do you correct your intern?

[treadmillrunner]

do you say anything when you are told incorrect info by your intern/resident--like incorrect physiology/lab values/etc. this has happend on a few occasions. i have not said anything on these occasions, because i think it would come across badly.

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[tulane06]

do you say anything when you are told incorrect info by your intern/resident--like incorrect physiology/lab values/etc. this has happend on a few occasions. i have not said anything on these occasions, because i think it would come across badly.

I would only correct them if it directly affected patient care, and even if I had to, I would bring it up in a one-on-one situation. Never correct an intern in front of a senior resident or anything like that.

 

[SLUser11]

do you say anything when you are told incorrect info by your intern/resident--like incorrect physiology/lab values/etc. this has happend on a few occasions. i have not said anything on these occasions, because i think it would come across badly.

If you don't correct them, then you should. How else are they going to know that you're smarter than they are?






Just kidding. I think correcting them on medical facts/physiology is tacky and unnecessary, but correcting them on things that actually affect patient care is important. Of course, that doesn't mean saying "Actually, the hemoglobin was 7.4, not 7.2," but if there's a mistake that will be a detriment to the patient, don't be too intimidated to speak up. Still, try to find the least embarassing way to do it....which usually means talking to the resident one on one.

 

[penguin24]

I wouldn't correct an intern/resident/fellow unless it had a significant effect on patient care, and say it in the form of a question, "Uh, isn't a rapid change in Hgb usually caused by hemoconcentration and not hematopoesis?"

I don't think I would ever correct an attending unless I would be saving the patient's life in the process.

 

[spicedmanna]

It may well depend on your tact and your relationship with your intern or resident. I have never had a problem stating something that I think is correct or sharing my opinion, even if it's contrary to what someone more senior has stated. I rarely interject, but if I do, I make sure it's necessary and correct, before I speak up, and I will do it diplomatically. Usually, I state it as a question rather than as a statement. For example, if we are looking at a diabetic with a high serum glucose and evaluating for hyponatremia, I might say something like this, if I think it's being overlooked: "When we are evaluating this patient's serum sodium, should we correct it based on his glucose?" Something like that usually garners a response like, "Oh, yeah, that's a good idea; here's how we do it," or, "Good idea! How do you think we should do that?" Sometimes, my question will get ignored, but I'm usually glad I said something, because I'm usually pretty careful about it.

FWIW, take time to make your intern or resident look good when you can. It will pay off in spades. Trust me.