"respect"

[cfdavid]

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Generally I can get along with pretty much anybody. I treat people with respect, am friendly, and like interacting with intelligent, educated people. It's one of the best parts of being in medicine IMHO. Over the past few months, I've had overwhelmingly positive interactions with pretty much everybody I've interacted with in the perioperative setting, as a new CA1....

Soooooo, there's this b.tchy OR nurse whom I've had the displeasure of dealing with on about 4 different occasions. The first time, I thought she may have just been quiet or having a bad day. Just a cold, b.tchy attitude without doing/saying anything overtly inappropriate or really crossing any lines.

The next few time, I've noticed it was pretty much with me only. Not my imagination either. Whatever. Yesterday, she did make an underhanded comment under her breath which made me ALMOST cut her down to size. But, I didn't. The next time I likely WILL but I'll be more prepared to do it in a way that isn't so knee jerk, but rather in a more witty, throw it back at you kind of way, which I think will work best for this person.(a female btw)

****Then, I began reflecting about this whole respect thing we often see posts about, and how anesthesiology "gets no respect". I recall a few posters suggesting that they got more respect as Prelim Medicine or Surgery interns than as senior residents or sometimes attendings......

So, I began thinking of the dynamics of all of this. My conclusion is that some b.tchy nurses whom we've all had page us and act all nice and respectful while on the floors, are ONLY doing this because they need you at that time. They KNOW that if they do things out of order, the senior resident (say on surgery as an intern) will ring em the riot act. So, they play nice and call the intern. But, this isn't respect per se. They need you, whether they think you can help or not, in order for you to initiate (or not depending on the situation) the proper chain of command.

This OR circulator doesn't NEED me for any of that. So, she can afford to be cold and unfriendly for whatever reason. Perhaps she just needs to get laid?!

Anyway, just a few thoughts. Ever notice how "respected" you feel when someone calls you asking you for help?? How many times has a PACU nurse called you, coddled you, said "yes doctor" to you....... When they need you....

Not saying all people behave this way, but it's a big part of the dynamics of this topic, I think.

 

[Consigliere]

Get used to it - you'll be dealing with it your entire career.

 

[IlDestriero]

If someone overtly disrespects you, they need to be acknowledged immediately. You don't have to be confrontational, but you must acknowledge it. There is no need to accept hostility, etc in a professional environment.
If you, as a trainee, don't feel it's appropriate, your attending can and should handle it for you. And saying, "it's fine" is not the answer. The times I see this again and again are with female nurses and female anesthesia fellows.
There's a strange dynamic between a somewhat rigid and opinionated, but competent, female fellow and a senior female OR nurse. I try keep things light and pleasant in my rooms. There's plenty of trainwrecks out there, I don't need a headache in my easy rooms.
Respect may have to be earned, but professionalism and common courtesy are a given.

 

[RT2MD]

Respect may have to be earned, but professionalism and common courtesy are a given.

Well said!

 

[Monty Python]

Soooooo, there's this b.tchy OR nurse whom I've had the displeasure of dealing with on about 4 different occasions. .

Unfortunately the OR environment seems to have more than its fair share of malignant personalities, especially with females who are unhappy with life and in life for whatever reason (hormones, never met Mr. Right, been stabbed in the back themselves in the past and hold a huge grudge, etc.). Typically these malignant people have essentially no life outside the OR, and let's face it, a life consisting entirely of just the OR (working with surgeons, no windows, stressful situations) would be the pits unless you were Mother Theresa.

It's not you. It's them. And sometimes there's not a damned thing you can do (or stop doing) to get on their good side. Just ain't gonna happen. And you may never know why or how you arrived on their bad side - so just let it go. Doesn't mean it will be easy though.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration:

1. pick your battles wisely. You may win the battle, but lose the war.

2. this too shall pass.

3. maintain the high ground. That will make you look much better in the eyes of everyone else, will undoubtedly piss off Ms. B#*ch (for your psychic enjoyment), and will also serve to protect you by reputation from any unfounded complaints.

Best wishes.

 

[jwk]

Unfortunately the OR environment seems to have more than its fair share of malignant personalities, especially with females who are unhappy with life and in life for whatever reason (hormones, never met Mr. Right, been stabbed in the back themselves in the past and hold a huge grudge, etc.). Typically these malignant people have essentially no life outside the OR, and let's face it, a life consisting entirely of just the OR (working with surgeons, no windows, stressful situations) would be the pits unless you were Mother Theresa.

It's not you. It's them. And sometimes there's not a damned thing you can do (or stop doing) to get on their good side. Just ain't gonna happen. And you may never know why or how you arrived on their bad side - so just let it go. Doesn't mean it will be easy though.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration:

1. pick your battles wisely. You may win the battle, but lose the war.

2. this too shall pass.

3. maintain the high ground. That will make you look much better in the eyes of everyone else, will undoubtedly piss off Ms. B#*ch (for your psychic enjoyment), and will also serve to protect you by reputation from any unfounded complaints.

Best wishes.

Agree with all the above. That being said - all the new TJC standards for behavior apply to everyone in the hospital. It's not merely a method to deal with abusive surgeons. I realize it's very different as a resident, but in private practice, I have no problem with bumping things up the OR management ladder. An abusive work environment, whether caused by an arrogant surgeon or a bitchy nurse, doesn't serve the patient well, which is the whole concept behind these standards. Each hospital is supposed to have policies in place for how to deal with such persons system-wide.

 

[shopsteward]

What I get from OP's comment is that one of their (from here I'll assume "his") co-workers started by being quiet in the presence of the OP but not doing anything inappropriate or crossing any lines. In return she gets described as cold and bitchy.

