How to deal with devastating criticism

“Why don’t you just get a shotgun and blow his brains out next time? Better yet, next time stay the hell away from my patient!” I was frozen, and the ICU attending wasn’t even talking to me. My co-intern had barely started her presentation when she met damnation. Mind you — there was a senior resident, a pulmonary fellow, and a team of nurses caring for the patient also. Yet the intern bore the brunt of the criticism. Health care is often like this and can feel like a dog-eat-dog world with a rigid hierarchy and archaic rituals. I still find myself thinking about my internship in 2008, a monumental year in my path to becoming a physician. I worked long hours, had profound teachers, forged lifelong friendships and was privileged to take care of the underserved in New York. Despite this, I also had some interactions that left me on the verge of tears, shaking with anger and doubting whether I could truly be a physician. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Education Critical Care Hospital-Based Medicine Source Type: blogs