Newly Minted M3 and Colleague Issues

[vir0n]

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Looking for some recommendations regarding my rotation. There are a couple of medical students that are on the same rotation as I am that (I feel) bring negativity to the group. While the situation is not unbearable (yet_, I am starting to sense a malignant and competitive environment beginning to form. Examples include: interrupting patient presentation, dominating round questions, etc.

Anyone run into a similar situation? Any recommendations to avoid "becoming one of them"? How can I succeed and perform to the best of my ability on this rotation? I am on OB/GYN.

 

[JPmamd09]

Sadly, I don't have much advice for you. Unfortunately, it can get competitive and ugly - don't get me wrong, some competition is good and can push you. For example, when people are dominating questions at rounds (I assume you mean answering everything that's asked) it can challenge you to be quick on your feet. As far as interruptions, it's annoying as hell, but the attendings and residents really are watching and listening too - they know it's rude, those folks aren't getting extra points for that.

My best advice is I guess to work hard. Do what your resident asks and beyond (if this is a rotation in which you get good one-on-one resident time, that can be to your advantage). Always ask all team members if there's anything else you can to do help - and be earnest about it. Read up on the patients on the team, and if someone has an interesting condition, maybe see if you can find a paper and bring in copies for the team.

I might be able to better try and give advice if I know what rotation you're on (at least at my school, OB/GYN was very different from surgery/medicine/peds in how you interacted with your classmates and the residents/staff, for example). Regardless, if you work hard, know your patients, care about your patients and your team, and read up on things you can do well without degerating into a butt-kisser/back-stabber. Best of luck to you!

 

[sprinkibrio]

Doesn't the attending look directly at someone when pimping? If they just ask the whole group and the people are answering before you that's one thing, but if the attending is looking at you and they answer that is also considered interrupting. In any case, interupting is noticed and my attending actually chastises those who do so. If that's not the way it works for you after you get interrupted I would pull aside that student and tell them you really want to learn and that you don't feel like your learning as much as you could had you not been interrupted by them. If it happens again I would tell your resident who should talk to them.

 

[vir0n]

Doesn't the attending look directly at someone when pimping? If they just ask the whole group and the people are answering before you that's one thing, but if the attending is looking at you and they answer that is also considered interrupting. In any case, interupting is noticed and my attending actually chastises those who do so. If that's not the way it works for you after you get interrupted I would pull aside that student and tell them you really want to learn and that you don't feel like your learning as much as you could had you not been interrupted by them. If it happens again I would tell your resident who should talk to them.

Perhaps I am just being extra sensitive - I guess I'm still trying to find my niche and place in this whole thing called the clerkship

 

[barasch]

be professional at work, but I wouldn't spend too much time getting to know those people. Do your reading, know your patients inside and out, show up on time to see your patients and write your notes. You'll get with better people on your next rotation

 

[sprinkibrio]

Perhaps I am just being extra sensitive - I guess I'm still trying to find my niche and place in this whole thing called the clerkship

I just started too... it can be hard sometimes to ignore things. I tend to focus on my shortcomings instead of my fellow students actions (or comments from nurses). Plus I think I got pretty lucky with my team. Some people in my rounding group MS2 were like what you mention and killing them with kindness IMO is more effective than ignoring them and going your own way (plus it helps *you* get in a better mood). I also like watching them make fools of themselves because they are the ones who usually have a hard time shutting their mouths.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

be professional at work, but I wouldn't spend too much time getting to know those people. Do your reading, know your patients inside and out, show up on time to see your patients and write your notes. You'll get with better people on your next rotation

Great advice. Do your best and try to tune out these annoying folks. Easier said than done, I know, but you won't get anywhere by talking to them about their annoying behavior.

 

[Deferoxamine]

Thank God I am by myself one-on-one individually with one doctor for my first rotation... for the entire day. I don't even have to work in the same building as any of my classmates (rare exception = this morning during rounding, which I was fine with).

Makes the transition to MS3 life a hell of a lot easier, IMO. None of the petty 7th-grade "Who stole my make-up?" / "Who moved my cheese?" garbage.

 

[dnslay]

So if its obvious they're being rude and don't care about taking turns, why not say: "Hold on that was mine" or "stop interrupting"


Just an MS2 here and yeah that may seem pretty ham-handed but at least it clears the air that you're engaging the question and not a doormat.

 

[AmoryBlaine]

The person talking the loudest/most is not always the person who is getting the best grade.

 

[QofQuimica]

OB/gyn is a surgical field, and surgeons tend to like people who are assertive (and maybe even a little aggressive). If you are a quieter person surrounded by more outgoing peers, you may be overlooked. So being proactive (helping prep patients in the OR, doing postop rounds on the floors, etc. without being told) will get you noticed in a positive way.

That being said, you don't want to be assertive to the point of being obnoxious. How you deal with obnoxious fellow students is going to depend on your personality as well as theirs, and also on the situation. There was one person who I'd talk right over as if they hadn't said anything whenever they interrupted me. It only took a few times for that person to get the message and stop. There was another person who I sat down and said something to the effect of, "look, I know you don't like me, but we have to work together for the next several weeks, and we need to figure out how we can get along." That one got a denial of disliking me in response, and while we didn't become friends, working together was at least tolerable after that.

 

[plainolerichie]

The person talking the loudest/most is not always the person who is getting the best grade.

Wrong!!! They are always the person getting the best grade 🙂.