Unlike other colleagues, she isn't in a role in which she needs to "kowtow" to the OP. It is implied that kowtowing is an inferior state of being to "truly respecting" the OP.

On their fourth encounter, the co-worker made a comment "under her breath" to which the OP had no good comeback. He thinks on this basis that his co-worker "needs to get laid". His post also implies also that, because he doesn't like interacting with her, she is neither intelligent nor educated.

I strongly suggest that the OP removes his original post pronto, and rethinks his attitudes towards his work colleagues before he gets into serious trouble. And that he stay away from the supposedly witty comebacks, which would just make the trouble come sooner rather than later.

 

[jwk]

What I get from OP's comment is that one of their (from here I'll assume "his") co-workers started by being quiet in the presence of the OP but not doing anything inappropriate or crossing any lines. In return she gets described as cold and bitchy.

Unlike other colleagues, she isn't in a role in which she needs to "kowtow" to the OP. It is implied that kowtowing is an inferior state of being to "truly respecting" the OP.

On their fourth encounter, the co-worker made a comment "under her breath" to which the OP had no good comeback. He thinks on this basis that his co-worker "needs to get laid". His post also implies also that, because he doesn't like interacting with her, she is neither intelligent nor educated.

I strongly suggest that the OP removes his original post pronto, and rethinks his attitudes towards his work colleagues before he gets into serious trouble. And that he stay away from the supposedly witty comebacks, which would just make the trouble come sooner rather than later.

For some reason your user name tells me a lot about you.

 

[shopsteward]

For some reason your user name tells me a lot about you.

Provided you assumed the accuracy of a self-descriptor by an anonymous internet poster, it would tell you one thing about me.

And the other thing you can learn about me from this thread is that I think a CA1 less than 2 months into his residency is an idiot if he thinks that he has done anything yet to earn the notice, let alone the kowtowing and/or respect, of any person who doesn't have the job of babying him through his early-years learning process. If he compounds that idiocy with being sexually derogatory about his co-workers, he's well on his way to being one of those people who gets kicked out of residency and then wails on SDN about their career being ruined before they have a chance to pay off their mountains of debt.

OP's got over 3,000 posts here. It's probably not difficult to go through them and get pretty accurate information about who he is, if anyone cared enough to do it. (I don't, but it's clear from one of his more recent posts that he's used an illegal substance, which isn't great for his licensing prospects. I'll give that as a starter for anyone who does want to make the effort.)

 

[dhb]

shopsteward you missed the OP's point which i agree with btw

 

[shopsteward]

shopsteward you missed the OP's point which i agree with btw

Not sure what point you got from the OP, but my diagnosis was early-onset career-limiting syndrome.

 

[cfdavid]

Provided you assumed the accuracy of a self-descriptor by an anonymous internet poster, it would tell you one thing about me.

And the other thing you can learn about me from this thread is that I think a CA1 less than 2 months into his residency is an idiot if he thinks that he has done anything yet to earn the notice, let alone the kowtowing and/or respect, of any person who doesn't have the job of babying him through his early-years learning process. If he compounds that idiocy with being sexually derogatory about his co-workers, he's well on his way to being one of those people who gets kicked out of residency and then wails on SDN about their career being ruined before they have a chance to pay off their mountains of debt.

OP's got over 3,000 posts here. It's probably not difficult to go through them and get pretty accurate information about who he is, if anyone cared enough to do it. (I don't, but it's clear from one of his more recent posts that he's used an illegal substance, which isn't great for his licensing prospects. I'll give that as a starter for anyone who does want to make the effort.)

Settle down.

w/r/t your other comments, hey I can handle the criticism.
I do think you misjudged the point of my post, however.

 

[Osteoimperfecta]

Provided you assumed the accuracy of a self-descriptor by an anonymous internet poster, it would tell you one thing about me.

And the other thing you can learn about me from this thread is that I think a CA1 less than 2 months into his residency is an idiot if he thinks that he has done anything yet to earn the notice, let alone the kowtowing and/or respect, of any person who doesn't have the job of babying him through his early-years learning process. If he compounds that idiocy with being sexually derogatory about his co-workers, he's well on his way to being one of those people who gets kicked out of residency and then wails on SDN about their career being ruined before they have a chance to pay off their mountains of debt.

.OP's got over 3,000 posts here. It's probably not difficult to go through them and get pretty accurate information about who he is, if anyone cared enough to do it. (I don't, but it's clear from one of his more recent posts that he's used an illegal substance, which isn't great for his licensing prospects I'll give that as a starter for anyone who does want to make the effort.)

If you think effort is all it is going to cost you, think again. I have seen this kind of stuff degenerate into a multi-party lawsuit, of which it was the Internet vigilante who ended up in the hole.

 

[shopsteward]

Apologies if what I meant as a warning came across wrong. I've no interest in or intention of chasing down anybody's identity, or causing trouble for them. But it is good to be aware that a potentially identifiable person who makes derogatory remarks on the internet about a potentially identifiable colleague can get into trouble for it if an employment complaint, of any nature, is made.

 

[cfdavid]

Apologies if what I meant as a warning came across wrong. I've no interest in or intention of chasing down anybody's identity, or causing trouble for them. But it is good to be aware that a potentially identifiable person who makes derogatory remarks on the internet about a potentially identifiable colleague can get into trouble for it if an employment complaint, of any nature, is made.

You need to seriously chill out. You're taking this way too far.

 

[JLM]

The medical field is so full of needy, power-hungry, greedy, self-righteous, arrogant, moody, overall awful people that I often regret entering this profession solely based on the personalities. Flame me if you wish, but in my experience nurses are the absolute epitome of these traits. Not all, but a lot. Other physicians, scrub techs, hell even some of the resp. therapists fall into this category too. Everybody's c*ck is bigger than everyone else around them. Its sickening. You cant just go to work and do your job, somebody always has to prove exactly how terrible they can make your day.

