Scrub tech problems

[KnuxNole]

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I understand that. I'm just saying that nobody "works around" a medical student with attitude. It's selective, see what I mean? Like if you take a surgeon, for example, and they go crazy on a scrub tech, then it'll be "hey, read this book on how to accept them and so on." Take the exact same surgeon and a medical student who acts the exact same way as the scrub tech and it'll be "go to town on that med student, show them how their attidude must change."

Mainly because the 3rd year med student is bottom of the totem pole. Doesn't excuse the behavior, but I doubt any 3rd year medical student expects to be treated above staff members.

 

[ruralsurg4now]

Mainly because the 3rd year med student is bottom of the totem pole. Doesn't excuse the behavior, but I doubt any 3rd year medical student expects to be treated above staff members.

That was my point, though. It's not about the expectations of the med student or anyone else. It's about principle. That's what I've always had a problem with when it comes to these issues. If it's truly something we should be doing (e.g., getting along with people, even if they're difficult, in order to improve the team), then it applies regardless of one's status. If it doesn't apply to someone (e.g., the med student or resident) just because it doesn't have to because they're lower on the pole, then it doesn't apply to anyone and I just laugh at people. I've met very few people who actually apply this "treat people well" concept to everyone and those people I respect because they're not total hypocrites. Everyone else can kiss my a$$.

 

[Kaustikos]

I guess you guys expect patients to be perfect, too?
Look, its simple. You're not being someone's bitch by acting like I said. It pays to your advantage. If someone acts mean, theres no better counter than being nice. Act like it doesn't phase you and move on. Patients will do this, too.

Yes, some nurses suck. But that's who they are. You can learn how to work with them or just unscrub. The key is finding what makes them like you, which isn't difficult. And coming from someone like myself who has a mouth thats gotten me in trouble several times, I've learned being dumb initially helps. Set the expectations low for a nurse and you'll have an easier time earning their trust. Admit you're a dumb med student snd they'll help you out more because you're humbly admitting you need their help/would appreciate it. Which pays off down the line.

 

[Armadillos]

yeah I think its fairly easy to get along with the scrub nurses/techs even if they are a little grumpy with students sometimes. Just takes a little social awareness and tact. Everyone in the room knows that your smart and in like 6 years your going going to be the prestigious MD running the show and making hundreds of thousands of dollars. Everyone also knows that at this moment you have very little experience in the OR and are more of a liability than an asset. So just be friendly, be humble, apologize for your mistakes, thank people for anything they do for you, etc. Ultimately your a transient visitor for a month to a place they have been and will be for years.

 

[USArmyHPSP]

This thread reminded me of an anecdotal story that may apply. In the middle to late 1970’s there was a student rotating through the cast room in ortho. He was attempting to apply a plaster thumb spica and was making a pretty good mess of himself, the floor and the tech who was acting as his “patient”. The tech mentioned the mess in a condescending tone, saying that because he was a medical student he wouldn’t be involved in the cleanup when he was done. This was done with a great deal of theatrical rolling eyes.

The student looked at the tech and very quietly told her “Yep, I’m a messy medical student. But someday you will call me doctor and I will count on you to apply these casts on my patients. And when that day comes, you’ll remember the way you talked to me today”. Of course it ends the way you expect. In the early 1990’s the new ortho attending was being introduced around and when he got to that tech he asked her “Remember the first time we met?”

"Yes doctor"

I guess my point is you can take some amount of satisfaction in knowing that someday they will call you doctor.

 

[ruralsurg4now]

Admit you're a dumb med student snd they'll help you out more because you're humbly admitting you need their help/would appreciate it. Which pays off down the line.

Sure, but like I said, my point is that the nurses don't do this. Nurses don't say "oh, just humbly admit you don't know as much as the resident and they will appreciate it and offer their help." They just say "do whatever you want and if there's any negative response, report them at your leisure."

 

[ruralsurg4now]

The student looked at the tech and very quietly told her “Yep, I’m a messy medical student. But someday you will call me doctor and I will count on you to apply these casts on my patients. And when that day comes, you’ll remember the way you talked to me today”.

Talking that way to a tech these days would get you disciplinary action.

 

[Armadillos]

Talking that way to a tech these days would get you disciplinary action.

