are older people treated the same in residency

[ronaldo23]

---

Members do not see this ad.

im talking late 30s and 40s residents...are they treated with the same lack of respect and condescending attitude as the 26 year olds?

 

[dynx]

im talking late 30s and 40s residents...are they treated with the same lack of respect and condescending attitude as the 26 year olds?

Yes, and the younger residents laugh at them too. Now go break a hip...er, leg.

 

[f_w]

im talking late 30s and 40s residents...are they treated with the same lack of respect and condescending attitude as the 26 year olds?

In a way its worse. Some younger attendings feel insecure in the presence of more mature adults who are under their management and can get outright nasty.

During my internship, one of my co-residents celebrated her 50th. She was a grandmom and extremely cool.

 

[docB]

Interesting question. I would say that they are crapped on with the same vigor as younger residents by the attendings and nurses. However, patients gauge their respect level on how old you appear. It's not unusual to see the gray haired respiratory tech called "doctor," the young attending called the intern and all women called "nurse." Many young docs actually look forward to gray hair so they can dispinse with the whole "Well you can't be the doctor. You're young enough to be my grandson." stupidity. Because we all know it's not a compliment, it's fishing for reassurance that I know what I'm doing. And in all serious madam since you're 90 and your grandson there is 68 I'm actually young enough to be his grandson.

 

[ronaldo23]

would you guys say that most attendings are jerks (i'm not talkin about attendings who offer constructed criticism and expect alot), but those who enjoy ridiculing interns/residents (based on all your guys' experiences)

 

[TRAMD]

would you guys say that most attendings are jerks (i'm not talkin about attendings who offer constructed criticism and expect alot), but those who enjoy ridiculing interns/residents (based on all your guys' experiences)

No. Quit watching TV.

I find there to be problems with older students and residents that treat those that are younger-by-age but peers-by-education like their children in a condescending way. I am not a non-trad nor an attending so I don't know how interactions between them go.

 

[dynx]

would you guys say that most attendings are jerks (i'm not talkin about attendings who offer constructed criticism and expect alot), but those who enjoy ridiculing interns/residents (based on all your guys' experiences)

So, you're asking if the attendings who enjoy ridiculing interns/residents are jerks? Nope. However, if you happen to, lets say...and this is purely hypothetical, have the habit of asking dumb questions you may find that your interactions will become strained.

 

[Blade28]

Are you personally worried about this? You're not going to be old when you start residency!

 

[mlw03]

So, you're asking if the attendings who enjoy ridiculing interns/residents are jerks? Nope. However, if you happen to, lets say...and this is purely hypothetical, have the habit of asking dumb questions you may find that your interactions will become strained.

heheh... very nice response. relax ronaldo - attendings are normal people just like the everyone else. most are decent, but of course there's the occassional jerkoff you run across. and those people treat you like **** whether you're 25, 35, or 55.

 

[yaah]

There are, as said above, occasional attendings who have superiority complexes or very condescending attitudes. But most are collegial, they may want to be treated with respect and a deferential attitude, but they will still respect you and your opinion and value your hard work. However, the other factor is that there are a LOT of residents with a severe entitlement complex who think the world (including all the attendings) owes them many favors for simply being there and doing their jobs. That, and there are a lot of residents who simply don't work very hard other than doing the minimum of what they have to do. It cuts both ways.

Some people you just can't help - either they treat everyone around them with a condescending attitude or they perceive everyone else's behavior towards them as being done with a condescending attitude. Both are equivalent.

In my experience, a resident that works hard, has confidence, yet maintains respect as well as a healthy attitude is rarely going to have too many issues. Almost everyone will have one or two attendings that they don't get along with, but that's a different issue.

 

[MonkeyRalph]

In my medicine clerkship, there was one much older resident (late 40's) who found a way to get out of doing alot of work. He would push patients in clinic off to other residents and seemed to be getting by on easy street. Needless to say, everyone hated him.

Also, it may be an unconscious bias, but many younger students see older students/residents and think that they must be dumber than their younger peers. During the first two years of med school, it seemed that all the older students would sit in the front row and ask the dumbest questions. I'm sure it 'cause they had more important things like grandkids to worry about than reading the material, but ever since then I have had a pretty skeptical view of nontrads. Also, at my school, many nontrads end up taking the 5-year plan, which also makes them seem less capable of learning as much at once. (I know that they must have a good reason for doing this, but in some cases, it was because they failed most of their first year).

 

[Misterioso]

It doesn't matter what age you are. Just carry yourself as if you're better than anyone else and nobody will get to you. One of the slickest surgeons I know does this and goes even a step further and doesn't acknowledge most people's existence. Total indifference. That puts all the people who go out of their way to diss others look like amateaurs because it shows they actually care enough to do it. As the old line goes "He who cares less wins".

 

[turtle md]

would you guys say that most attendings are jerks (i'm not talkin about attendings who offer constructed criticism and expect alot), but those who enjoy ridiculing interns/residents (based on all your guys' experiences)

Let's just swap some words around:

attendings who enjoy ridiculing interns/residents are jerks

 

[Samoa]

So far it hasn't been a problem. But then I don't look my age, either.