Until I worked in a hospital, I never knew how good I had it working on an ambulance. And, I would go back in a heartbeat if it were feasible.

And if I had my druthers, I would open a pain practice with a receptionist and an LPN who wants to escape the nursing home -- and never set foot into a hospital again. Ever. God those people suck.

 

[SitraAchra]

Not sure what point you got from the OP, but my diagnosis was early-onset career-limiting syndrome.

Knock off the underhanded threats of "outing" the OP in an attempt to gain power over him.

 

[El Dooderino]

The medical field is so full of needy, power-hungry, greedy, self-righteous, arrogant, moody, overall awful people that I often regret entering this profession solely based on the personalities. Flame me if you wish, but in my experience nurses are the absolute epitome of these traits. Not all, but a lot. Other physicians, scrub techs, hell even some of the resp. therapists fall into this category too. Everybody's c*ck is bigger than everyone else around them. Its sickening. You cant just go to work and do your job, somebody always has to prove exactly how terrible they can make your day.

Until I worked in a hospital, I never knew how good I had it working on an ambulance. And, I would go back in a heartbeat if it were feasible.

And if I had my druthers, I would open a pain practice with a receptionist and an LPN who wants to escape the nursing home -- and never set foot into a hospital again. Ever. God those people suck.

but enough about shopsteward

 

[SitraAchra]

Previous snippits from Shopsteward:

From my point of view (a former occasional recruiter to professional training positions, scanning applications and conducting board interviews, but not relating to doctors)

Speaking as someone who has spent several years representing highly-qualified professionals

From a recruiter's point of view, it is nice to be in the position of having more good candidates than available slots for interview.

Can't help you on the specifics of residency applications. More generally, if I were considering this as part of an application to a different (but also very competitive) professional position, I would probably consider and then put aside a mention of a single incident from several years ago.

Layperson here. I can, just about, understand a weight of 110kg.

It's really annoying when HR types who work around healthcare professionals cop this attitude that they have an intimate understanding of everything going on in the OR/on the wards.

Also, LOL at Shopsteward "diagnosing" cfdavid. It must feel empowering to use that word.

 

[jwk]

Apologies if what I meant as a warning came across wrong. I've no interest in or intention of chasing down anybody's identity, or causing trouble for them. But it is good to be aware that a potentially identifiable person who makes derogatory remarks on the internet about a potentially identifiable colleague can get into trouble for it if an employment complaint, of any nature, is made.

Lighten up Francis. You take yourself way too seriously - I'm not sure why - we sure don't.

 

[iwumd07]

This shopsteward sounds like my mom....always fishing for drama.

 

[eosinophilic]

shopstewards a d bag but responding to the nurse in question makes you run the risk of sounding like Constanza and saying oh yeah well the jerk store called and theyre running out of you

 

[Nooblet]

.

 

[Gern Blansten]

Previous snippits from Shopsteward:












It's really annoying when HR types who work around healthcare professionals cop this attitude that they have an intimate understanding of everything going on in the OR/on the wards.

Also, LOL at Shopsteward "diagnosing" cfdavid. It must feel empowering to use that word.

Ha ha. The sleuth got sleuthed. Strong work. Shopsteward, welcome to the anesthesia forum. First impressions aren't your strong suit, but welcome anyway.

 

[dhb]

my diagnosis

🤣

 

[beavis]

Ahhh, my friend. You have encountered the "My life is miserable and I'm unhappy" personality. Unfortunately, this breed is not too uncommon amongst OR nurses. It is easy to see why this is so. I mean, there's the pressures to satisfy a surgeon's every request in the OR, there's that new scrub tech that all the dudes stare at who obviously MUST have an eating disorder, and then there's that oh-so-tempting right turn into McDonald's on the drive home that's responsible for the pink-tie scrub pants.

Unfortunately, this personality type abuses who they can. In your (our) case, we're the newest person to the OR...bottom of the totem pole. She can be shrewd without consequence. She does not have that power with anyone else. She likes it.

During these encounters during CA-1, I usually kept quiet. BOW YOUR HEAD, seems to be a common mindset on this forum. I realized that as the year progressed this happened less and less. By gaining more confidence in the OR, I believe you are less vulnerable.

Good luck,

Beav

 

[RT2MD]

Ahhh, my friend. You have encountered the "My life is miserable and I'm unhappy" personality. Unfortunately, this breed is not too uncommon amongst OR nurses. It is easy to see why this is so. I mean, there's the pressures to satisfy a surgeon's every request in the OR, there's that new scrub tech that all the dudes stare at who obviously MUST have an eating disorder, and then there's that oh-so-tempting right turn into McDonald's on the drive home that's responsible for the pink-tie scrub pants.

Unfortunately, this personality type abuses who they can. In your (our) case, we're the newest person to the OR...bottom of the totem pole. She can be shrewd without consequence. She does not have that power with anyone else. She likes it.

During these encounters during CA-1, I usually kept quiet. BOW YOUR HEAD, seems to be a common mindset on this forum. I realized that as the year progressed this happened less and less. By gaining more confidence in the OR, I believe you are less vulnerable.

Good luck,

Beav

I was thinking of that thread as well... I don't really know how the OR environment fully works, and in all the ORs that I've been in (mostly as an RT called in to help) everybody has been incredibly nice... but I would think that as long as it isn't anything totally malignant or demeaning, letting it slide would be in your best interest.

 

[Bertelman]

Soooooo, there's this b.tchy OR nurse whom I've had the displeasure of dealing with on about 4 different occasions. The first time, I thought she may have just been quiet or having a bad day. Just a cold, b.tchy attitude without doing/saying anything overtly inappropriate or really crossing any lines.

