how common is it for attendings to haze or "PIMP" residents of each specialty during residency?

[boltedbicorne]

I've been shadowing/volunteering with a lot of attendings and residents in surgery through a program and it seems fairly common. Does this happen pretty commonly during each discipline's residency or just surgery? Surgery seems like kind of like the fraternity societies of medicine.

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[deleted480308]

asking questions is hazing now? you all need to man up a bit

 

[boltedbicorne]

asking questions is hazing now? you all need to man up a bit

I did man up, hence my asking plus i'm proactive meaning i'm looking pretty damn far ahead in anticipation. I wanna know, I already tried frat lifestyle but I'm not about that life.

 

[Make Or Break]

Why don't you ask the surgeons you shadowed with?

 

[tiedyeddog]

Yes, it occurs in all specialities and in all stages of training. I have seen senior attendings pimp junior attendings, M4's pimp M3's, and all variations in between.

Most of the time it is not malicious. It is supposed to be an educational activity via the socratic method. The word "pimp" should not hold a negative connotation by itself. It, however, can be mean spirited depending on the person asking.

 

[Aerus]

I've been shadowing/volunteering with a lot of attendings and residents in surgery through a program and it seems fairly common. Does this happen pretty commonly during each discipline's residency or just surgery? Surgery seems like kind of like the fraternity societies of medicine.

Pimping isn't hazing, though. It's a useful learning tool. When my friends and I are studying, we would randomly ask each other difficult questions that require us to think about multiple concepts from lecture and tie them all together. This allowed us to develop a greater mastery over the material than simply reading the textbook and outlining lecture slides.

 

[giantswing]

As a med student you'll get your face pimped off. Then again in residency. It's a learning opportunity if you get it wrong, bonus pionts if you get it right.

 

[mvenus929]

Yes, attendings and residents ask questions of med students. They do this to assess knowledge levels, and to teach. It's not hazing, it's intended to find opportunities to teach.

 

[gyngyn]

I've been shadowing/volunteering with a lot of attendings and residents in surgery through a program and it seems fairly common. Does this happen pretty commonly during each discipline's residency or just surgery? Surgery seems like kind of like the fraternity societies of medicine.

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=183639

 

[Baron Samedi]

Pimping ain't easy.

 

[oldbearprofessor]

Does this happen pretty commonly during each discipline's residency or just surgery?

Even in pediatrics we like to teach trainees by asking questions to see what they know and then directing our teaching from there. You can't hide from educators who care enough to be sure that trainees are forced to think about what they are doing and why they are doing it rather than just feeding them information.

 

[Baron Samedi]

Even in pediatrics we like to teach trainees by asking questions to see what they know and then directing our teaching from there. You can't hide from educators who care enough to be sure that trainees are forced to think about what they are doing and why they are doing it rather than just feeding them information.

To echo this from the learnee side, getting "pimped" can be a very effective way of learning and discovering your own gaps in knowledge. If you take it with a grain of salt and realize it's for your own good, direct Q&A on rounds or otherwise forces you to bring your A-game and ensures that you're well read on your own patients.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Pimping ain't easy.

Not heard that one in a long time! lol

 

[Goro]

It's not hazing to be asked "what some causes of osteoporotic fractures?" or " name for me some causes of congestive heart failure"...it's assessing your knowledge base. This is a very valuable tool. My students hate it and 1-2 even refuse to come to my lectures because of it. Better they get used to it now.

I've been shadowing/volunteering with a lot of attendings and residents in surgery through a program and it seems fairly common. Does this happen pretty commonly during each discipline's residency or just surgery? Surgery seems like kind of like the fraternity societies of medicine.

 

[Narmerguy]

I think there's a lot of "pimping" that goes on that isn't actually malignant. I've often realized gaps in my knowledge when being pimped about things I originally felt prepared on. I think a lot of people get into trouble when they get sensitive at not knowing the answer to things in front of others, which is admittedly never great but you get over it because everyone goes through it.

It only becomes a problem when the higher up is becoming demeaning and trying to intimidate and harass you. Don't let idiots like this dictate what you do with your career, do what makes you happy. Training doesn't last forever.

 

[edgerock24]

Pimping ain't easy.

 

[histidine]

Remember in elementary school when your teacher would call on you to answer a question at the board? You weren't being hazed.

 

[Law2Doc]

Yes, attendings and residents ask questions of med students. They do this to assess knowledge levels, and to teach. It's not hazing, it's intended to find opportunities to teach.

Well pimping serves two purposes. The first is the opportunity to teach, as you said. The second is to "scare" you into the good habit of reading more. You are far more likely to look up and review stuff if you anticipate being pimped on it in the next days rounds. People don't like to look foolish in front of their peers/colleagues if it can be avoided by a modicum of preparation. Part of being prepared in residency is trying to anticipate the likely pimping material, and always reading.

Hazing, by contrast, would be if the attendings made you go streaking around the hospital at 7am wearing nothing but a bedpan over your junk and inflated rubber gloves as hats. So there's a bit of a difference. 🙂

 

[username456789]

Hazing, by contrast, would be if the attendings made you go streaking around the hospital at 7am wearing nothing but a bedpan over your junk and inflated rubber gloves as hats. So there's a bit of a difference. 🙂

Wait a second, that's what my hospital calls "pimping." Now I'm confused.

 

[Microglia]

It's not hazing to be asked "what some causes of osteoporotic fractures?" or " name for me some causes of congestive heart failure"...it's assessing your knowledge base. This is a very valuable tool. My students hate it and 1-2 even refuse to come to my lectures because of it. Better they get used to it now.

Oh no, not in preclinical lectures! Usually in those lectures no one has been taught the answers yet, and we all just kind of sit there until someone says diabetes or smoking haha.

 

[ridethecliche]

How has this taken so long?