed somewhat.

Edit: Also, to be fair, schizophrenia is by far the most common thing in long term adult psych inpatients, in my experience.

Cool if the whole being a doctor thing doesn't work out I can have a fall back plan in residency!

Are we just talking mental illness?

I have people in my class who still laugh at the word penis. I'm not that guy who expects everyone to be super serious 1000% of the time, but honestly I have encountered a lot of dumbasses in my class where you begin to think, wow, these guys are going to be responsible for the health of patients?

to be honest today was really bad to the point that it made me upset. I am the first one to make ****ed up jokes but it depends on the time and situation, and that wasnt the right time. Like even at the end, when everybody was treating her really good, she said she was scared of when she goes back to her residency and ppl see her scars and they will know what it is, and this guy goes "just tell them you have been practicing" and everybody laughed and she smiled but you could tell she was uncomfortable, and it really made me mad because it was really nice of her to want to talk to students in the first place, moreover stuff that is so personal.

when it was my turn to ask her something I actually told her I really admired her for being able to graduate and get in such a good residency program while she was having to cope with all that ****. And ofc I got flamed by my classmates for "kissing ass" as if it would benefit me in any way to say that to her. This girl in my class even had the nerve to say that everybody has problems and just because shes whining about them, we think its amazing what shes done in spite of her struggles but other ppl do it and dont say it. Lovely people

Originally Posted by JP2740

Are we just talking mental illness?

I have people in my class who still laugh at the word penis. I'm not that guy who expects everyone to be super serious 1000% of the time, but honestly I have encountered a lot of dumbasses in my class where you begin to think, wow, these guys are going to be responsible for the health of patients?

There are an uncomfortable number of people in my class who still laugh at the word penis. :/

^I don't think he means jokes. He means literally, just the word "penis."

Originally Posted by JP2740

Are we just talking mental illness?

I have people in my class who still laugh at the word penis. I'm not that guy who expects everyone to be super serious 1000% of the time, but honestly I have encountered a lot of dumbasses in my class where you begin to think, wow, these guys are going to be responsible for the health of patients?

Penises are funny.

I am not ashamed at the fact that I laugh/giggle/smirk every time someone says penis, vagina, scrotum, testicle, sperm, anus, etc. Just because a person laughs at penises doesn't make them a dumbass. It certainly doesn't make them insensitive like the people mentioned in the OP. Those are two very different things. You must have wanted to murder your classmates when you discussed fa gg ot cells in hemepath (the censoring made it confusing).




Penis.

Originally Posted by alysp13751

This semester we have a "class" that is 1 h a week and we basically go to different departments and learn what they do there and talk to patients. So today it was psychiatry.

Ok, so we go in, we get a doctor that shows us around and tells us what he does everyday, what kind of patients he treats, different parts of the hospital etc etc, and in the end he brings a patient so we can talk to her.

First, when hes like, ok im going to get the patient, and were left alone in the room, everybody is like whoa were going to get a schizophrenic what can we ask him blah blah, so disrespectful, and as if schizophrenia is the only mental illness.

Second, the girl comes in, super skinny, obviously she has an eating disorder, cuts all over her wrists and sits down. She tells us she tried to commit suicide 6 months ago by jumping in front of the metro and thats why shes there. People start asking her retarded questions as if she was stupid or something, idk how to explain but the way they were talking to her was so patronizing. Then somebody asks her what her job is and she tells us she was doing her surgery residency at the moment of the suicide attempt and she plans on getting back when shes better. OWNED, from then on people stfu and you could tell they were treating her differently and with so much respect.

When oh when will people learn that patients are still people and every doctor is a patient themselves and when will ppl stop making fun of mental illness, idk if i will ever see that day.

At least people like you eventually become doctors, thank God, 'cause I hear you, so many of them are really nasty people. The thing is, you can't expect book-smarts to be an indicator of strong backbones and basic morals, so a lot of very "wrong" people in healthcare (docs, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, therapists, etc.) somehow actually end up doing a lot of what's right for patients, in the long-run. . .

I would have said something to my fellow students--something a bit harsh. Probably better not to say anything though.