The next few time, I've noticed it was pretty much with me only. Not my imagination either. Whatever. Yesterday, she did make an underhanded comment under her breath which made me ALMOST cut her down to size. But, I didn't. The next time I likely WILL but I'll be more prepared to do it in a way that isn't so knee jerk, but rather in a more witty, throw it back at you kind of way, which I think will work best for this person.(a female btw)

I've logged many hours in the OR in a few different positions at a few different hospitals. OR nurses are a different breed. You can't really compare them to floor nurses. I've worked with the one you discovered in each of my jobs.

Unlike floor nurses, OR nurses actually wield some control over your day. You need them as much as they need you. It's smart to play along, because a well-seasoned OR nurse has many layers of administration and policy she can use to enforce her will. You just have a PD that may or may not protect you. Your chief resident isn't gonna back you up. Believe me, this gal has been playing the game longer than you have, and will be playing it with another fool long after you leave.

She got this attitude because she hears it from everybody, every day. Surgeons that bitch. Other nurses that bitch. A missed coffee break. Whatever. You're an easy target because you don't quite know what you're doing yet, and she'll push you if she can get away with it. It's really not that hard to play along, though.

For starters, don't take it personally. It has absolutely nothing to do with you. If you get personal with her, remember she will be working with each of your attendings, and will not hesitate to tell them what an ass you were the other day. The attendings care more about her, because remember, she will be there long after you leave, and your attendings need her on their side, too.

She won't respect you unless you can take it, at least for a little bit. At some point this year, there will be a difficult situation in the OR, or she will actually need you for something, and you will help a room turn over faster. Then she'll realize you're actually on her side, at least as far as getting the job done early. She'll stop giving you attitude. You may even try joking with her. I suggest easy topics like a slow surgeon, an incompetent surgeon, or the as$hole surgeon. She hates those people more than she hates you. Do a few things that make her day easier, like turning up the bovie if you happen to be parked next to it, or tying up the scrub, and she will remember that.

Just remember, don't sling the insults back at her. Before you know it, you'll be meeting an even crustier nurse- the OR Charge. This gal keeps surgeons in their place on a daily basis, so she'll have no hesitation knocking you down.

 

[Gimlet]

. Before you know it, you'll be meeting an even crustier nurse- the OR Charge.

***shudder*** Our charge RN is the definition of crusty. I have managed to get her to laugh once or twice, though, and I think my life in the OR has gotten easier because of it.

 

[cfdavid]

Thanks for all the responses. I've read every single one and really appreciate all of the different perspectives.

Man, I almost got caught NOT bowing my head, which is something I swore to myself that I would do (bow the head). After reassessing, I certainly will not be looking to exacerbate this any further. Unless she really goes over the top, I'll just do my job. Not sure this gal is really possible to win over, but at least I'll stay more neutral.

I agree, there's little to gain by bringing it back to her.

 

[Monty Python]

.... and then there's that oh-so-tempting right turn into McDonald's on the drive home that's responsible for the pink-tie scrub pants.

Now that's funny ! (and unfortunately quite true).

 

[RussianJoo]

Provided you assumed the accuracy of a self-descriptor by an anonymous internet poster, it would tell you one thing about me.

And the other thing you can learn about me from this thread is that I think a CA1 less than 2 months into his residency is an idiot if he thinks that he has done anything yet to earn the notice, let alone the kowtowing and/or respect, of any person who doesn't have the job of babying him through his early-years learning process. If he compounds that idiocy with being sexually derogatory about his co-workers, he's well on his way to being one of those people who gets kicked out of residency and then wails on SDN about their career being ruined before they have a chance to pay off their mountains of debt.

OP's got over 3,000 posts here. It's probably not difficult to go through them and get pretty accurate information about who he is, if anyone cared enough to do it. (I don't, but it's clear from one of his more recent posts that he's used an illegal substance, which isn't great for his licensing prospects. I'll give that as a starter for anyone who does want to make the effort.)

It sounds like you need to get laid too.

 

[RxBoy]

Thanks for all the responses. I've read every single one and really appreciate all of the different perspectives.

Man, I almost got caught NOT bowing my head, which is something I swore to myself that I would do (bow the head). After reassessing, I certainly will not be looking to exacerbate this any further. Unless she really goes over the top, I'll just do my job. Not sure this gal is really possible to win over, but at least I'll stay more neutral.

I agree, there's little to gain by bringing it back to her.

Don't worry about it... Just be extra nice to them, smile through your teeth. Its tough adjusting the first couple of months. You go from being the respected seasoned intern to some lowly CA1 that doesn't have the speed/knowledge/or technical skills to prove their worth. Mix that in with the unavoidable toxic OR environment and it becomes frustrating. Just hold it down.

By the end of the year, you will be 1 of 2 residents.
1) The loud cocky, overly confident resident that will defend their honor to the end. The circulators will eventually despise this resident, talk about them in their little nursing clicks, team up and slowly cut them down to bits. This is usually a vicious cycle and the resident eventually stress them-self out constantly moaning and complaining to other residents/attendings.
2) The jaded resident. The one that has become emotionally numbed to criticism from circulators/scrub techs/CRNAs/preop nurses/surgeons because they eventually realize how little their criticism matters. These residents are usually never condescending, always seem to keep their cool, and eventually are deemed acceptable by the staff.

I def fit in the number 2 category. I'll tell you my stress level is next to 0 at work. The best way to piss someone off is to not care. Eventually you'll not care if it pisses them off. This is the sweet spot to be in as a resident.

