Hello,
Responding to a bad evaluation
- Thread starter Teefa
- Start date
That's a tough way to start. Here's my take.
They should have discussed the perceived problems with you earlier, but you should also have been seeking feedback all along. The problem with negative feedback is that no one really wants to give it, so most won't, unless you corner them and demand it. From here out, I would make a habit out of specifically asking staff how you're doing and how you can improve. Then, next time, they'll have no excuse for blindsiding you.
The second thing to do is redouble your academic efforts and do your best to absolutely crush any written exams you take. The last thing you need is to put up a weak or average score on the annual in-training exam - it would just reinforce the negative impressions they're already building.
I would check the yes box on the eval. You can't fight or contest others' subjective opinions of you; attempting to do so will be a time wasting, counterproductive distraction. I would be humble and contrite, and acknowledge the shortcomings they point out, even if you don't agree.
They should have discussed the perceived problems with you earlier, but you should also have been seeking feedback all along. The problem with negative feedback is that no one really wants to give it, so most won't, unless you corner them and demand it. From here out, I would make a habit out of specifically asking staff how you're doing and how you can improve. Then, next time, they'll have no excuse for blindsiding you.
The second thing to do is redouble your academic efforts and do your best to absolutely crush any written exams you take. The last thing you need is to put up a weak or average score on the annual in-training exam - it would just reinforce the negative impressions they're already building.
I would check the yes box on the eval. You can't fight or contest others' subjective opinions of you; attempting to do so will be a time wasting, counterproductive distraction. I would be humble and contrite, and acknowledge the shortcomings they point out, even if you don't agree.
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I would check "no" (or at least delay checking either one) at least until you get a face to face meeting with someone with actual concerns. You will probably have to check yes eventually, but it isn't helping anyone if you just accept criticism that you don't understand. It may be perfectly valid criticism, but in order for you to improve you have to understand where it is coming from and what you can do better. It isn't fair to you to get a hearsay evaluation which questions an area you have never been criticized for before. I agree with the comments above, but at least this will let them know of a problem in their evaluation system.
While I do agree with the above comment that asking for feedback earlier probably would have helped, it's hard to know how much or in what way it would have. A lot of times people save their criticisms for evaluation forms. There will always be excellent teachers who will answer your question honestly, but many just simply hide behind the relative anonymity and lack of confrontation inherent in an evaluation form.
As for the midterm evaluation expressing problems that were not conveyed to you, that is BS from my perspective and that is their fault. The purpose of a midterm evaluation is to evalute you in the middle of the rotation and give you criticism so that you can make changes and continue to learn during the rest of the time. It isn't just to fill out the evaluation. I would have a talk with the program director about that because behavior like that shouldn't continue on their part. If they are not taking the evaluating process seriously than how do you know it is valid?
While I do agree with the above comment that asking for feedback earlier probably would have helped, it's hard to know how much or in what way it would have. A lot of times people save their criticisms for evaluation forms. There will always be excellent teachers who will answer your question honestly, but many just simply hide behind the relative anonymity and lack of confrontation inherent in an evaluation form.
As for the midterm evaluation expressing problems that were not conveyed to you, that is BS from my perspective and that is their fault. The purpose of a midterm evaluation is to evalute you in the middle of the rotation and give you criticism so that you can make changes and continue to learn during the rest of the time. It isn't just to fill out the evaluation. I would have a talk with the program director about that because behavior like that shouldn't continue on their part. If they are not taking the evaluating process seriously than how do you know it is valid?
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5 years eh? Sounds like you are in catagorical surgery or orthopedics maybe... which can be very evil on interns, especially catagorical cause they dont think they need to kiss ass since they are semi guaranteed the spot the year after. If this is not surgery/orthopedics then dont bother reading the below, the game is somewhat different.
If this is really surgery/orthopedics as I suspect it is then you need to:
1st) Accept and say yes.
