is it ok to ask my intern why he hates me?

[hasy]

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I'm currently in my 3rd year doing surgical rotation and there is an intern who always picks on me (when there are a group of us responsible for the same work) to yell at when things go wrong. He also gives me all the work when there are multiple people on call. I don't understand what I did to get on his bad side. Is it ok to ask him (very politely) how i offended him?

 

[Ironspy]

If you ask how you offended him, you imply that he's the problem which might make him defensive. If you ask him how to improve, he might give you important advice on how not to piss off your future interns.

 

[Depakote]

If you ask how you offended him, you imply that he's the problem which might make him defensive. If you ask him how to improve, he might give you important advice on how not to piss off your future interns.

👍

That's your best bet.

It's possible he's just a tool and you're stuck with him, but asking how you can improve your work is the best way to help the situation if anything will.

 

[ropeadope1983]

I agree with what's been said already. I'd also add that you should seriously consider talking to your clerkship coordinator about this for at least two reasons:

1) the intern has no right to treat you like this while you are a medical student and the clerkship coordinator may have ways of correcting this situation in a way that doesn't make it obvious that you are the one who blew the whistle (and even if this isn't possible, this behavior has to stop one way or another)

2) your evaluations are important for your clerkship grade and it builds a stronger case for dropping a bad eval (if he/she writes you a bad eval) if you bring it to the attention of the clerkship coordinator ahead of time that you are being treated unfairly and that the intern is being unprofessional/inappropriate

Ideally you should talk it over with the intern before you take the next step and talk to the clerkship coordinator, but it is up to you whether or not you think you'll get anywhere with that discussion. It is also entirely possible that you are completely misreading the intern and he/she could just be challenging you to test your zeal. I've also met people who seem hard on other people because that's their strange way of showing endearment. Bottom line is that the subjective means of our evaluations really makes us vulnerable to those who might abuse their power and we need to do everything we can to prevent scum bags from getting in the way of us achieving our goals (as powerless as we may feel in this fight...just keep fighting and do everything you can before it is too late).

 

[hasy]

but if he is doing something wrong, shouldnt he know? this particular intern is universally hated by the students for treating the students like dirt. I know there is a strict hierarchy in hospitals, particularly in surgery. but sometimes it goes too far. i caught him lying to chief residents and attendings and putting the blame on the poor med students nearby who stood speechless.

 

[Noeljan]

I'm currently in my 3rd year doing surgical rotation and there is an intern who always picks on me (when there are a group of us responsible for the same work) to yell at when things go wrong. He also gives me all the work when there are multiple people on call. I don't understand what I did to get on his bad side. Is it ok to ask him (very politely) how i offended him?

you never know he could actually really like you. I thought one of my interns hated me at first, but they ended up apparently thinking i did an excellent job. He may give you the extra work because he thinks you can handle it.

 

[Tiger26]

I agree with what's been said already. I'd also add that you should seriously consider talking to your clerkship coordinator about this for at least two reasons:

1) the intern has no right to treat you like this while you are a medical student and the clerkship coordinator may have ways of correcting this situation in a way that doesn't make it obvious that you are the one who blew the whistle (and even if this isn't possible, this behavior has to stop one way or another)

2) your evaluations are important for your clerkship grade and it builds a stronger case for dropping a bad eval (if he/she writes you a bad eval) if you bring it to the attention of the clerkship coordinator ahead of time that you are being treated unfairly and that the intern is being unprofessional/inappropriate

Ideally you should talk it over with the intern before you take the next step and talk to the clerkship coordinator, but it is up to you whether or not you think you'll get anywhere with that discussion. It is also entirely possible that you are completely misreading the intern and he/she could just be challenging you to test your zeal. I've also met people who seem hard on other people because that's their strange way of showing endearment. Bottom line is that the subjective means of our evaluations really makes us vulnerable to those who might abuse their power and we need to do everything we can to prevent scum bags from getting in the way of us achieving our goals (as powerless as we may feel in this fight...just keep fighting and do everything you can before it is too late).

Agree with above, just the perception of impropriety on his/her part can give you a case later on

 

[xanthines]

I came in here to say just that. Before med school I had a boss that treated me like dirt and was borderline harassment, both general and sexual. Everyone thought he was a general prick. He ended up writing the best letter of recommendation I've ever had.

-X

you never know he could actually really like you. I thought one of my interns hated me at first, but they ended up apparently thinking i did an excellent job. He may give you the extra work because he thinks you can handle it.

 

[DaveinDallas]

You'd be amazed at the number of people who treat you like dirt only to write you good letters. It's the old football coach thing - the more they rag on you, the more they like you. If you don't know how to handle it, it can be a bit disconcerting....trust me on this....

But---

Some people are just small-minded pissmires who are such wretched souls that the only way they know of to make themselves feel better about their bleak existence is to take it out on those who have no apparent power to rectify the situation....this is used to be called 'bullying'. Recognize that a surgical intern is under stress and you just happen to be a convenient punching bag of sorts. Talk to your clinical education person from your school. The only way abuse of students within the medical education system is going to stop is if someone stands up and says,'Enough' every time it happens....It is possible to learn without being pimped, browbeaten or denigrated as a person.....

 

[J ROD]

I would probably just grin and keep going....it probably will make it worse unless you threaten to go over his head...tough place....I know...I was just in a similar situation in my pharm rotation. I threaten mine and got a slightly lower grade than I thought I deserved. Could have given me one point!!

But, the "pimping" reduced alot. So, it all worked out and eventually you will move on to others....

 

[Ashers]

but if he is doing something wrong, shouldnt he know? this particular intern is universally hated by the students for treating the students like dirt. I know there is a strict hierarchy in hospitals, particularly in surgery. but sometimes it goes too far. i caught him lying to chief residents and attendings and putting the blame on the poor med students nearby who stood speechless.

It's not your job to bring that to the attention of the intern. Talk to the clerkship coordinator. They can talk with the program director and other higher ups. If this really is a trend that other students bring to their attention, something will be done. When I was an M3, there were 2 residents whose evals weren't counted for the students if they were really bad and the rest of the evals were good because these 2 residents were known for being bad graders and for being mean in general. They were talked to by faculty, while it sucked to have to work with them, you knew they wouldn't affect your grade if you were actually working hard.

You can always ask the intern how you can improve.