 

[cfdavid]

Don't worry about it... Just be extra nice to them, smile through your teeth. Its tough adjusting the first couple of months. You go from being the respected seasoned intern to some lowly CA1 that doesn't have the speed/knowledge/or technical skills to prove their worth. Mix that in with the unavoidable toxic OR environment and it becomes frustrating. Just hold it down.

By the end of the year, you will be 1 of 2 residents.
1) The loud cocky, overly confident resident that will defend their honor to the end. The circulators will eventually despise this resident, talk about them in their little nursing clicks, team up and slowly cut them down to bits. This is usually a vicious cycle and the resident eventually stress them-self out constantly moaning and complaining to other residents/attendings.
2) The jaded resident. The one that has become emotionally numbed to criticism from circulators/scrub techs/CRNAs/preop nurses/surgeons because they eventually realize how little their criticism matters. These residents are usually never condescending, always seem to keep their cool, and eventually are deemed acceptable by the staff.

I def fit in the number 2 category. I'll tell you my stress level is next to 0 at work. The best way to piss someone off is to not care. Eventually you'll not care if it pisses them off. This is the sweet spot to be in as a resident.

Yeah, that'll be my aim. It's just been this single person, though, so I have high hopes. Also, she really hasn't been that bad. I was sort of just venting and reflecting on the bigger picture (as you know).

I definitely prefer option 2. Good job in getting there RxB.

 

[powermd]

No one teaches you how to deal with this $hit before starting residency, but there are important life/career skills to be learned here.

Cf- it sounds like you got the right message. Let it slide. Never antagonize anyone because that makes it personal.

The way to win this game is become the best, most reliable resident you can. Extra points if you keep a cool head in a crisis or two and make a difference in the outcome.

The other way is to expand your circle of influence amount the ancillary staff. Get to know all their names, and be sure to get to know them personally too. Chat with them while you're getting set up before a case, while waiting for a bed, and after a case if you return to your room. Talk politics, the weather, music, annoying surgeons, whatever- just don't offend them. It will be much harder for anyone to disrespect you if the rest of the staff cares about you personally. Make this effort and you'll quickly rise to the top 1% of residents in their eyes. They may even jump to your defense when some arrogant surgeon gets on your case (seen it).

 

[Yo GabbaPentin]

A quiet, cold b!tchy OR nurse? At my program, that is what I would hope for on a GOOD day! As everyone else has said, let it slide. She is honestly hoping you do come back at her with anything. I can promise you that she has her next 2-3 moves already planned. It's one of the joys of anesthesia residency but hang in there.

 

[doctor712]

Now that's funny ! (and unfortunately quite true).

Trinity, Please tell me you took that picture in the inverted F/A-18 yourself?
#bucketlist 👍👍

D712

 

[Apollyon]

You know, I've been thinking about something similar for the past few days. Just this evening, the nursing supervisor came down to the ED, and the "crisis nurse" was with her (the crisis nurse is an ICU nurse that floats to the ED for a higher census, and, if a pt comes into the ED that goes to the unit, that nurse takes the patient). The nursing supervisor is just a hoot, whereas this ICU nurse bugs me. They leave, but, then, a while later, the supervisor returns, and the crisis nurse is with her, again. I said to the supe, "Oh, you're back with your minion, eh?" The crisis nurse tenses up, and gets this look on her face, and just leaves in a huff. I said, "Really? She's going to write me up for that?" The supe said I didn't do anything wrong, and that she would back me. A few minutes later, the nurse returns and says "I just had to pee really badly - that's why I left". However, from what I saw, she didn't go to the latrine.

That anecdote underscores the idea, just like the bitchy/nasty way that some people act in the OR - do their kids know that their parents are such petty, nasty losers? Or, likewise, do their spouses know that they're married to douchebags? I mean, it's like the "punch clock villain" - not per se evil, but just "doing their job". But do the family members (or non-work friends) know that their acquaintance is writing people up for events that have no bearing on the real world, or that they treat people badly, intentionally and voluntarily? Or that their loved one is acting in a manner that would probably get them beaten up if they did it outside their workplace?

To summarize, are these people self-aware as to their *******-ishness?

 

[Monty Python]

Trinity, Please tell me you took that picture in the inverted F/A-18 yourself?
#bucketlist 👍👍

D712

Oh, wishful thinking, if only it were true.

I copied that from the Blue Angels website. My gallery of Navy pics needed a little updating, and now that Lee has fixed my avatar photo growth hormone problem I can post in normal size. Thanks Lee !

In the early 1970s I was a Navy midshipman with a flight school seat at Pensacola waiting on me after graduation. Then in my sophomore year the myopia kicked in. By the time graduation rolled around I couldn't even pass the vision test to be the Radar Intercept Officer (you know, the non-pilot guy in the back seat 😡).

Life gives us lemons, and we make lemonade and move on. Funny how the same Navy which wouldn't even consider giving me a vision waiver for flight school (as I already had my civilian pilot license) threw me a blank check for anesthesia school. For the Navy folks on this forum: nothing is sweeter than getting that 20 year letter from PERS in your mailbox.

PS. Best wishes 712 on your 2012 application.

 

[doctor712]

Oh, wishful thinking, if only it were true.

I copied that from the Blue Angels website. My gallery of Navy pics needed a little updating, and now that Lee has fixed my avatar photo growth hormone problem I can post in normal size. Thanks Lee !

In the early 1970s I was a Navy midshipman with a flight school seat at Pensacola waiting on me after graduation. Then in my sophomore year the myopia kicked in. By the time graduation rolled around I couldn't even pass the vision test to be the Radar Intercept Officer (you know, the non-pilot guy in the back seat 😡).