Originally Posted by dr zaius

Penises are funny.

I am not ashamed at the fact that I laugh/giggle/smirk every time someone says penis, vagina, scrotum, testicle, sperm, anus, etc. Just because a person laughs at penises doesn't make them a dumbass. It certainly doesn't make them insensitive like the people mentioned in the OP. Those are two very different things. You must have wanted to murder your classmates when you discussed fa gg ot cells in hemepath (the censoring made it confusing).




Penis.

It doesn't necessarily make you insensitive or stupid, it just makes you a dork.

Originally Posted by CaptainSSO

It doesn't necessarily make you insensitive or stupid, it just makes you a dork.

Correct.

Originally Posted by alysp13751

This semester we have a "class" that is 1 h a week and we basically go to different departments and learn what they do there and talk to patients. So today it was psychiatry.

Ok, so we go in, we get a doctor that shows us around and tells us what he does everyday, what kind of patients he treats, different parts of the hospital etc etc, and in the end he brings a patient so we can talk to her.

First, when hes like, ok im going to get the patient, and were left alone in the room, everybody is like whoa were going to get a schizophrenic what can we ask him blah blah, so disrespectful, and as if schizophrenia is the only mental illness.

Second, the girl comes in, super skinny, obviously she has an eating disorder, cuts all over her wrists and sits down. She tells us she tried to commit suicide 6 months ago by jumping in front of the metro and thats why shes there. People start asking her retarded questions as if she was stupid or something, idk how to explain but the way they were talking to her was so patronizing. Then somebody asks her what her job is and she tells us she was doing her surgery residency at the moment of the suicide attempt and she plans on getting back when shes better. OWNED, from then on people stfu and you could tell they were treating her differently and with so much respect.

When oh when will people learn that patients are still people and every doctor is a patient themselves and when will ppl stop making fun of mental illness, idk if i will ever see that day.

you sound really annoying here. It seems like you think you're smarter and understand patients better than your classmates. Essentially you think you are better and come to sdn to complain about other students not as good as you. Get over yourself. I don't know what your classmates said but I doubt it was as bad as you make it sound. The attending would have stopped you guys or interrupted if he thought something was wrong or the patient would have complained. You did not mention a single thing that was said which I would find disrespectful. This is all just based on how others made you feel...

If you thought the questions made the patient feel uncomfortable or were intrusive then get ready because as a physician you will be asking those questions all the time. So again, get off your high horse.

Originally Posted by dr zaius

Correct.

haha

Originally Posted by TooMuchResearch

The problem is, from what I can tell, med students are just awful. Uptight, naive, better than everyone, etc. Sadly, most of the ones that aren't naive are still uptight and, again, sitting upon a high horse, probably because volunteering at a student clinic means they are saving the world. The 4% that don't fit in these groups will be harder to get to know because they avoid the other 96% by skipping class and keeping to themselves. But don't take my word on it; chances are, I'm in the 96% crowd.

Isn't that how you got into medical school into the first place? Studying instead of partying on a Friday night? Turning down offers to smoke weed, vandalize campus property, and take chubbies to bed? And just being naturally brighter than most other people? With the way the admissions game works, and with the demands of being a doctor, you almost have to expect med students will indeed by very uptight, naive, and yes, better than most others.

Originally Posted by RickTaylor

Isn't that how you got into medical school into the first place? Studying instead of partying on a Friday night? Turning down offers to smoke weed, vandalize campus property, and take chubbies to bed? And just being naturally brighter than most other people? With the way the admissions game works, and with the demands of being a doctor, you almost have to expect med students will indeed by very uptight, naive, and yes, better than most others.

I think you'd be better suited to law school, bud.

Originally Posted by RickTaylor

Isn't that how you got into medical school into the first place? Studying instead of partying on a Friday night? Turning down offers to smoke weed, vandalize campus property, and take chubbies to bed? And just being naturally brighter than most other people? With the way the admissions game works, and with the demands of being a doctor, you almost have to expect med students will indeed by very uptight, naive, and yes, better than most others.

Kinda like you, Drake?

