How do deal with classmate making you look bad

[han14tra]

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[bleeker10]

It's not intentional that she's making me look bad. The issue is that she thinks 10x faster than me, and our attending rarely pimps us individually or if he does, she still answers my questions. For example, the other day he asks me to calculate an anion gap. Math was never my strong subject so I had to break out the calculator on my phone. But, before I could even open the calculator app, the other med student does the calculation in her head and answers my question on my patient.

So to make up for that, I find myself just blurting out things as fast as I can without even thinking just to get an answer in before the other med student. Because I'm not thinking, I'm often wrong. I'm afraid I'm going to fail NOT because I don't know anything but because I can't think fast enough. I've honored most of my other rotations and I've gotten very positive comments such as "she knew more than the subI" or "everyone thought she was the intern because she did everything an intern does with ease." It's just this rotation that's screwing me up.

It doesn't sound like she's making you look bad, even unintentionally. If the attending directs a question at you and she answers before you get a chance, then she's making you look bad. But if the attending asks a question either of you can answer and she's quicker on the draw, well sorry to say but she's not doing anything to make you look bad.

Blurting out random, wrong answers just to answer before her makes yourself look bad. The attending/residents may see this as a flaw in your medical knowledge, which may affect your grade. You could be the smartest person ever but if you consistently give incorrect answers to the minimal amount of questions they ask, they won't see you that way.

Have you tried talking to her before you came on here? You could see if she can give you a chance to answer. If I notice I'm answering questions before the other students, I'll give them a chance to answer the next time before I do. If they don't then I'll answer. I feel like everyone should get a fair chance to answer questions.

 

[han14tra]

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[bleeker10]

If I did not do this, I would literally never answer a question because she also answers the questions that are specifically asked to me. I often hesitate and try to formulate my thoughts into a coherent sentence, which is why I'm slow. So, if the attending asks "what's the difference between flexor and extensor posturing?" I would say "Decorticate! Decerebrate! Decorticate is flexor! Involves the cortex! Decerebrate is cerebellum!" It often comes out as a random jumble of buzz words rather than a coherent thought just because I'm trying to say something before the other student can own me.

I'm not going down without a fight.

Ok well if she's answering questions asked to you, then I agree she's out of place. As far as questions directed to nobody in particular, well that's fair game to anyone to answer. I give the other students a chance just to be nice and courteous since we are all there to learn.

You need to talk to her, plain and simple.

 

[Rollo]

You seriously need a calculator to calculate anion gap?

Come on...

 

[colbgw02]

If she's blurting out answers to questions specifically directed at you, then believe me, she's making herself look bad - not you. Apart from that, most people recognize that there is a difference between someone who is a slow processor and someone who doesn't know the answer. Also, stop responding incorrectly just to answer. No answer >>>>> wrong answer.

 

[HalladayWeekend]

Not to be rude but if you're getting honors on "most of your rotations" and can't calculate an anion gap without a calculator...is everyone getting honors at your school?

I think this illustrates the problem in using grades (especially clinical ones) to compare students...I know a lot of schools give the percentage of honors in each class but really wonder how much emphasis PD's put on this data.

 

[SlickNickMD]

You seriously need a calculator to calculate anion gap?

Come on...

This, I mean since I got to med school simple math/epidemiology calculations give me a headache but you shouldn't need a calculator for anion gap unless he was giving you absurd fractions

 

[han14tra]

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[HalladayWeekend]

I wouldn't worry about failing...you won't fail!! Just relax and realize that the worst thing is you merely pass the rotation. Maybe watch Jeopardy and try answering the questions before the contestants...this could help speed up your thought process...

And nobody is calling you stupid. But if you expect to honor a rotation and can't do basic math out-loud, you should probably re-assess your expectations and/or work on improving this deficiency.

 

[officedepot]

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[MilkmanAl]

You seem to have an awful lot of trouble with your classmates in one fashion or another, OP. If I recall your school correctly, that isn't terribly surprising, but it's very possible that your answer may lie within.

 

[han14tra]

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[smq123]

You seem to have an awful lot of trouble with your classmates in one fashion or another, OP. If I recall your school correctly, that isn't terribly surprising, but it's very possible that your answer may lie within.

Hey, I went to the same school. It wasn't THAT bad. 😳

 

[Rollo]

What's up with all the edited out posts, OP?

 

[turkeyjerky]

What's up with all the edited out posts, OP?

You'd delete your posts too, if you got called out on not being able to do simple arithmetic.

 

[Rollo]

You'd delete your posts too, if you got called out on not being able to do simple arithmetic.

How ironic...the one time when OP needed to think before she talked (i.e. posted)...she failed to do so (hence, the bit about inability to performing simple arithmetic)

 

[MilkmanAl]

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[MilkmanAl]

Hey, I went to the same school. It wasn't THAT bad. 😳

Oh, right, I didn't recall it properly. I was thinking of another school in the same state with a perhaps more prestigious name.

 

[drizzt3117]

You'd delete your posts too, if you got called out on not being able to do simple arithmetic.

But... she knows more than the sub-I...

 

[combatwombat]

Silenced bolt-action sniper rifle with hollow point round from long range.

No but in all seriousness, it sounds like you're just getting flustered but know your stuff. i.e., you might be letting your insecurities get the best of you.

 

[richse]

Not to be rude but if you're getting honors on "most of your rotations" and can't calculate an anion gap without a calculator...is everyone getting honors at your school?

I think this illustrates the problem in using grades (especially clinical ones) to compare students...I know a lot of schools give the percentage of honors in each class but really wonder how much emphasis PD's put on this data..

I find this reply really amusing because I'm pretty sure you're at the same school as the OP.