Life gives us lemons, and we make lemonade and move on. Funny how the same Navy which wouldn't even consider giving me a vision waiver for flight school (as I already had my civilian pilot license) threw me a blank check for anesthesia school. For the Navy folks on this forum: nothing is sweeter than getting that 20 year letter from PERS in your mailbox.

PS. Best wishes 712 on your 2012 application.

Haha, well, yeah, totally wishful thinking. I think I'm going up to the Jacksonville, 11/5, Blue Angels show. I absolutely love watching those pilots do their thing! It's a great show for anyone else debating on watching their first flight performance. Lemme say this, if I were younger, and not 38, I would seriously consider giving (8 years is it? 4 years?) to the Mil to have med school paid for. Absolutely. I think the first phone call I ever made about a "job", whether it was an internship, real job, newspaper job etc, was around 14-15. I called the local AF and Navy recruiters and asked how to be a fighter pilot!!! I too got the myopia discussion. 🙁 I think the Naval recruiter tried to talk me into flying other types of planes, but it was Fighter Jet or bust at that time. TOP GUN. 🙄

Back to the thread, I can only share one little story that might be on topic. I had asked to shadow at a research hospital I'd say 2 years ago. The only way this hospital would let me shadow (an anesthesiologist who happened to be a Pain Doc) was to go through the 1 week "med student observership" program. Yeah, I don't think I had Orgo under my belt at that point. Nevertheless, that was the paperwork I filled out and the paperwork I handed in to get a badge for the week.

The experience was really great btw. Day one I walked in and the doc was doing an U/S guided shoulder block, I had seen anesthesiologists in the OR, but never doing pain, and never with ultrasound. Anyway, it was a great week, and I learned a little about how different the areas of straight OR time and Pain medicine can be. Clinic and all. Lots of pain procedures etc. At the end of the week, I was allowed to watch a spinal fusion, goto clinic with some PM&R docs, spend time with Neurosurgeons, a great set up for seeing it all

So, the first day though, or maybe day two, I had to be in the OR at 700am I think. So, of course, I didn't want to be late! At 645am I walk in and, lost, and not used to this hospital, I stumbled into the lounge - which - to this day I think - is the only obvious pass through from lockers to OR. I opened the door, and saw 45 nurses, PACKED into the lounge, all watching a lecture by a nurse at the front of the lounge. I think she was talking about OSHA or HIPAA or something environmental. What do I do? I mean, it's 655am and if I'm late, doctor dude might not write that rec letter or might simply say, "Why are you late?" 2 choices? Keep walking. Don't keep walking. I chose poorly.

Hurried, I walk into this room of 45 OR nurses, like, well...what did that poster say about moonshine and a turtle in that other thread? Like a drunken turtle on moonshine. Something like that. Little do I know that I am now stepping into the lions den. the MIDDLE of the lions den. I mean, if the OR is the DEN, this is the spot in the den where the lions consume their kill. That's it, I'm in the KILL ZONE. And I'm walking ONWARD. My goal, at least I THINK this is my goal, is a lone door on the opposite side of the Lions den. I figure, over there, THAT's the DOOR that will let me get to freedom... So, since there are 45 nurses in this SMALL LOUNGE, some standing, some sitting, some sitting on others' laps, I try to weave a path along the perimeter. Stay inconspicuous. 😎

But let's face it, I'm 6'4'' 230 (soon 210 again I hope), I'm conspicuous. And little do I know that my path around the outskirts of the Kalahari is going to maze me RIGHT into the MIDDLE OF THE F ING ROOM/DEN/CARCASS. So, now, I'm worried about being late to the OR, I'm lost, and I'm standing in the middle of 45 OR nurses/scrub techs etc who are enjoying their last cup of coffee of the next 6 hours and who are, obviously, intently listening to said lecture. And even if all that is NOT true, what I can guarantee is that, in spite of the rest, they DONT want my A SS standing in front of them. 😱

Now what to do? Retreat? Show the pride the juicy nape of my neck? NEVER! You ever see a zebra making an escape running backwards? NO! you have to move FORWARD!!!! Come to think of it, I don't care how the ZEBRA runs, it's not getting away. Neither was I. So, I press forward! I. have. to. make. it. to that. door. I'm pretty sure once I go through that door, a pot of gold, a rainbow, and unicorns will await me on the other side. Of this I am sure. Now, the pride has seemingly moved closer for a whiff and I am excusing myself, "Oh sorry", "Pardon me" "Excuse me, sorry" as, since I am getting closer to The FEMALE LION PRIDE LEADER, her family members are all nice and packed in extra tight to enjoy the meal. I step on toes. Bump knees. This is really going downhill. I look up, and I am almost face to face with said PRIDEWOMAN. What to do now? Back up? NOT ME.

So, since that door is now only 9 feet away, I can clearly make it there in 2 steps. And this is when it starts. THE BOOING. THE HISSING. THE "HEY WHAT'S THIS?!" They smell meat. Fresh meat, albeit nicely aged. 😀 MORE BOOING. No, booing. I mean, literally, being in the crowd, "Booooooo!!!!!!" Suddenly a chorus of boos. What was I to make of this? Aha! Clearly I have insulted and offended the pride!!! By walking through this rowdy group, ensconced in their lecture. Clearly, nobody can tell that I am LOST. I have intentionally insulted the clan and my punishment: BOOS. HISSES. Nurses stand up. They raise out of their seats. SOMEBODY HAS TO MAKE A LESSON OUTTA ME!!!! But these suckers don't realize that I am at the door now. The holy grail. Open. Shut. GONE. Ahhhhh. Freedom.

Hmmmm. The ORs are awfully empty. It seems that it's 700am and the rooms aren't bustling. What gives? My doctor? Not in sight. I failed to realize, at the time, that D'OH, how could I be late for the surgery and intubation etc, IF ALL THE NURSES IN THE ENTIRE OPERATING SUITE are sitting inside the LOUNGE!!!!!! The realization happened too late though. A new hospital drains brain cells. Yes?!

