I asked my Attending for my pen back.

[Bobdabuilda14]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm sick of this.

No more will I let an attending take my pen. I am tired of prepping for topic presentations, practice questions, case presentations and early morning lectures and on top of it going to office depot atleast once every 2 weeks or month to buy pens because these sons of bitches keep stealing my pens.

Today I had enough. I told that bastard before he walked away, "Btw I think thats my pen." He looked at me like he wanted to say something and just handed it back.

You're god damn right.

 

[Etorphine]

they can take your dignity, but they can't take your pen!

 

[Shjanzey]

Watch out we got a bada.ss up in here 😀

 

[trs88]

You should get the cheapo pens that have your first name printed on them. Use the good pens, but only pass out the labeled ones.

 

[AlmostAnMD]

Dear god

How have you not learned to steal pens from the nurse's station

this is basic clinical knowledge dude

buying your own pens, rofl

 

[Psai]

Bro if you're buying pens every month you're doing it wrong. I have only had one attending steal my pen. Never made the same mistake after that. I keep it in my pants pocket so no one can see.

One time an ENT resident asked to borrow my pen for the day and I was thinking goddamnit...
I think he saw it in my eyes and said that he would give it back. I'm like damn this is bs but gave it to him anyway.
The next day, he found me in the OR and gave me my pen back and said "thanks, that is a really nice pen". That's when I knew I wanted to go into ENT

 

[akwho]

Counter-intuitively the trick is not cheaper pens, but rather more expensive pens. You want something flashy, something so recognizable everyone knows its your pen. For example I use this pen. Think Milton's fire truck red Swingline stapler. Everyone knew it was his - he just didn't have the will or strength of personality to keep it. I haven't lost one of these babies in over 6-months.

Boom.

 

[Wordead]

Dear god

How have you not learned to steal pens from the nurse's station

this is basic clinical knowledge dude

buying your own pens, rofl

Buying pens is a resident level thing to do bro

Ultrafine 0.38 G2 pilots are key to running the floor

 

[tiedyeddog]

Buying pens is a resident level thing to do bro

Ultrafine 0.38 G2 pilots are key to running the floor

couldn't agree more, I have a stash in my locker at the hospital. I only access it when no one else is near so no one sees the stash. If they know my stash will be gone in no time.

G2 ultrafine FTW. I use the 0.5 too but 0.7 is useless..

 

[TheShaker]

Here's what you do. Stick every pen you have in your butt so that when they take your pen, they'll be handling your butt pens. They think they have power over you but they don't know...

 

[WinslowPringle]

What you want is a bedazzler. And feathers.

That's right. Wrap that pen in pink duct tape, add some feathers to the end, and go to town with the bedazzler.

See who steals your pen then.

 

[organdonor]

I remember as a med student I worked with an intern that just hemorrhaged pens left and right. Kept extra cheap-ass Bic stick pens to hand out to him. Preferably with chew marks. My click pens don't get to leave my sight.

And since going on a round of family medicine residency recruitment fairs and interviews 2 years ago (damn it was that long?) I literally have more pens than I know what to do with. If a program director asks for a pen I'll intentionally try to hand him a really nice one from a rival program and watch him squirm.

I've also got a pen from Cleveland Clinic that I must have picked up on the wards once. Never applied there, not really any interest, but if I'm meeting a new attending I want to impress I'll nonchalantly use that one.

 

[Doctor Bob]

Today I had enough. I told that bastard before he walked away, "Btw I think thats my pen." He looked at me like he wanted to say something and just handed it back.

It's perfectly acceptable (and expected) to ask for your pen back.
I borrow dry erase markers from the residents all the time and then forget to return them. When I realize later that I've got the marker in my pocket, I feel bad and if I can remember which resident lent it to me, I return it.

But with that said there are enough free pens floating around the hospital (usually the unit secretary will have boxes and boxes of them) that you shouldn't be buying pens on your own. Unless you want fancy special ones.

