Its a bit interesting how this thread has evolved.....angry pharmacists &/or angry preceptors......altho, not surprisingly, since this is a site for students & practioners, so it is logical students might correlate behaviors of pharmacists to be similar to their preceptors.
While it is true that many preceptors are pharmacists, I'm not sure this is what Klebsiella meant in the original post.
In the workplace....IMO...that is the most tough position to be with angry folks (it can be techs, dops, clerks, etc). You cannot get away from them unless you choose to change jobs. So, somehow, you have to get along with them the best way you can.
In my experience, altho long (yeah...I'm old! - but, that means I've worked with LOTS of people) I've noticed that folks who are angry are often that way because of frustration. Sometimes..its been with me, but most often its due to circumstances or situations in which I've had no part at all.
Golf brought up the situation with the preceptor-student relationship, which, is a unique one. An angry preceptor won't stay a preceptor very long. It may seem like forever for you, as the student, but in the academic/clinical world, that person won't last too long.
However...remember - there is a difference between one observed "angry" incident or, what I think Klebsiella was referring to, which I interpreted to be, that curmudgeonnly (sp?) grumpy guy. Each one of us can & does have our "angry" outbursts - hopefully, few in the workplace. As a student, I think that's an educational opportunity in itself. I would challenge any ICU pharmacist working in a hospital who does cardiovascular surgeries not observe a pt going downhill fast, 2 surgeons opening the chest in the ICU bay & at least one of them getting angry & making the next 10 minutes sheer h*ll for everyone while they try to get that heart beating again & the pt back into the OR.
Likewise, I've thrown an angry fit in certain circumstances as well and the students and techs scamper to just get what I want done & out of my way. Is it my norm? No. Is it effective? No. But, a good preceptor does not consistently do this & if he/she is really good.....will later sit down with the student & talk about what happened in the situation. I've had students with me when that exact open-heart surgery situation has occurred & I've sat down with them later & explained not just the clinical/physiological situation which was causing the physician's anger, but what our place was as pharmacists & the importance of not making the clinical situation become a playground for emotions. In pharmacy, we do have to develop a professional thick skin since we have to work with people who are sick or with people who are trying to save a sick person's life.
When I've had my own outbursts...I've also sat down with my students & tried to explain all the things which were going around in my head. Trying to explain a pharmacist's frustrations, which generate anger, does, IMO try to help the student understand what actually goes on in a real life job situation. Many times a student observes behavior, but does not understand the reasonings which went into the behavior's they see.
Golf - I think your question was rhetorical. Perhaps I've gotten it wrong? However, I would want you to be able to come to me as a student & ask me if there was something which you were doing - or not doing, which was contributing to any difficulty. I don't think I'd use the words anger, frustration, irritation or any other judgmental word. But - yes, I'd want the dialog. I would be very, very irritated if you went over my head & directly to the rotations director since part of my job is not just, in my case, to teach you ICU &/or OR pharmacy - but also to teach you how to interact with all the colleagues we come in contact with and how to deal with stresses which might cause anger or frustration. But...recognize also, you may just have a very poor preceptor, which you can't do anything about. Some people are just not good teachers & preceptors, are often not permanent faculty.
But - that is entirely different than a workplace situation. In that situation, you get who you get (techs suffer for this all the time!) & not all pharmacists are teachers (thus, are not preceptors)...so my advice....learn to let other's frustrations (which are manifesting as anger) fall off you. If it becomes so difficult you cannot work with that person - talk with the individual first. Every dop I've every worked with will give that same advice. They are not there to monitor each & every kindergarten fight. Work it out. When that doesn't work - then, you must go to the dop....then it becomes a disciplinary proceeding - which Anon has documented, he has suffered for. Those kinds of things do indeed haunt you and can for a long time....he shared his own story & what he would advise. I might choose differently & in hindsight, so might he - but...he gave his advice based on his experience. Its our experience which shapes who we become as professionals.
So....Farmer - did I answer your question about what I would want from my students? I hope so!
Golf...did that help in how you might ever have to address a situation as a student? I hope so!
To all the others - sorry for the long post!!!😳
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