Originally Posted by RickTaylor

Isn't that how you got into medical school into the first place? Studying instead of partying on a Friday night? Turning down offers to smoke weed, vandalize campus property, and take chubbies to bed? And just being naturally brighter than most other people? With the way the admissions game works, and with the demands of being a doctor, you almost have to expect med students will indeed by very uptight, naive, and yes, better than most others.

That sounds like a very boring person aside from the vandalism. Can't say I knew anyone who vandalized their own college.

Originally Posted by alysp13751

when it was my turn to ask her something I actually told her I really admired her for being able to graduate and get in such a good residency program while she was having to cope with all that ****. And ofc I got flamed by my classmates for "kissing ass" as if it would benefit me in any way to say that to her. This girl in my class even had the nerve to say that everybody has problems and just because shes whining about them, we think its amazing what shes done in spite of her struggles but other ppl do it and dont say it. Lovely people

rofl your classmates suck...how did they make it through their interviews generally a bit of humanism, sensitivity, and compassion is necessary

Originally Posted by TeaKae

Kinda like you, Drake?

Ah, I was thinking and thinking, and I couldn't figure out his angle. But I got it-- he's upset because he wasn't able to sleep with the "chubbies." Now he's just a pissed off little boy (particularly at the frat boys who were able to win the hearts of said chubbies) and thinks he's better'n everybody else.

Is that about right, RickTaylor?

Originally Posted by alysp13751

.....She tells us she tried to commit suicide 6 months ago by jumping in front of the metro and thats why shes there. ......

whoa whoa whoa...WHOA. Hold on a second. What I want to know is, how did she survive getting hit by a bus/train?

Originally Posted by Metagamer

whoa whoa whoa...WHOA. Hold on a second. What I want to know is, how did she survive getting hit by a bus/train?

low velocity of the bus/train, maybe she slipped and went under it, who knows

Originally Posted by docshop12

you sound really annoying here. It seems like you think you're smarter and understand patients better than your classmates. Essentially you think you are better and come to sdn to complain about other students not as good as you. Get over yourself. I don't know what your classmates said but I doubt it was as bad as you make it sound. The attending would have stopped you guys or interrupted if he thought something was wrong or the patient would have complained. You did not mention a single thing that was said which I would find disrespectful. This is all just based on how others made you feel...

If you thought the questions made the patient feel uncomfortable or were intrusive then get ready because as a physician you will be asking those questions all the time. So again, get off your high horse.

I understand her 100% because I have an eating disorder myself and I could relate to everything she was saying and the shame in sharing those things with people. The way they were talking to her was as if all of them were psychiatrists examining her when in reality we are first years who do not know jack **** other than pointing out structures in a cadaver. The doctor told us to ask her questions about her illness and ppl were asking "are you ok" "how are you feeling today" "is today a good day for you" treating her like a fukin retard, that was my problem. Im certainly not smarter than people in my class but I have common sense and manners that most of them lack.

Originally Posted by Metagamer

whoa whoa whoa...WHOA. Hold on a second. What I want to know is, how did she survive getting hit by a bus/train?

they pulled her back up, she must have weighed 85 lbs tops, she did not get hit by the train

Originally Posted by alysp13751

I understand her 100% because I have an eating disorder myself and I could relate to everything she was saying and the shame in sharing those things with people. The way they were talking to her was as if all of them were psychiatrists examining her when in reality we are first years who do not know jack **** other than pointing out structures in a cadaver. The doctor told us to ask her questions about her illness and ppl were asking "are you ok" "how are you feeling today" "is today a good day for you" treating her like a fukin retard, that was my problem. Im certainly not smarter than people in my class but I have common sense and manners that most of them lack.

You might want to take a step back and see if you're projecting in this one. idk, to me it didn't sound like what they said was all that bad, although obviously their tone can't be conveyed on the internet. I think it'd be much more sensitive to show concern over her wellbeing than ask upfront "so why do you cut yourself".

Originally Posted by alysp13751

The doctor told us to ask her questions about her illness and ppl were asking "are you ok" "how are you feeling today" "is today a good day for you" treating her like a fukin retard, that was my problem. Im certainly not smarter than people in my class but I have common sense and manners that most of them lack.