 

[GiveMeThatMD]

Here's what you do. Stick every pen you have in your butt so that when they take your pen, they'll be handling your butt pens. They think they have power over you but they don't know...

Like ass pennies?

 

[Doctor Bob]

I borrow dry erase markers from the residents all the time and then forget to return them. When I realize later that I've got the marker in my pocket, I feel bad and if I can remember which resident lent it to me, I return it.

Dangit...
After writing this I checked my pocket... dry erase marker.
And I'm not sure which resident lent it to me...

 

[Clap MD]

Buying pens is a resident level thing to do bro

Ultrafine 0.38 G2 pilots are key to running the floor

Nice to see some appreciation for fine pens.
Personally, my everyday carry is a Uni-ball Signo RT Gel in the 0.38. A bit crisper than the Pilot, which is a preference thing, some people prefer the Pilot's smoothness.
Kinda hard to find the Uni-ball in stores but they go 12 for $14 on amazon prime.

And obviously always have the decoy loaner pen ready.

 

[NontradCA]

Just take other people's pens. There are wolves, and there are sheeps.

 

[Psai]

Here's what you do. Stick every pen you have in your butt so that when they take your pen, they'll be handling your butt pens. They think they have power over you but they don't know...

But you'll be using butt pens...I'm not sure that this is such a great idea

 

[Yadster101]

But you'll be using butt pens...I'm not sure that this is such a great idea

Yesterday, while checking for anal fissures, a GI doc mumbled something about a pen and reached out his hand so I gave him my pen. After 3 minutes of looking into the pts butthole wondering why we couldn't see anything I realized he had asked for a pen light. I come here today to find a thread about pens n butt...coincidence?

EDIT: after seeing the likes on this post i gotta be honest tht this story was a bit embellished. He asked for a pen light and I just thought to myself that it'd be funny to just give him a pen.

 

[styphon]

Dear god

How have you not learned to steal pens from the nurse's station

this is basic clinical knowledge dude

buying your own pens, rofl

Just take other people's pens. There are wolves, and there are sheeps.

I have not bought a pen in almost 5 years and have collected a mass of pens - some with names on them, some with "nurse of the year" on them.

I somehow also have collected stethoscopes, I have like 5 random ones in my car (some with name tags).

 

[organdonor]

Yesterday, while checking for anal fissures, a GI doc mumbled something about a pen and reached out his hand so I gave him my pen. After 3 minutes of looking into the pts butthole wondering why we couldn't see anything I realized he had asked for a pen light. I come here today to find a thread about pens n butt...coincidence?

If you are part of a healthcare team you will need a pen light. Inevitably your higher up will not have one when he or she needs it and it's easy points.

I have not bought a pen in almost 5 years and have collected a mass of pens - some with names on them, some with "nurse of the year" on them.

I somehow also have collected stethoscopes, I have like 5 random ones in my car (some with name tags).

You're that guy all the nurses warn me about! I'll bet you work at Out Side Hospital too.

 

[Microshaft]

the more pens in your coat pocket

the higher rank u are

 

[TBV]

I have not bought a pen in almost 5 years and have collected a mass of pens - some with names on them, some with "nurse of the year" on them.

I somehow also have collected stethoscopes, I have like 5 random ones in my car (some with name tags).

You get cut around here for shyt like that (or at least "accidental needle sticks")

 

[TBV]

Nice to see some appreciation for fine pens.
Personally, my everyday carry is a Uni-ball Signo RT Gel in the 0.38. A bit crisper than the Pilot, which is a preference thing, some people prefer the Pilot's smoothness.
Kinda hard to find the Uni-ball in stores but they go 12 for $14 on amazon prime.

And obviously always have the decoy loaner pen ready.

Recently found my limit. I tried Slicci 0.25 and i think that might be overkill but that pilot is the tits

 

[PL198]

couldn't agree more, I have a stash in my locker at the hospital. I only access it when no one else is near so no one sees the stash. If they know my stash will be gone in no time.