But what's this? The door opens behind me. Standing there, all 6'4'' of me, a DEER IN HEADLIGHTS. A LOST DEER in headlights. Nurses approach. But, clearly you're not going to slaughter this poor animal, are you Ms. Nurse, I mean - I MADE IT OUT OF THE DEN, don't I win!? No, just remind me that I need to put on my cap and booties. You know, in the midst of the BOOING, I forgot to grab a handful before making my swift exit. And these nurses were going to make CERTAIN that I didn't infect anyone in the hallway! Nope not for a second. They were going to GRAB a bouffant and chase my BUTT down the hallway. Even as I sped UP! Around the charge nurses desk. Around toward the PACU. And make sure that they reminded me -- in front of the entire MD staff in the PRE-OP area -- (OH THATS WHERE DOC IS!!!) that I need that damn cap on NOW!!!!!

In the end, a WONDERFUL experience in the OR that day. beating triple heart bypass. believe it or not, by the end of the day, those SAME nurses were all smiles and handshakes after the case. As if THAT mattered anymore. 😛 I had engraved my name as IDIOT in the book that day. Note to self: PACKED ROOM, do NOT traverse. NOTHING, on the other side of that room, is that important. 🙂

D712

 

[RT2MD]

Haha, well, yeah, totally wishful thinking. I think I'm going up to the Jacksonville, 11/5, Blue Angels show. I absolutely love watching those pilots do their thing! It's a great show for anyone else debating on watching their first flight performance. Lemme say this, if I were younger, and not 38, I would seriously consider giving (8 years is it? 4 years?) to the Mil to have med school paid for. Absolutely. I think the first phone call I ever made about a "job", whether it was an internship, real job, newspaper job etc, was around 14-15. I called the local AF and Navy recruiters and asked how to be a fighter pilot!!! I too got the myopia discussion. 🙁 I think the Naval recruiter tried to talk me into flying other types of planes, but it was Fighter Jet or bust at that time. TOP GUN. 🙄

The Navy had to LOVE it when that movie came out...*drool* They knew that they were going to be flooded with applicants after that one. "Is it true that I'll get a chick like Kelly McGillis?" 😀

Back to the thread, I can only share one little story that might be on topic...

😆😆Great story, man! I've been that guy before... very similar story, couldn't hope to describe it as good as you did, though. 👍

 

[doctor712]

The Navy had to LOVE it when that movie came out...*drool* They knew that they were going to be flooded with applicants after that one. "Is it true that I'll get a chick like Kelly McGillis?" 😀



😆😆Great story, man! I've been that guy before... very similar story, couldn't hope to describe it as good as you did, though. 👍

And I'm sure NCIS is enjoying the applications skyrocketing as well. 🙂

 

[Bertelman]

One of the best long posts, ever.

p.s. I would have booed, too.

 

[RxBoy]

Little do I know that I am now stepping into the lions den. the MIDDLE of the lions den. I mean, if the OR is the DEN, this is the spot in the den where the lions consume their kill. That's it, I'm in the KILL ZONE.

Just picturing that scene... I picture that SNATCH quote except replacing bores with nurses...

"They will go through bone like butter. You need at least sixteen nurses to finish the job in one sitting, so be wary of any man who keeps nurses around. They will go through a body that weighs 200 pounds in about eight minutes. That means that a single nurse can consume two pounds of uncooked flesh every minute."

 

[doctor712]

One of the best long posts, ever.

Aw, shucks. 🙂

p.s. I would have booed, too.

Wait, oh snap!!!

 

[doctor712]

Just picturing that scene... I picture that SNATCH quote except replacing bores with nurses...

"They will go through bone like butter. You need at least sixteen nurses to finish the job in one sitting, so be wary of any man who keeps nurses around. They will go through a body that weighs 200 pounds in about eight minutes. That means that a single nurse can consume two pounds of uncooked flesh every minute."

Now I gotta go watch Snatch, don't I? 😉

 

[dhb]

Now I gotta go watch Snatch, don't I? 😉

You must

 

[Coastie]

I believe we have a new zippy, gentleman.

(712, this is a huge compliment: ask jet!)

Great post.

Haha, well, yeah, totally wishful thinking. I think I'm going up to the Jacksonville, 11/5, Blue Angels show. I absolutely love watching those pilots do their thing! It's a great show for anyone else debating on watching their first flight performance. Lemme say this, if I were younger, and not 38, I would seriously consider giving (8 years is it? 4 years?) to the Mil to have med school paid for. Absolutely. I think the first phone call I ever made about a "job", whether it was an internship, real job, newspaper job etc, was around 14-15. I called the local AF and Navy recruiters and asked how to be a fighter pilot!!! I too got the myopia discussion. 🙁 I think the Naval recruiter tried to talk me into flying other types of planes, but it was Fighter Jet or bust at that time. TOP GUN. 🙄

Back to the thread, I can only share one little story that might be on topic. I had asked to shadow at a research hospital I'd say 2 years ago. The only way this hospital would let me shadow (an anesthesiologist who happened to be a Pain Doc) was to go through the 1 week "med student observership" program. Yeah, I don't think I had Orgo under my belt at that point. Nevertheless, that was the paperwork I filled out and the paperwork I handed in to get a badge for the week.

