is it possible to get through a gsurg residency if are a bit of a rogue?

[Dire Straits]

---

Members don't see this ad.

and by that i mean somebody who isn't impressed by this sacred hiearchy i hear so much about in surgery. i'll do the work and take care of patients as best as i can, but i snicker when i see others "acting the part of the doctor". i've never been one to take authority and pretentious hospital rituals seriously and so I was wondering if this would cause serious problems during gsurg residency.

 

[Blade28]

Depends on what your definition of a "rogue" is. 🙂

 

[Dire Straits]

Depends on what your definition of a "rogue" is. 🙂

try reading the first sentence

 

[Amy]

Many (most?) programs don't stick to the "sacred hierarchy" thing anymore. We're a team working together, the more experienced residents and attendings helping out us underlings. Don't let your casual attitude keep you from surgery... we need people like you!

 

[GenSurg]

You may be there training to be a surgeon, but the patients are the attendings. It could be a long 5-7 years if you don't respect the authority of your superiors. Your superiors have a lot more experience than you. Your knowledge from medical school is pretty insignificant without the experience to back you up. The best residents at my program are the ones that do what they're told and ask why. However, you need to be willing to get the answer "Because I said so" from your attendings. Much of taking care of surgical patients is not based on clinical research.

http://www.freeiPods.com/?r=20049323

 

[DoctorDoom]

You don't have to genuflect all the time, but don't be too flip either. Some old school guys still like traditional style respect.

 

[Blade28]

I know what your first sentence is, I was just asking for clarification on how much you're willing to ignore the "hierarchy." Most programs nowadays aren't that malignant anymore - the most you'll usually experience is being relegated to doing a lot of scut as an intern, and having to call all the attendings "sir" or "ma'am."

 

[TigerLily46]

I don't think there's anything wrong with chuckling on the inside a little bit about the way some of the more senior people act. I don't think there's anything wrong with noticing that some of these same people have just plain bad manners. The time a certain attending roughly pushing me out of the way one day when I was standing in the hall pops to mind. Many people might ask me if I was in the way in that instance. I wasn't blocking the hall or anything, but the point is that it doesn't matter! I might be "just" a student, but I'm still a human being. A simple "excuse me" would have worked very well. Even if he told me to get out of his way, it would have been better than having him push me. I'm a potential colleague. That guy can bet I'll never send a patient to him. I guess what I'm saying is that if you page people in the order that you're supposed to, approach attendings with the respect due to their years of experience, and get your **** done, you can laugh yourself silly about all of the bad behavior. I will admit that it was hard to laugh about being pushed. Mostly, I was just ticked off. 😡

 

[Celiac Plexus]

just be respectful, hardworking, show up on time, stay until the work is done, don't be argumentative, take the high road and don't get in pissing contests, etc... in other words just be professional. no one owns your mind, and no one wants to. but people who get along with others, even if some of the others are difficult, are the ones who are most successful in any field.

as for gs specifically... understand that before you get to the point where you can challenge senior residents, and attendings, you have a lot to learn. when you learn the basics, and have established a strong professional reputation for yourself, then you are more likely to be taken seriously by the chief resident, or the attending when you have a difference of opinion. stay humble, and work hard. if you are a compassionate, professional, person then you will eventually arrive at the point where you won't have to tell anyone about your opinion on a matter, instead you will be asked about it. (note: i have not arrived at that point yet, but i have seen the transition for others....)

 

[LaCirujana]

Part of the trick to being something of a "rogue" in surgery, is knowing which members of the staff its OK to cut loose with, and which ones you really have to watch your a$$ around. There's an art involved. You still have to get your work done, and probably have to be a little better than other residents to compensate for your personality/attitude. Also, as you gain seniority in the program, and attendings get to know you better, they tend to relax and allow more freedom. This is probably pretty program specific, but at the two places I've been (med school and residency), that's been my experience, as a definite surgical "rogue".

 

[Blade28]

That's very true. Surgeons, for the most part, are supposed to be more "laid back" and relaxed than the uptight internist. We just gotta learn to relax in between getting beat down by senior residents, chiefs, and attendings. 🙂

 

[jintonic5]

That's very true. Surgeons, for the most part, are supposed to be more "laid back" and relaxed than the uptight internist. We just gotta learn to relax in between getting beat down by senior residents, chiefs, and attendings. 🙂

i keep hearing various stereotypes about surgeon personalities. these range from the "former jock frat boy type" to "the worst of the worst anal premeds," and this is the first time i have seen the term "laid back" used. obviously whereever you go there will be a certain work culture, but do you guys see any prevailing personality traits among your peers and senior surgeons? thx

 

[Leukocyte]

i keep hearing various stereotypes about surgeon personalities. these range from the "former jock frat boy type" to "the worst of the worst anal premeds," and this is the first time i have seen the term "laid back" used. obviously whereever you go there will be a certain work culture, but do you guys see any prevailing personality traits among your peers and senior surgeons? thx

The most "laid back" "surgeons" I have ever worked with (in Descending order) were:

-Orthopedists (Definately, Jocks! Very Smart Jocks! Even the Chairman!)
-Ophthalmologists
-Urologists
-ENT
-Plastics

Neurosurgeons, some were very cool, some were anal, but, in general....OK.

The "most difficult" surgeons I ever worked with were in.....well, I would rather not say. No wait, or was it the Ob/Gyns? 😉

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

Varies so much by institution. Here the OB's are a ton of fun to hang out with. Had a blast the entire rotation. Some of the traditional hierarchy stuff just wasn't there in OB.

Here the surgeons tend to be more intense and the internists much more laid back. It seems that no one stereotype fits, but there really isn't any surprise in that.