2nd) Find out exactly what caused the problem and WHO is the complainer. Accept the fact that the person is a d**k but that doesn't matter, you just need to have a perfect working relationship with them not a buddy relationship. Likely the problem is that you didnt show some enthusiasm or talked back (Yes talking back, I know it sounds like you are back in elementary school but that's how some people are in surgery, one scenario: a chief joking with an intern by telling him he will have to come in the weekend, the intern said "are you serious?" the chief laughed and said he is messing with him, but the other chief who happened to be standing there complained "Man, what's with these interns who talk back to you these days.")
3rd) Whatever the problem perceived, make sure you dont repeat the action that induced it. You need specifics and so without being confrontational, go find out what action triggered the river of maddness. If you feel the problem stems from one of the seniors with an attitude, then maybe it would be wise to pick your vacation wisely (ie when you are with that person on the same team.) If it's an attending, well that's a problem. If your problem is with the nurses, well I dont think it is cause it wouldn't be this subtle but you can find out if the problem is your relationship with the nurses by telling the charge nurse on the usual floor your story and asking what does she think happened... usually that reveals a lot if it was a nurse complaint.
4th) Gosh, start making friends with the different attendings and doing things to make them happy. You want them on your side.
If this is really surgery/orthopedics as I suspect it is then you need to:
1st) Accept and say yes.
2nd) Find out exactly what caused the problem and WHO is the complainer. Accept the fact that the person is a d**k but that doesn't matter, you just need to have a perfect working relationship with them not a buddy relationship. Likely the problem is that you didnt show some enthusiasm or talked back (Yes talking back, I know it sounds like you are back in elementary school but that's how some people are in surgery, one scenario: a chief joking with an intern by telling him he will have to come in the weekend, the intern said "are you serious?" the chief laughed and said he is messing with him, but the other chief who happened to be standing there complained "Man, what's with these interns who talk back to you these days.")
3rd) Whatever the problem perceived, make sure you dont repeat the action that induced it. You need specifics and so without being confrontational, go find out what action triggered the river of maddness. If you feel the problem stems from one of the seniors with an attitude, then maybe it would be wise to pick your vacation wisely (ie when you are with that person on the same team.) If it's an attending, well that's a problem. If your problem is with the nurses, well I dont think it is cause it wouldn't be this subtle but you can find out if the problem is your relationship with the nurses by telling the charge nurse on the usual floor your story and asking what does she think happened... usually that reveals a lot if it was a nurse complaint.
4th) Gosh, start making friends with the different attendings and doing things to make them happy. You want them on your side.
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It ain't complicated. You check no. That's a legal document. Therefore checking yes is a binding admission from you that you agree with all statements made in that document and you won't be able to contest that should any future problems arise. Sounds like they're lining you up for the 8 ball.
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I smell a double bind here, where either way you are sort of screwed. I hate all this 'something is going on and I am not sure what' stuff. It is maddening. Likely as others have pointed out, it is less about your work and maybe more about someone being p*ssed off at you. Or, they are just like that to everyone. Hard to know.
The best interns/residents I have seen in malignant environments have been soft, smiling and slow to respond. They seem to really protect themselves by being compliant and seemingly friendly to everyone - but in a superficial way.
I don't know the answer to the egregiously unfair eval. It is ridiculous to get an eval one month after you're done that assesses you for the final and midterm points. It seems especially unfair if it is your first eval. Sometimes it is incredibly hard to read the politics of a situation and it takes a long time. I might put off signing as long as I could, and then somehow - and super professionally - I would ask about 'what I could learn from this, etc.,' from someone in a position to help you. If you have to sign in the end, then do it. But look very hard and try and discern the politics of your environment - are they doing this to others? is it just you? is there someone who seems to not like you? What do they expect in interns. Stuff like that.
One thing too, is to try and separate any anxiety out of the situation. Don't project into the future. Being a student is very different from being the intern. Is there anyone you know there in a senior position who can give you any advice? Someone you trust to help you and not blab about all this?
The best interns/residents I have seen in malignant environments have been soft, smiling and slow to respond. They seem to really protect themselves by being compliant and seemingly friendly to everyone - but in a superficial way.