G2 ultrafine FTW. I use the 0.5 too but 0.7 is useless..

hate those. use so much ink and make a mess

bic soft feel is the way to go

 

[themockjock]

hate those. use so much ink and make a mess

bic soft feel is the way to go

Amateurs. Sakura Pigma Micron 005 - 0.2mm point size. I can write 3 days worth of labs on 30 patients on one column of a patient list with that baby.

You gotta have a light touch with her though. But if you do... you'll be rewarded.

 

[Dral]

This is exactly why abolishing pharm reps and their pens was a travesty.

I STILL have a bunch.

 

[sloop]

Everybody goes the route of buying and using cheap pens so that residents and attendings can just take them. I went the opposite route and have a pretty nice pen that is easily identifiable as such (metal, sturdy, clearly not disposable). I have never had an issue. When I lend people my pen, they usually notice that they can't really just walk off with it so they finish their note and voluntarily give it back. If someone forgot to give it back and I asked for it back, I doubt anybody would get annoyed as it's not trivial like a bic or whatever.

 

[Winged Scapula]

the more pens in your coat pocket

the higher rank u are

Not really.

We have underlings to "borrow" pens from so don't need to carry our own.

 

[Lucca]

Not really.

We have underlings to "borrow" pens from so don't need to carry our own.

You should carry your own pens and "borrow" them from residents and students anyway. That's real power.

 

[Clap MD]

3 days worth of labs on 30 patients on one column of a patient list

You have my attention. Gonna have to find one of those to try.

 

[bc65]

Pens? Who needs pens? No one uses pens anymore. It's all EMRs,, all the time.

 

[fancymylotus]

I don't own any pens except for hotel pens and drug pens that I steal. I also steal pens from my girls, and now anytime I ask to borrow a pen from them they give me some extra feathery neon yellow light up craziness that I want no part of, so they end up getting the pen back right away.

They are starting to get smart on me. This just won't do.

 

[wjs010]

Question: why do attendings need pens so much?

 

[Psai]

Question: why do attendings need pens so much?

Stealing your pen is a display of dominance

 

[Law2Doc]

Every time you go to a hotel or conference you need to pocket whatever free pens you see. Then you won't really care when they get swiped. And then when you see someone else using one you can say "oh, when were you in ABC? did you stay at XYZ hotel too?" And embarrass them for the thieves they are.

At the end of the day if you have a pocket full of the same pens you started with you are worrying way too much about pens.

 

[Law2Doc]

Everybody goes the route of buying and using cheap pens so that residents and attendings can just take them. I went the opposite route and have a pretty nice pen that is easily identifiable as such (metal, sturdy, clearly not disposable). I have never had an issue. When I lend people my pen, they usually notice that they can't really just walk off with it so they finish their note and voluntarily give it back. If someone forgot to give it back and I asked for it back, I doubt anybody would get annoyed as it's not trivial like a bic or whatever.

I tried this early on -- they still ended walking off somehow. Bad plan.

 

[Yadster101]

Every time you go to a hotel or conference you need to pocket whatever free pens you see. Then you won't really care when they get swiped.

Lolwut you're already a doctor. A year supply of pens would be like $50. If you're making 200k a year that is .025% of your salary. I would think that by the time your an attending you would just lose track of things like pens, stethoscopes, notebooks, etc. amirite?

 

[Law2Doc]

Lolwut you're already a doctor. A year supply of pens would be like $50. If you're making 200k a year that is .025% of your salary. I would think that by the time your an attending you would just lose track of things like pens, stethoscopes, notebooks, etc. amirite?