 

[oompaloompa]

Actually, sometimes having a geezer around can be incredibly useful.

Case in point - I'm a 25 year old resident that probably looks closer to 17, which inevitable causes me to take a hit on the ole' credibility factor.

On my last rotation, I had a nontrad med student who was 39 and prematurely gray, and had been a PhD for several years. It was maybe a little awkward to be the mentor of someone who had teenagers closer to my age, but he was actually excellent and came in real handy at one point.

There was this one family that only wanted to speak to the "one in charge" and apparently not a peon like me. Magically, after said med student walks in and repeats exactly what I had said only moments before, they were satisfied.

When that happens we say the patient just needed a bolus of gray hair!🙄

 

[f_w]

There was this one family that only wanted to speak to the "one in charge" and apparently not a peon like me. Magically, after said med student walks in and repeats exactly what I had said only moments before, they were satisfied.

LoL.

I had the same experience once. As a fellow, I was working with a boy-faced attending who happened to be exactly my age. Now, I don't think I look 'old', but some of the grey had already been encroaching at that point. Patients family tried to kick the attending out of the room to talk to the 'real doctor' 😀😀

 

[Pinki]

Also, it may be an unconscious bias, but many younger students see older students/residents and think that they must be dumber than their younger peers. During the first two years of med school, it seemed that all the older students would sit in the front row and ask the dumbest questions. I'm sure it 'cause they had more important things like grandkids to worry about than reading the material, but ever since then I have had a pretty skeptical view of nontrads. Also, at my school, many nontrads end up taking the 5-year plan, which also makes them seem less capable of learning as much at once. (I know that they must have a good reason for doing this, but in some cases, it was because they failed most of their first year).

I'm a non-trad. Sat near the front row to help myself stay awake (b/c was often up at night with my kiddos). Didn't ask any questions - saved them for email with profs, figuring I'd get a better, more detailed answer. Did the 5 year plan to have more kids. My grades, evals and scores are at the top of my class according to my MSPE. I might have less time to learn (or bowl) as much as you, but I certainly don't think I'm less "capable."

Being older (35+) has always been an advantage to me as a student - even with "younger" residents and attendings. I constantly get "very mature student" on my evals, which I'm not sure reflects my laugh lines or my attitude, but I'll take it nonetheless.

 

[fun8stuff]

In my medicine clerkship, there was one much older resident (late 40's) who found a way to get out of doing alot of work. He would push patients in clinic off to other residents and seemed to be getting by on easy street. Needless to say, everyone hated him.

Also, it may be an unconscious bias, but many younger students see older students/residents and think that they must be dumber than their younger peers. During the first two years of med school, it seemed that all the older students would sit in the front row and ask the dumbest questions. I'm sure it 'cause they had more important things like grandkids to worry about than reading the material, but ever since then I have had a pretty skeptical view of nontrads. Also, at my school, many nontrads end up taking the 5-year plan, which also makes them seem less capable of learning as much at once. (I know that they must have a good reason for doing this, but in some cases, it was because they failed most of their first year).

what are you talking about? it is almost the exact opposite.

 

[efex101]

As a 41 yo 4th year med student I have seen NO difference btw the way I (or other non-trads) were treated vs trad students. I have seen no condescending/irate/unprofessional behavior EVER from an attending/resident.

 

[MonkeyRalph]

I'm a non-trad. Sat near the front row to help myself stay awake (b/c was often up at night with my kiddos). Didn't ask any questions - saved them for email with profs, figuring I'd get a better, more detailed answer. Did the 5 year plan to have more kids. My grades, evals and scores are at the top of my class according to my MSPE. I might have less time to learn (or bowl) as much as you, but I certainly don't think I'm less "capable."

Being older (35+) has always been an advantage to me as a student - even with "younger" residents and attendings. I constantly get "very mature student" on my evals, which I'm not sure reflects my laugh lines or my attitude, but I'll take it nonetheless.

Well of course there are exceptions to every rule. You certainly seem like a very capable and intelligent student who has had his/her priorities straight. You aren't one of the non-trads who took the 5 year plan because of failing or the inability to handle more than a few classes at once. But there are those cases, as well. Sorry to offend.

I and my babyface have also gotten the "very mature student" line on many evals, so I assume it has more to do with attitude, since I still get carded to see R rated films at times.

 

[MonkeyRalph]

You mean to say "subconscious bias."

I am sure once you get a little more mature, basic grammar will get easier for you...😉

Cheeky Monkey.
You mean to say "semantics," rather than basic grammar.

Historically speaking, subconscious and unconscious have been used interchangeably since shortly after Freud introduced the concept. There has been much debate about the difference between the two words. The currently accepted distinction in many circles is as follows: "the subconscious refers to the realm beneath or beyond conscious awareness...the unconscious is where psychic material is stored that has a strong influence on behavior." Thus, in the context of my statement, unconscious is the proper word choice, though as you stated, subconscious is also acceptable.
Thank you for your valuable input.
Game Over... Press A to continue.