I don't know the answer to the egregiously unfair eval. It is ridiculous to get an eval one month after you're done that assesses you for the final and midterm points. It seems especially unfair if it is your first eval. Sometimes it is incredibly hard to read the politics of a situation and it takes a long time. I might put off signing as long as I could, and then somehow - and super professionally - I would ask about 'what I could learn from this, etc.,' from someone in a position to help you. If you have to sign in the end, then do it. But look very hard and try and discern the politics of your environment - are they doing this to others? is it just you? is there someone who seems to not like you? What do they expect in interns. Stuff like that.
One thing too, is to try and separate any anxiety out of the situation. Don't project into the future. Being a student is very different from being the intern. Is there anyone you know there in a senior position who can give you any advice? Someone you trust to help you and not blab about all this?
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Note also persia's comments. This is correct. It is a legal document. And it might come back to bite you either way. You check no and you are viewed as a trouble maker. You check yes, especially in a program with malignant tendencies and this is the first step to perdition.
Yaah, has excellent advice. Also, there is room for comments. Likely this is a little box on the bottom of the form. If there is not space to detail your objections, make a large comment -- see attached comment in the box and attach a comment.
No matter what way you ultimately decide to reply, you should incorporate your comments and to do that you should talk to the nursing managers, others to see where the source of the evaluation originates. Malignant programs will not want to reveal the source.
One possible approach is to check the politically safe, but legally unsafe box, "YES" and and the phrase, "with qualifications." Or check the no box with the same phrase.
Then include comments such as,
I am concerned about the perception of "team relationships." Since there is no clear example cited, nor were any examples of the concern presented at the time this evaluation was present, nor during the rotation, it is difficult to see where this perception came from. I will work diligently to determine the precise nature of the issue and if necessary, take corrective actions and be proactive in this area.
You have two goals here and they are at odds with each other. 1. You need to protect yourself legally and 2. You need to survive the program.
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Why do people take this kind of gestapo crap from programs?
The attitude displayed towards you is one of incredible passive-aggressiveness. In the end, they are just wimpy people hiding behind a bureaucracy, and if you use the appropriate amount of force in the right context, you can shut them up very fast. No one should have to deal with this sorta crap as an intern or resident. As if there wasnt enough stress already...
The attitude displayed towards you is one of incredible passive-aggressiveness. In the end, they are just wimpy people hiding behind a bureaucracy, and if you use the appropriate amount of force in the right context, you can shut them up very fast. No one should have to deal with this sorta crap as an intern or resident. As if there wasnt enough stress already...
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That's generally why they're where they are.
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Cause they got you by the balls and they know it. And if you tell me you dont have balls, they'll "give" you a pair and then tie you up and hang you from them.
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Well, I think this about sums it up as far as I can see. Hard to see this in the beginning of your residency, and I am sorry if you were hoping it would be otherwise.
I think 3d's comments on the legal aspects are right on. Keep your eyes/ears open and walk very carefully.
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Attendings and fellow residents often give unfair evals. They will also be vague about the original source of the complaint to purposefully protect that source.
It happens and there is little you can do about it...except check "no," and work extremely hard to ensure that no one has any further ground to criticize you over.
Do good on your exams, read, don't complain, and be on time. Good luck.
It happens and there is little you can do about it...except check "no," and work extremely hard to ensure that no one has any further ground to criticize you over.
Do good on your exams, read, don't complain, and be on time. Good luck.
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Yes. And even if you do this, ie "work extremely hard to ensure that no one has any further ground to criticize..." your first comment prevails. "Attendings...often give unfair evals. They will also be vague about the original source..."
Ya know, I studied American history from very wonderful woman, a Daughter of the American Revolution and a nother history teacher who served as an aide to General Patton during the liberation of Italy.
Does it strike anybody else but me as strange that in the United States of America, we allow kangaroo courts, anonymous witnesses and unchallengeable unjustices?
Coastie, you are right. We need to change this happy horse manure, before we all go down.