You can afford to lose these things, but it will still bother you. You aren't going to spend $50 a year to supply the wards with pens, when the unattended housekeeping cart at the next Ramada you stay in can do it for free. 🙂

 

[Yadster101]

You can afford to lose these things, but it will still bother you. You aren't going to spend $50 a year to supply the wards with pens, when the unattended housekeeping cart at the next Ramada you stay in can do it for free. 🙂

Real talk, when you are making that much money is it really easy to lose small things that us lowly students keep track of? I always wonder how some of the docs I know are able to keep track of things like their ID badges or stethoscopes when they live in million dollar homes that are probably filled with thousands of other things.

 

[ridethecliche]

Counter-intuitively the trick is not cheaper pens, but rather more expensive pens. You want something flashy, something so recognizable everyone knows its your pen. For example I use this pen. Think Milton's fire truck red Swingline stapler. Everyone knew it was his - he just didn't have the will or strength of personality to keep it. I haven't lost one of these babies in over 6-months.

Boom.

A friend of mine started buying montblancs because of this kind of awesome logic.

He's on his 10th one this year.

 

[DeucesHigh3]

Easy answer: use fountain pens. You can get a super-cheap disposable one for $1.75, a reusable one for $4, and the sky is the limit.

Best case, they admire what you're carrying around and use it responsibly; neutral case, they see what you're handing them and freak out and just look for a ballpoint at the nurse's station; worst case they mash the nib but never ask you for a pen again. The key is that you never hand over the cap, just the pen. It's impossible to steal it without getting ink everywhere.

 

[DeucesHigh3]

Easy answer: use fountain pens. You can get a super-cheap disposable one for $1.75, a reusable one for $4, and the sky is the limit.

Best case, they admire what you're carrying around and use it responsibly; neutral case, they see what you're handing them and freak out and just look for a ballpoint at the nurse's station; worst case they mash the nib but never ask you for a pen again. The key is that you never hand over the cap, just the pen. It's impossible to steal it without getting ink everywhere.

Best BEST case, you can geek out about fountain pens for a while. I'd be lying if I said this hadn't happened with at least a few attendings.

 

[Law2Doc]

Real talk, when you are making that much money is it really easy to lose small things that us lowly students keep track of? I always wonder how some of the docs I know are able to keep track of things like their ID badges or stethoscopes when they live in million dollar homes that are probably filled with thousands of other things.

Um I didn't say it's fine to lose these things, you did. I said load up on freebies so it won't sting when they're gone. Reading comprehension is important.

 

[wjs010]

Stealing your pen is a display of dominance

is it okay to ask "do you even lift?" to an attending who does this?

 

[Psai]

is it okay to ask "do you even lift?" to an attending who does this?

If you have to ask, then they don't

 

[akwho]

A friend of mine started buying montblancs because of this kind of awesome logic.

He's on his 10th one this year.

Your friend is Milton.

 

[PL198]

A friend of mine started buying montblancs because of this kind of awesome logic.

He's on his 10th one this year.

yeah man nothing like dropping 4k/yr on pens

 

[VisionaryTics]

Easy answer: use fountain pens. You can get a super-cheap disposable one for $1.75, a reusable one for $4, and the sky is the limit.

Best case, they admire what you're carrying around and use it responsibly; neutral case, they see what you're handing them and freak out and just look for a ballpoint at the nurse's station; worst case they mash the nib but never ask you for a pen again. The key is that you never hand over the cap, just the pen. It's impossible to steal it without getting ink everywhere.

I bought one of these once. Once.

I get three white coats per year. One is destroyed in "The Great Blood Spurting Tumor Episode of 2015" and the other is destroyed by that fountain pen.

I'm down to one white coat. I'm sticking with Precise V5s.

 

[Mad Jack]

I'm sick of this.

No more will I let an attending take my pen. I am tired of prepping for topic presentations, practice questions, case presentations and early morning lectures and on top of it going to office depot atleast once every 2 weeks or month to buy pens because these sons of bitches keep stealing my pens.

Today I had enough. I told that bastard before he walked away, "Btw I think thats my pen." He looked at me like he wanted to say something and just handed it back.

You're god damn right.