3rd Trimester

Why Med Students Suck...

So, I had my appointment today.  About every other appointment, she has a student working with her, which - annoys me a little, but I always let them seem me because everybody has to learn somehow, right?  Well, they usually do pretty well, but today?  OMG. 

This student walks in, and he's obviously TOTALLY nervous.  SO - I think no big deal, I can walk him through the process of finding the heartbeat if I have to.  (The baby ALWAYS squirms away from the doppler, so they have a hard time finding her heartbeat.)  Anyway - so he sits there and looks at my chart for (I KID YOU NOT) 15 minutes.  Saying NOTHING. 

So then he says.  "Um.  Have you had any leakage or anything?"

Leakage?  Of what sort?  LOL.  He hems and haws a little more, gets through a few more questions with lots of "um" and "uh" and "ok".  And then he asks.

"So.  You started out with twins, but I see you lost one.  Did they have to do anything with that?  Did they take it out?"

Wow.  Dude.  The sensitivity, it's not there. 

Thankfully, I've dealt with everything pretty well, and it doesn't bring me to tears anymore, but still.  Wow. 

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Re: Why Med Students Suck...

  • Wow. What an idiot. I am sorry you had to deal with that. Totally unacceptable.
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  • Wow.  I go to a high risk office and they have a lot of med students who I don't care if they see me, but I just cannot believe he said that.
  • yikes, did you say something about his bedside manner (or lack thereof) to your doc. If you didn't, you might want to fill her in. One day he's going to ask another patient that same question and that patient is going to respond as well as you did.

  • Holy! I would have lost it on him. Sorry you had to deal with that...
  • That's ridiculous!  Was it a first year med student?  Jerk. 
  • I'm sorry... Did you critique him on his bedside manner? You should... He needs to learn somehow.


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  • Does your DR have you complete a questionnaire or evaluation of the student? If not, I would send a note or a phone call and say that you don't mind students because you understand they have to learn but how are they learning if no one is there to guide them with their evaluations and questions.
  • I'm sorry I would have been pissed and upset. I'm sorry you had to go through that

     

  • I would have lost it...hopefully they are working on bedisde manner with him!  totally inappropriate!
  • I definitely lost it on the leakage comment...

    Then you sobered me up with the lost twin. Sorry you had yourself a royal jackass.

  • that was reason #1 that I went with midwives with dd. I'd rather have a midwife who's been working 10+ yrs delivering babies with me than a first year resident who's only delivered one baby unassisted before me. ... i could really go on, but ill keep my mouth shut. If I were you I would request there not be any more students present (you have that right)
  • I agree with the posts here- he needs to be schooled on the dos and donts- tell your doc.  My male classmates b_tched and moaned about how they had to do an OB/GYN rotation.  Some guys don't feel they have any responsibility to learn this stuff - but I think they are more uncomfortable than anything.
  • definitely give a critique to the doctor.  I see students a lot as well cause i am at a high risk teaching hospital, but i've never had anything like that.
  • As a med student (at least until May when I graduate!), I had to read this post. Your experience was really terrible, and I'm really sorry you had to deal with that. In part I blame the Dr., who probably should have briefed him more thoroughly on your situation, since it's defintely not one he's probably encountered before. Or, she could have instructed him to just stick to the routine questions/exams instead of delving into your particular devastating situation. I do think it would be a good idea to say something to the Dr so she can give him appropriate feedback. Dudes in particular were always mortified during OB, and we all know fellow students who may be top of the class but have terrible interpersonal skills and bedside manner. In fact, before graduation we now have to take a national exam that, while fairly hokey, tests our ability to deal with difficult situations. Anyway, he needs constructive criticism from his preceptor so hopefully he can learn something.

    Let me also say that I am eternally grateful to all the patients I've encountered during med school who allowed me to participate in their care. I know how easy it is to say no to letting a student take a history or do an exam on you, and I understand people who aren't comfortable letting students be a part of their team. I delivered 30+ babies on my month-long OB rotation, always with the help and oversight of both residents and faculty OBs, and it was such an awesome experience. Thanks to all of you who give us a chance to learn so we can become better physicians in the future!

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