The joke about her cutting scars was insensitive for sure. The above questions though don't seem that bad to me. Early on I think that well-intentioned students can sort of bumble through any clinical interview because it is all new to them, they don't know the "'rules" of the situation. I know that for me early on I had this fear that I would basically "break" a sick patient by doing the simplest thing: asking about a deceased parent while taking a family history, letting them have some gatorade, moving them for a physical exam, etc. It was just an unfamiliar situation and until I got better with it my 'style' was kind of awkward and bumbling.

Try to cut your classmates some slack, and try to look at their intentions. Did they intend to act condescending and patronizing, or is that just how the words ended up coming out of their mouths? Stuff like joking about an intake's cutting scars should be shot down early; they need to learn that such an interaction is against the "rules" and why. I would also lump things like "we all have problems, she's just a whiner" into the category of things that classmate should work on (compassion). Things like "is today a good day for you," though, can be quite useful questions if asked in the right way.

Originally Posted by alysp13751

they pulled her back up, she must have weighed 85 lbs tops, she did not get hit by the train

wow that is incredible... amazing story. It's great she sounds like she is getting help now and has plans for the future.

Originally Posted by alysp13751

"how are you feeling today" "is today a good day for you"

as the above poster said these questions are actually good questions and are more or less what you ask every psych patient every morning on rounds. "how's your mood today" etc etc.

i agree that the joke was completely inappropriate but i think you might have been a bit too harsh in judging some of your classmates. what kind of questions did you ask or did you think would've been more appropriate?

Originally Posted by skinMD

as the above poster said these questions are actually good questions and are more or less what you ask every psych patient every morning on rounds. "how's your mood today" etc etc.

i agree that the joke was completely inappropriate but i think you might have been a bit too harsh in judging some of your classmates. what kind of questions did you ask or did you think would've been more appropriate?

yes exactly, when you are on rotations, not when you are a first year. They were asking it in a weird way, she answered "fine" to everything, she was there to tell us her story, not to get evaluated, the whole thing was disrespectful until they found out she was a doctor, thats the point.

Originally Posted by alysp13751

yes exactly, when you are on rotations, not when you are a first year. They were asking it in a weird way, she answered "fine" to everything, she was there to tell us her story, not to get evaluated, the whole thing was disrespectful until they found out she was a doctor, thats the point.

You're assuming that their different reaction was because they no longer thought what they were doing was appropriate solely because she was a resident. I think it's more likely that they were faced with "one of their own", and whole perspective altering situation of learning that doctors need help sometimes too. You're assuming that they were ashamed, when it's probably more likely that they were facing a new dynamic they haven't seen before.

At any rate, I think you're judging your classmates much harder than you need to - no benefit of the doubt at all.

Your continued use of "retarded" and "****in retarded" say a lot about your sensitivity.

Originally Posted by VivaLaVida

Your continued use of "retarded" and "****in retarded" say a lot about your sensitivity.

it is about the time and the situation in which it is used,nothing to do with my "sensitivity"

Originally Posted by alysp13751

it is about the time and the situation in which it is used,nothing to do with my "sensitivity"

Huh? That's retarded, it makes absolutely no sense.

I don't know why everyone's acting so surprised, this is how the majority of my class acts with any issue that doesn't hit them personally. Sheltered, naive, minimal empathy, insensitive jokes, etc...

My favorite was when they were complaining on FB about the size of our standardized patient.

Originally Posted by alysp13751

This semester we have a "class" that is 1 h a week and we basically go to different departments and learn what they do there and talk to patients. So today it was psychiatry.

Ok, so we go in, we get a doctor that shows us around and tells us what he does everyday, what kind of patients he treats, different parts of the hospital etc etc, and in the end he brings a patient so we can talk to her.

First, when hes like, ok im going to get the patient, and were left alone in the room, everybody is like whoa were going to get a schizophrenic what can we ask him blah blah, so disrespectful, and as if schizophrenia is the only mental illness.

