how to deal with tough clinicians..

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mouseybrown

mouseybrown

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i've never considered myself overtly sensitive, but ..i've come across a clinician who is..well, really tough. i mean, screaming when you present, not teaching you how to do things..and constant , almost personal put downs. is this what its like in all preceptorships and residency? its not that my clinical skills suck, i know i have a lot to learn ..but I don't have this problem with anyone but this one. its hard to think when someone is calling you names, difficult to be motivated when everything you do is just not enough, and i find myself dreading-i mean, really having a panic attack -the day before i have to go in. no matter how hard i try, even when i do everything correct-this one will pick on, oh i don;t know, my shoes or something.

how do you guys handle people like this? i'm not going to complain or say anything. i did ask some 3rd and 4th years what they've done and they're like: just take it in stride. i guess i'm asking for some tips or advice.
 
mouseybrown said:
i've never considered myself overtly sensitive, but ..i've come across a clinician who is..well, really tough. i mean, screaming when you present, not teaching you how to do things..and constant , almost personal put downs. is this what its like in all preceptorships and residency? its not that my clinical skills suck, i know i have a lot to learn ..but I don't have this problem with anyone but this one. its hard to think when someone is calling you names, difficult to be motivated when everything you do is just not enough, and i find myself dreading-i mean, really having a panic attack -the day before i have to go in. no matter how hard i try, even when i do everything correct-this one will pick on, oh i don;t know, my shoes or something.

how do you guys handle people like this? i'm not going to complain or say anything. i did ask some 3rd and 4th years what they've done and they're like: just take it in stride. i guess i'm asking for some tips or advice.
Click to expand...

You have actually received good advice. If you anticipate a career in medicine, you will have to deal with a variety of people who are going to be difficult. Patients are sick and health care workers will bring their baggage. You learn to get your work done, ignore what's not important to your getting your work done and keep moving forward. If you are having panic attacks over this type of stuff, you may want to seek some counseling to deal with your problem.
 
Aside from what is mentioned above, you develop coping mechanisms. Yelling really does light a fire under some people. Others just kind of pull into their shell and have a difficult time thinking. Just have to take a deep breath, maybe rant about it with a friend who is receptive to rants, take some aggression out with exercise and move on. If you dwell on it too long then you will get swamped and beaten down. Not good for anyone at that point.
 
I agree with everyone else. You're always going to run into the occasional attending who's bat**** crazy. Just resign yourself to getting yelled at by the attending, and try to remember that it's HIS issues, not yours.
 
And in the end, it's the same amount of time on rotation. And believe it or not you might actually get a better grade than from Ms. Superficially Nice Attending who gives you no feedback and generally doesn't care that you're alive.

BTW personal attacks from your upper levels and staff should always be brought to the attention of your course director. "Almost" personal comments not so much, but if he's calling your mother fat you gotta say something.
 
Tic said:
And in the end, it's the same amount of time on rotation. And believe it or not you might actually get a better grade than from Ms. Superficially Nice Attending who gives you no feedback and generally doesn't care that you're alive.

BTW personal attacks from your upper levels and staff should always be brought to the attention of your course director. "Almost" personal comments not so much, but if he's calling your mother fat you gotta say something.
Click to expand...

Says the guy with Eminem as an avatar.:laugh:
 
well dont really encounter tough ones...but i feel that way a lot of times especially when presenting cases as like u said earlier...realy got to have something to brush up skills first...
 
It's hard to not to take it personally when you get yelled at about various things, but afterwards I will have burned into my brain what not to do next time.

At the end of days where I constantly get yelled at, it helps to tell a friend and have a good laugh about it. That's how I cope.
 
this is all great advice, good thread.
 
njbmd said:
You have actually received good advice. If you anticipate a career in medicine, you will have to deal with a variety of people who are going to be difficult. Patients are sick and health care workers will bring their baggage. You learn to get your work done, ignore what's not important to your getting your work done and keep moving forward. If you are having panic attacks over this type of stuff, you may want to seek some counseling to deal with your problem.
Click to expand...

Wow, as an attending I find your comments unsettling. Name calling is totally uncalled for and any personal attacks by a preceptor is totally unprofessional and abusive. I don't see how this student has gotten any "good advice" as you put it. The student is not the one that needs counseling, it is his/her abusive preceptor that needs the counseling. The student on the other hand should report this and prevent it from occurring in the future.
 
mouseybrown said:
i've never considered myself overtly sensitive, but ..i've come across a clinician who is..well, really tough. i mean, screaming when you present, not teaching you how to do things..and constant , almost personal put downs. is this what its like in all preceptorships and residency? its not that my clinical skills suck, i know i have a lot to learn ..but I don't have this problem with anyone but this one. its hard to think when someone is calling you names, difficult to be motivated when everything you do is just not enough, and i find myself dreading-i mean, really having a panic attack -the day before i have to go in. no matter how hard i try, even when i do everything correct-this one will pick on, oh i don;t know, my shoes or something.

how do you guys handle people like this? i'm not going to complain or say anything. i did ask some 3rd and 4th years what they've done and they're like: just take it in stride. i guess i'm asking for some tips or advice.
Click to expand...

Sorry Mousey this is happening to you. No student deserves to be attacked, name-called, or abused. Sounds like your preceptor has some major issues. I personally wouldn't tolerate it. As far as I see it, if you don't stand up for what's right and protect yourself, then what's stopping other people from using you as their "whipping-boy". I would report it to someone in a position who can make thing right. If not for yourself (which should be the primary reason anyways), then at least for your preceptor who obviously has issues and may be in need of some serious counseling.
 
westphi said:
Sorry Mousey this is happening to you. No student deserves to be attacked, name-called, or abused. Sounds like your preceptor has some major issues. I personally wouldn't tolerate it. As far as I see it, if you don't stand up for what's right and protect yourself, then what's stopping other people from using you as their "whipping-boy". I would report it to someone in a position who can make thing right. If not for yourself (which should be the primary reason anyways), then at least for your preceptor who obviously has issues and may be in need of some serious counseling.
Click to expand...

1. Half the time, the person doing the name-calling IS the person with the authority to do something.
2. Technically, you are right but realistically, you have to pick your battles. You dont want to have the reputation as the guy who reported an attending to hospital adminstration for yelling at you when it comes time to ask for letters of rec for residency.

Its sad but a lot of people see it as a right of passage to get treated like that. Right as you are to want it to change, you dont want to be the one fighting that battle. Thats why everyone is advising the OP to take it in stride and move on.
 
Mr hawkings said:
1. Half the time, the person doing the name-calling IS the person with the authority to do something.
2. Technically, you are right but realistically, you have to pick your battles. You dont want to have the reputation as the guy who reported an attending to hospital adminstration for yelling at you when it comes time to ask for letters of rec for residency.

Its sad but a lot of people see it as a right of passage to get treated like that. Right as you are to want it to change, you dont want to be the one fighting that battle. Thats why everyone is advising the OP to take it in stride and move on.
Click to expand...

I definitely agree. Fine line we walk. A little "hazing" comes with the territory I guess. I just hate the idea of someone being unnecessarily tortured. No one wins if that happens...
 
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