Archive for the ‘Family & Friends’ Category

If you could sit down with me and ask me any question about being successful in your internship or residency, what would it be? I’ll answer some questions on upcoming RookieDoc FAQs – these are occasional phone conferences for RookieDoc fans and members where I discuss a hot topic or answer questions.

Ask Me About Internship or Residency

I may not get to every question directly, but may be able to post important answers here, in special RookieDoc reports (PDF), on the RookieDoc Squidoo lens, or in the Audio Tips series.

By the way, the RookieDoc membership is undergoing some upgrades and will open to new members soon. Stay tuned. In the meantime, though, get your question in. Go ahead, click the link above.

I’ve mentioned before that you should not wear shirts with logos on them at work. Your hospital probably has a policy against it, plus you could offend someone or just appear unprofessional. Anyway, in light of the holidays and the fact that GiggleMed.com hooked me up with the RookieDoc logo, I thought I’d share with you a shirt that might be a pretty funny gift for your medical student, intern, and resident friends and colleagues.

You can get other medical humor gifts like hats, mugs, shirts, bags, etc at GiggleMed’s Store.

Ultra-important lesson from a dying patient. Watch this farewell lecture from Randy Pausch…

Actually, he died today… here’s an article about it… his mission and his message.

Walking by the nurse’s station, I heard the ward secretary complaining about “these residents nowadays”. She named a few, but for the most part, grouped all residents together – as if all house staff are cut from the same white coat.

She had some valid points, but the way she blurted them out – the tone, the implications, the facial expressions, and the volume – all somewhat discredited her concerns. It was just someone complaining at work… that’s all it was to most.

Nearing the end of the tirade, she turned to me and said, “Dr. Tori, somebody’s gotta do somethin’ ’bout these new residents. Somebody’s gotta get to ‘em before they get this way.”

I asked, “What’s the problem?” (even though I heard the whole thing from beginning to end)

She replied, “I don’t know. They just don’t have no sense.”

“About what?” I asked.

She said, “You know, the way they talk… manners… etiquette. It’s all about them.”

I said, “OK, here’s what I want you to do: Write it down. Tell me what residents need to do. Give me specifics.”

Here’s her list

1. The way you ask a question – Start with “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” or any greeting. Then start your question like “May I have…” or “Do you have…”
2. If there are three or four unused phones at the nurse’s station, don’t grab the one right in front of the secretary.
3. Greet me first, before you ask me which nurse has your patient.
4. When you page someone, please let us know.

Not unreasonable, huh?

I would probably add:

1. Write legibly
2. Put your pager or phone number after your signature
3. Identify yourself and team/coverage when returning a page
4. Greet the one who answers the phone
5. Go over complicated orders with the nurse and/or secretary before leaving
6. Tell someone when you put stat orders on a chart

Add any more that you can think of in the comments…

I posted a survey where you can ask me anything about internship and residency. I’ll answer some questions on the RookieDoc FAQs – these are occasional phone conferences for RookieDoc fans and members where I discuss a hot topic or answer questions.

Ask Me About Internship or Residency

I may not get to every question directly, but may be able to post important answers here, in special RookieDoc reports (PDF), on the RookieDoc Squidoo lens, or in the Audio Tips series.

Okay, I just spent almost the entire day putting some finishing touches on something that will really help you out… but indirectly.

It’s really cool, but in a way, it’s sad that I had to do it.

The fact is that because of your career path, and because of the current stage in that path, your relationships are in for a change – a shake-up. You are going to face stress from angles you never really thought of. Although it is all manageable, it is not easy. And unfortunately, our family and friends are usually the ones that bear the brunt of it.

So, I created tips and strategies for them – for your friends and family. No charge, no gimmick, no catch.

Very simple… They sign up with their name and email. Then every so often, I send them a little message – audio and written – only a few minutes long – but full of great info and ideas for maintaining your relationships (and sanity).

They can sign up here:

Or, better yet, send them to the main RookieDoctor.com site, to the Family & Friends section. Here’s the direct link: Audio Tips for Loved Ones and Friends of Interns and Residents.