Pimped by an MS4?

[Teufelhunden]

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A 3rd-year classmate of mine is on a peds rotation. I talked to him the other day...asked him how it was going, etc. He replies "they're pimping me like crazy!"

As it turns out, it's the MS-IV on rotation with him who's pimping him the hardest!

Now, I know this MS-IV (complete A-hole)....and I have this rotation soon. Question:

Can I tell him to 'f' off?

Okay, maybe I'll use a little more tact, something like, "Hey Chief, slow it down, I get pimped enough by the attendings, residents and interns...I don't need this s*** from you."

Okay, maybe tact isn't my "strong point."

Someone tell me the drill. If this is common, I guess I'll just have to deal with it. But, if this isn't the "norm," then how would y'all suggest I deal with it when and if this situation arises?

 

[ckent]

First of all, realize that the MSIV will have no input in your grade so you can theoretically tell him off or just ask him to stop asking you questions. However, you should also realize that just as long as he's not pimping you in front of the attending or senior resident, he's probably trying to help you and teach you stuff. A lot of people learn better by pimping, it's not meant to be a universally malignant thing. I actually pimped a third year med student while doing my sub I too, only after I asked him if he minded me asking him questions and I was always careful to not do it in front of the attending or resident, it was done strictly for his learning benefit. Upper years should always be pimping lower years IMO because that's how the teaching process works. Pimping doesn't mean asking just to quiz or test intelligence, it's meant to help you recall and to teach you stuff when you don't know the answer.

 

[Teufelhunden]

ckent,

I agree, somewhat. If the intention is to facilitate learning, then I'm all for it. However, this guy is just an a-hole...on some sort of weird power-trip.

The other day in case conference, this same MS-4 is handing out powerpoint handouts...says, "Sorry 3rd years, we don't have enough to go around and the 4th years definitely have priority over you."

During our orientation week this same guy made some comment about how he "outranks" us.

The thing is, NO OTHER 4th-year has acted this way. Hell, for the most part all the interns and residents have been extremely cool. I don't know what this guy's deal is, but I have every intention of not putting up with his s***.

You have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[doepug]

ckent is right on the money... 3rd years should appreciate whatever pearls they can pick up from the 4th years. As he pointed out though, tact is important, and "pimping" shouldn't be done in front of residents or attendings.

Teufel - I'd be careful about telling the guy off... yes, he sounds like a total jerk. Be mindful of the fact that if you piss him off, he can turn around and make you look like a fool in front of the team. It sounds like everyone knows that this guy is a jerk, and standing up to him won't earn any points. Swallow your pride and be as collegial as you can.

Good luck -
doepug

 

[Idiopathic]

You will find that being tactful will serve you better. I would think that the other members of the team notice this also, and probably will notice your reaction, whether or not they grade you based on your response to the questions. Also, this MS-IV is either trying to show off (which people notice) or trying to show other people up (which people also notice). I wouldnt worry too much about it.

 

[ERMudPhud]

I had the exact same situation when I was a third year and yes the attendings and residents all noticed that the 4th year was being a complete dick but after a very short while his behaivior got so annoying and distracting that it was really undermining our education and experience as third years. So the four third years on the rotation took him aside and explained that if he didn't shut the hell up and start acting like a normal human being that we would find all sorts of ways to hurt him.

 

[diamonddoc]

This reminds of when I did surgery as an MS3 and there was this absolute idiot of a 4th year doing his SubI on the same rotation. He was trying to show off by showing the attendingsa nd residents that he was teaching us, so he would always ask us questions which he obviously looked up before and would start quoting recent literature etc... a total shmuck. And we looked pretty bad.

I couldn't take it anymore.

So one day I was scrubbed in a Whipple's and I memorized a couple of weird factoids. Anyway, the surgery gets underway and he's there with the chief resident and an attending when he starts asking me a question. I respond, "I don't know but i'm sure you can quote 843 papers on the answer which you medlined an hour ago." The attending started laughing and I started asking him questions like "Did you read the paper in this weeks JOS about ..." and other questions. He got so upset with me he said he wasn't feeling well and scrubbed out.

I would tell the MS4 to stop being such a punk or you will start asking him/her questions that they can't answer. An eye for an eye.

 

[vietcongs]

Hahaha! Hello fellow 3rd year..Get used to being at the bottom of the medical heirarchy. What's bad is when a 3rd year pimps a senior resident..I've seen that and the outcome was ugly! 3rd years need to learn to take **** and keep their mouth shut. I've had my share of pimping already, and many times "I don't know" is the best answer. Just hang in there, someday you'll be able to pimp a 3rd year too!