Pilot said:
Believe me, I took the high road for 2 weeks, but after having to argue with her about whether or not a patient had a negative C. Diff. test for 2 days in a row (she thought she had seen it as positive on the computer, but was unable to find it again - never bothering to call the micro lab as I had), whether digoxin overdose can cause bradycardia (it can), whether magnesium is truly used for eclampsia (it is), whether Vancomycin will cover Pseudomonas (it doesn't), whether Advair can be given to a child under the age of 12 (it can), whether Advair can be dosed TID (it should not due to increased risk of seizure), and whether or not I needed to give a Beta-blocker to a CHF patient in the ICU on pressors who was acutely hypotensive and bradycardic (I had held the Coreg, but "the CHF guidlelines say you have too"), I had my reached my limit. There is a hierarchy to medicine rounds, and the physician has the ultimate right to decide what meds and when, because that is where the ultimate liability lies. Input from other disciplines is appreciated, but not when it is consistently incorrect, as in this case.
Keep in mind, all of her arguments were during rounds in front of other medicine residents and students, and in virtually every instance she would automatically take the opposite stance of my view. Hence, my responses would also be on rounds in front of everyone. She never once pulled me aside to address any patient concerns, but instead choose to voice her disapproval publicly and vocally.
A person can only take so much. So you guys can keep on beating me up, but I stand by my actions. Sometimes aggression can only be met with aggression, otherwise the initial aggressor will come to believe that his/her actions are justified at the expense of everyone else.
And by the way, my conversation with her supervisor did take place in private, in warm-up on the basketball court, after he approached me asking about her interactions with the team. Another medicine resident had gone to him to advise him of her antagonism towards not just me, but everyone. She was so disliked by all, that when she left at the end of her month we had a little celebration. She earned herself quite a reputation at the hospital, both among physicians and the clinical pharmacists (with whom she would also argue on a regular basis).
This is my second try to post this. Sorry if it repeats, but initially when I posted this I was kicked back out to the log-in screen
As someone else on this thread previously said...oh where to start....
This thread was originally about electronic transmission of prescription data...which was misunderstood by many. You took offense by someone's comment about the errors of drop down menus (of which there are many & actually documented in pharmacy drug information management literature) & the implication physicians cannot use them.
That aside...then you went on to criticize this pharmacy student because she referred to your degree in a disparaging manner.
Now..however, the story becomes more complete...she did not just disparage your degree, she also had inadequate or incomplete knowledge & an aggressive & immature demeanor. It appears others had difficulty with her - not just you. However, in your mind...which motivated a gleeful post....you were a continual source of antagonism. That is not to say she was not equally antagonistic - obviously, there was something wrong in her interpersonal skills to have caused such animosity.
My point here is that she would have taken care of her own reputation without any help from you. Your involvement...and the reporting & pleasure you gained from participating in it only reflects back on yourself, IMO.
I'm going to assume you are a student as well - either medical or still in your residency. Let me give you a tip when you are actually an employer. No personnel conversations should take place anywhere other than a private business area. It was inappropriate for her supervisor & for you to discuss this individual's participation on a basketball court - even if you were the only two persons around. Having been both employee & employer, if you don't follow the rules of correct business labor etiquette, law & documentation, you may be right - but you'll lose your case.
I've been on plenty of hospital rounds & in teaching hospitals, this behavior is not unique to just pharmacy students. Many different kinds of students need to learn interpersonal skills & often this is the place residents (both medical & pharmacy) learn the patience to deal with young inexperienced newcomers. This is where they find out if they are cut out for a teaching role or for a private practice role. This is where students learn - not just didactics (which was a boat she needed no help apparently in sinking) but how to work with other health professionals. Perhaps you have learned you have great medical knowledge, but not much patience when presented with someone who has lesser knowledge & a need to learn how to interact in a multidisciplinary setting - which medical attendings learn how to do in a patient & supportive way. Perhaps you have discovered private practice, where there will be very little challenge to your authority, is the place for you.
We will have to agree here to disagree. I do not feel agression must be met with agression. You have no regrets & perhaps she does not either. In either case, it is too bad because the situation might have developed differently.
What could have happened if you had one day after rounds or at another time asked if the two of you could sit down over coffee? As a pharmacist, you could have approached her about her manner, which you knew early on was off putting. You had a unique perspective the other medical students & medical residents did not - you are a pharmacist yourself. However, you chose not to help this girl develop what she was lacking in interpersonal skills. The team you became was "us" against "her" - not just "us". Perhaps you could never have turned it around, but the point was - you didn't try. You just chose to ignore her arguments rather than taking what you are as a pharmacist & turning it around to a learning opportunity for both of you. However, her own clinical supervisors apparently were sorely lacking in teaching skills as well. These should have been the first people who intervened.
Whatever....she is gone & you have not only have no regrets you also had a celebration. However right you may have been - it still appears you all lost something with this encounter & none of you found anything which strengthens yourself professionally. As someone who has taught in a pharmacy school & been in the cirumstance of witnessing inappropriate medical & pharmacy student behavior....I can only observe this month of interaction did not reflect well on either of you!
