Medpundit’s Out of Touch
Syndney Smith, author of Medpundit, is so out of touch with medical students (and probably the future generation of doctors) it’s not even funny:
Maybe medical schools should treat medical students the way an employer does an employee – make attendance count, and have quarterly evaluations of behavior in addition to grades. But do it for everyone, not just for the problem students.
The scary thing is, I can’t tell she’s the exception or the norm. Doctors? Doctors? Bueller? Bueller?
Make attendance count? Have behavior evaluations? I’m pretty sure I signed up for medical school, not choir class. I’m an adult. If there’s a problem with my behavior or attitude or professionalism, I expect my preceptors to discuss it with me–or at least bring it up on my formative comments of my clerkship evaluation. I don’t need another hoop to jump through, showing that I go to class and that I’m a caring, respectful, professional guy (I do, and I am, according to my evaluations so far).
That being said, I agree that medical students should be on-time, professional, and working hard. If a student isn’t, it’s a problem, and it needs to be dealt with. That also being said, I’ve seen examples (uncommonly) of attendings and residents act with prejudice, act using stereotypes, or make gross assumptions about patients–so the assumption that a preceptor is necessarily a model of good behavior and professional conduct isn’t all that valid for certain people.
“Attendance” is a problem when one’s classes are broadcast online for classmates who study better at home or want to pause the lecturer to write things down. “Grades” are a problem when they don’t exist at a medical school to begin with.
I wish I could say the same. Unfortunately, this still exists at my medical school. Attendance is a pretty huge chunk of our grade, and they give daily post-lecture quizzes on the topic just discussed.
It was a rough adjustment initially especially since I was used to a radically different system. But we adjust. It’s not like we can do anything about it.
Now, non-sequitur-ly, Merry Christmas!
:-)
I’m a little torn on the issue – I’m a current M2, and there are a lot of my classmates (certainly more than I would have expected) who act unprofessionally quite often, and seem to avoid any kind of repercussions. I realize that it’ll catch up with them eventually, but it frustrates me to see them anger or alienate other groups – or their own classmates. Students who talk on our E-bulletin board disrespectfully about nursing students (talking about how hot they all are, how they should all come to our class parties so the guys can get some), who spend our class breaks talking about professors who are obese or stutter (loudly enough that they’re overheard by the professors), calling patients stupid, etc. I guess it just disappoints me that they’re representing the medical profession, and I wish there was some way to make them WANT to change their behavior. I know that misc. rules or requirements wouldn’t do that – but it seems like there should be some other way.
I realize that I will probably be considered a “dinosaur” since I graduated from medical school in 1959. I think what one is seeing in the behavior of a portion of medical students is a reflection of the society in general. One use to have to take responsibility for one’s own actions. Today, this is a rare phenomenon since most people try to shift “blame” to a system or another person. If these medical students who are acting unprofessionally carry that action on to their practices, they are going to be brought up short by the reaction of their patients and other physicians from whom they hope to get referrals.
I’m a M3 and I agree it’s difficult to see classmates miss behave seemingly without repercussions. However, I try to remind myself that I can only control my actions and that I’m where I am to become the best doctor I can be. It doesn’t always work (I will emphasize the “try”). There are jerks everywhere, even in medical school.
Hi. I’m a British final year medical student, from London. John W Thompson, you may think you’ll be referred to as a dinosaur, but if that’s the case then it seems I am too. Because I don’t see anything wrong in Cecilia’s point about colleagues acting like jerks and talking about hot nurses. Sure, it’s not nice to be a jerk, but I don’t see it as any crime until you are in the world of work.
Why? Because we’re all students. We’re not working yet and I, for one, am very thankful. Once one leaves medical school – that’s it. From that point on you can no longer sleep in if you feel like it, you have peoples’ lives in your hands and you naturally adopt the professionalism being a doctor demands. Being a student is as much about enjoying yourself as it is about learning and preparing for work.
I realise that you guys stateside have a different structure – we tend to be younger and hence more immature whilst at medschool. But I don’t think there’s a difference in the quality of British and American grads.
Returning to the assertion that being a lax student makes a worse doctor; I’ve been very vocal in my opposition in the sorts of things you mention Graham. Behaviour appraisals and attendance checks are wholly unnecessary as those who don’t pull their weight will not pass finals. It’s a time-tested technique and I don’t think it’s in need of alteration.
professionalism is what good doctors don’t achieve, it’s what they are. and for students to adopt that behaviour, they have to first see it and admire it in their role models. at least that is what i feel. my doctors are so wonderful in their attitude toward patients and other colleagues, even toward us students. and i feel so inspired to be just like them. that probably is more effective than attendance etc. all this external modifiers only create bitterness and rebellion…