Second, the girl comes in, super skinny, obviously she has an eating disorder, cuts all over her wrists and sits down. She tells us she tried to commit suicide 6 months ago by jumping in front of the metro and thats why shes there. People start asking her retarded questions as if she was stupid or something, idk how to explain but the way they were talking to her was so patronizing. Then somebody asks her what her job is and she tells us she was doing her surgery residency at the moment of the suicide attempt and she plans on getting back when shes better. OWNED, from then on people stfu and you could tell they were treating her differently and with so much respect.

When oh when will people learn that patients are still people and every doctor is a patient themselves and when will ppl stop making fun of mental illness, idk if i will ever see that day.

You didn't really give enough details, but I'm thinking you might be overreacting.

I'm guessing this is one of those dumb "open ended questions" classes, teaching you how to talk to patients. You didn't really give any details, but I wouldn't be surprised if many of your fellow students were probably asking the "right" questions - e.g. "How are you feeling?", "What brought you to the hospital?", etc, possibly straight from a course reading. Many of the standard open-ended questions could be seen as patronizing if they're read off in list form, which is a typical MS1 way to do things.

Maybe they were actually being offensive - you didn't really give enough detail. But either way, it sounds like your response is more about you than it was about them, and you should be careful with that in the future.

OP, you have a large, branched stick (possible a tree trunk) stuck in your ass... You should have someone check that out. You need to lighten up or you're going to be the one answering questions from first year students in the psych ward.

Originally Posted by johnnydrama

Maybe they were actually being offensive - you didn't really give enough detail. But either way, it sounds like your response is more about you than it was about them, and you should be careful with that in the future.

Bingo.

Originally Posted by alysp13751

I understand her 100% because I have an eating disorder myself and I could relate to everything she was saying and the shame in sharing those things with people.

Originally Posted by alysp13751

... This girl in my class even had the nerve to say that everybody has problems and just because shes whining about them, we think its amazing what shes done in spite of her struggles but other ppl do it and dont say it. Lovely people

shoulda told that she's right... being a bi@tch can be a difficult problem to overcome.

She's right, though.

Or maybe I'm just especially cynical tonight :P

Originally Posted by Morsetlis

She's right, though.

Or maybe I'm just especially cynical tonight :P

Honestly? I just sort of assumed all surgical interns have at least a low level of SI/HI. I know I would if I were doing a surgery prelim.

Originally Posted by johnnydrama

Honestly? I just sort of assumed all surgical interns have at least a low level of SI/HI. I know I would if I were doing a surgery prelim.

Actually someone told me a large percentage of med students admitted to contemplating suicide during med school, supposedly it was a study by the AMA, although I never looked for it.

Originally Posted by CaptainSSO

Actually someone told me a large percentage of med students admitted to contemplating suicide during med school, supposedly it was a study by the AMA, although I never looked for it.

Yup, they do, and it's probably worse intern year. It's particularly bad for surgery (and obgyn is no picnic either).

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/200...0/prsb1020.htm

Originally Posted by Shnurek

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/200...0/prsb1020.htm

Hmm, 25%? I thought it would be higher that that. I guess it's contingent upon how "consider" is defined. I mean, I've "thought" about suicide, in an intellectual sense, but I've never genuinely considered it as an option. I couldn't ever actually kill myself, unless perhaps some type of euthanasia if I had a terminal debilitating illness like fatal familial insomnia or ALS.

Give them high horse med-students a serious load of scut and they'd get off their posteriors, though if I can recall, some of my junior residents were actually quite good with patients.

Originally Posted by Shnurek

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/200...0/prsb1020.htm

Yah, thought it would be higher too.

Originally Posted by CaptainSSO

Hmm, 25%? I thought it would be higher that that. I guess it's contingent upon how "consider" is defined. I mean, I've "thought" about suicide, in an intellectual sense, but I've never genuinely considered it as an option. I couldn't ever actually kill myself, unless perhaps some type of euthanasia if I had a terminal debilitating illness like fatal familial insomnia or ALS.

Watch the movie The Game. Anyone can be exposed to enough psychological stress to cause suicide contemplation and even attempts.