Not only that, but just makes you look like an idiot all around.

 

[ruralsurg4now]

If they say you contaminated yourself then just take off your crap, rescrub and get regowned without saying a word.

...and then go let the air out of their tires in between cases.

 

[startswithb]

This thread reminded me of an anecdotal story that may apply. In the middle to late 1970’s there was a student rotating through the cast room in ortho. He was attempting to apply a plaster thumb spica and was making a pretty good mess of himself, the floor and the tech who was acting as his “patient”. The tech mentioned the mess in a condescending tone, saying that because he was a medical student he wouldn’t be involved in the cleanup when he was done. This was done with a great deal of theatrical rolling eyes.

The student looked at the tech and very quietly told her “Yep, I’m a messy medical student. But someday you will call me doctor and I will count on you to apply these casts on my patients. And when that day comes, you’ll remember the way you talked to me today”. Of course it ends the way you expect. In the early 1990’s the new ortho attending was being introduced around and when he got to that tech he asked her “Remember the first time we met?”

"Yes doctor"

I guess my point is you can take some amount of satisfaction in knowing that someday they will call you doctor.

Wow, that's dumb. Do you want your tech to respect you because of the type of doctor/person you are? Or "respect" you because you throw your weight around, and she actually resents you for life.

 

[tco]

This thread reminded me of an anecdotal story that may apply. In the middle to late 1970’s there was a student rotating through the cast room in ortho. He was attempting to apply a plaster thumb spica and was making a pretty good mess of himself, the floor and the tech who was acting as his “patient”. The tech mentioned the mess in a condescending tone, saying that because he was a medical student he wouldn’t be involved in the cleanup when he was done. This was done with a great deal of theatrical rolling eyes.

The student looked at the tech and very quietly told her “Yep, I’m a messy medical student. But someday you will call me doctor and I will count on you to apply these casts on my patients. And when that day comes, you’ll remember the way you talked to me today”. Of course it ends the way you expect. In the early 1990’s the new ortho attending was being introduced around and when he got to that tech he asked her “Remember the first time we met?”

"Yes doctor"

I guess my point is you can take some amount of satisfaction in knowing that someday they will call you doctor.

I can't believe how many douchebags there are in this profession.

 

[KnuxNole]

I doubt ANY third year of all people would think of speaking brashly or acts obnoxious lol

 

[KnuxNole]

Not only that, but just makes you look like an idiot all around.

Agreed. You let that tech get to you by being offended. Remember they are veterans and you are the rookie of the group. If all they do is roll their eyes or act sassy, that shouldn't change your constant smile. Remember, people who are moody or act tired can't beat someone who is always happy. As a student and resident, I always was happy and friendly. and although I was the opposite of the rare moody staff, they warmed up over time.

 

[NickNaylor]

It's impossible to prep someone "too far" in any direction. There's no magic distance that you can't prep beyond. You could technically continue upwards until you hit the anesthesiologist if you wanted to.

Yeah, that's what I found hilarious. I contaminated the field... with a sponge soaked in a high-power antimicrobial????

 

[ruralsurg4now]

I can't believe how many douchebags there are in this profession.

Keep in mind that the nurse was being a douche also. I never mind when someone matches douchiness with douchiness.

 

[tco]

Keep in mind that the nurse was being a douche also. I never mind when someone matches douchiness with douchiness.

If everyone takes a douche for a douche, the whole world ends up smelling like fish. Just swallow your pride for God's sake.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[ruralsurg4now]

If everyone takes a douche for a douche, the whole world ends up smelling like fish.

Yeah, but it's the fishy smell of Justice!

 

[JoBreeze]

Yeah, but it's the fishy smell of Justice!

No it's the annoying smell of you trying to measure your c**k in front of everyone because you're insecure despite being a physician.

 

[JoBreeze]

I can't believe how many douchebags there are in this profession.

Yup. Medicine attracts some of the most altruistic people out there, but we can't deny that it's a magnet for narcissists as well, and we all know a decent number of them get through the screening process.

 

[ruralsurg4now]

No it's the annoying smell of you trying to measure your c**k in front of everyone because you're insecure despite being a physician.

So if you're making an insulting post about me, does that mean this is the annoying smell of you trying to measure YOUR c**k in front of everyone because you're insecure?