The experience was really great btw. Day one I walked in and the doc was doing an U/S guided shoulder block, I had seen anesthesiologists in the OR, but never doing pain, and never with ultrasound. Anyway, it was a great week, and I learned a little about how different the areas of straight OR time and Pain medicine can be. Clinic and all. Lots of pain procedures etc. At the end of the week, I was allowed to watch a spinal fusion, goto clinic with some PM&R docs, spend time with Neurosurgeons, a great set up for seeing it all

So, the first day though, or maybe day two, I had to be in the OR at 700am I think. So, of course, I didn't want to be late! At 645am I walk in and, lost, and not used to this hospital, I stumbled into the lounge - which - to this day I think - is the only obvious pass through from lockers to OR. I opened the door, and saw 45 nurses, PACKED into the lounge, all watching a lecture by a nurse at the front of the lounge. I think she was talking about OSHA or HIPAA or something environmental. What do I do? I mean, it's 655am and if I'm late, doctor dude might not write that rec letter or might simply say, "Why are you late?" 2 choices? Keep walking. Don't keep walking. I chose poorly.

Hurried, I walk into this room of 45 OR nurses, like, well...what did that poster say about moonshine and a turtle in that other thread? Like a drunken turtle on moonshine. Something like that. Little do I know that I am now stepping into the lions den. the MIDDLE of the lions den. I mean, if the OR is the DEN, this is the spot in the den where the lions consume their kill. That's it, I'm in the KILL ZONE. And I'm walking ONWARD. My goal, at least I THINK this is my goal, is a lone door on the opposite side of the Lions den. I figure, over there, THAT's the DOOR that will let me get to freedom... So, since there are 45 nurses in this SMALL LOUNGE, some standing, some sitting, some sitting on others' laps, I try to weave a path along the perimeter. Stay inconspicuous. 😎

But let's face it, I'm 6'4'' 230 (soon 210 again I hope), I'm conspicuous. And little do I know that my path around the outskirts of the Kalahari is going to maze me RIGHT into the MIDDLE OF THE F ING ROOM/DEN/CARCASS. So, now, I'm worried about being late to the OR, I'm lost, and I'm standing in the middle of 45 OR nurses/scrub techs etc who are enjoying their last cup of coffee of the next 6 hours and who are, obviously, intently listening to said lecture. And even if all that is NOT true, what I can guarantee is that, in spite of the rest, they DONT want my A SS standing in front of them. 😱

Now what to do? Retreat? Show the pride the juicy nape of my neck? NEVER! You ever see a zebra making an escape running backwards? NO! you have to move FORWARD!!!! Come to think of it, I don't care how the ZEBRA runs, it's not getting away. Neither was I. So, I press forward! I. have. to. make. it. to that. door. I'm pretty sure once I go through that door, a pot of gold, a rainbow, and unicorns will await me on the other side. Of this I am sure. Now, the pride has seemingly moved closer for a whiff and I am excusing myself, "Oh sorry", "Pardon me" "Excuse me, sorry" as, since I am getting closer to The FEMALE LION PRIDE LEADER, her family members are all nice and packed in extra tight to enjoy the meal. I step on toes. Bump knees. This is really going downhill. I look up, and I am almost face to face with said PRIDEWOMAN. What to do now? Back up? NOT ME.

So, since that door is now only 9 feet away, I can clearly make it there in 2 steps. And this is when it starts. THE BOOING. THE HISSING. THE "HEY WHAT'S THIS?!" They smell meat. Fresh meat, albeit nicely aged. 😀 MORE BOOING. No, booing. I mean, literally, being in the crowd, "Booooooo!!!!!!" Suddenly a chorus of boos. What was I to make of this? Aha! Clearly I have insulted and offended the pride!!! By walking through this rowdy group, ensconced in their lecture. Clearly, nobody can tell that I am LOST. I have intentionally insulted the clan and my punishment: BOOS. HISSES. Nurses stand up. They raise out of their seats. SOMEBODY HAS TO MAKE A LESSON OUTTA ME!!!! But these suckers don't realize that I am at the door now. The holy grail. Open. Shut. GONE. Ahhhhh. Freedom.

Hmmmm. The ORs are awfully empty. It seems that it's 700am and the rooms aren't bustling. What gives? My doctor? Not in sight. I failed to realize, at the time, that D'OH, how could I be late for the surgery and intubation etc, IF ALL THE NURSES IN THE ENTIRE OPERATING SUITE are sitting inside the LOUNGE!!!!!! The realization happened too late though. A new hospital drains brain cells. Yes?!

But what's this? The door opens behind me. Standing there, all 6'4'' of me, a DEER IN HEADLIGHTS. A LOST DEER in headlights. Nurses approach. But, clearly you're not going to slaughter this poor animal, are you Ms. Nurse, I mean - I MADE IT OUT OF THE DEN, don't I win!? No, just remind me that I need to put on my cap and booties. You know, in the midst of the BOOING, I forgot to grab a handful before making my swift exit. And these nurses were going to make CERTAIN that I didn't infect anyone in the hallway! Nope not for a second. They were going to GRAB a bouffant and chase my BUTT down the hallway. Even as I sped UP! Around the charge nurses desk. Around toward the PACU. And make sure that they reminded me -- in front of the entire MD staff in the PRE-OP area -- (OH THATS WHERE DOC IS!!!) that I need that damn cap on NOW!!!!!

In the end, a WONDERFUL experience in the OR that day. beating triple heart bypass. believe it or not, by the end of the day, those SAME nurses were all smiles and handshakes after the case. As if THAT mattered anymore. 😛 I had engraved my name as IDIOT in the book that day. Note to self: PACKED ROOM, do NOT traverse. NOTHING, on the other side of that room, is that important. 🙂

D712

 

[doctor712]

Thanks, Coastie!!! 🙂

 

[Bertelman]

Now I gotta go watch Snatch, don't I? 😉

Haven't seen it?

Great use of a Massive Attack track in there. Really good movie.