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Prendergast's Guide To Housestaff Etiquette: Long Bad Presentations Is Torture

1) Be honest, work hard, know when to ask for help, be self-directed, learn to present cases clearly and concisely, and mistakes are inevitable but try to avoid repeating mistakes or making too many at once. 2) The housestaff work harder than medical students so genuine appreciation is shown for hard working students but not for those who shirk their duties. 3) Try to be well prepared by reading about your patients' conditions before rounds and take opportunities to learn more when things are quiet.

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64 views1 page

Prendergast's Guide To Housestaff Etiquette: Long Bad Presentations Is Torture

1) Be honest, work hard, know when to ask for help, be self-directed, learn to present cases clearly and concisely, and mistakes are inevitable but try to avoid repeating mistakes or making too many at once. 2) The housestaff work harder than medical students so genuine appreciation is shown for hard working students but not for those who shirk their duties. 3) Try to be well prepared by reading about your patients' conditions before rounds and take opportunities to learn more when things are quiet.

Uploaded by

D
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Prendergasts Guide to Housestaff Etiquette

Rule #1 Be Honest.
If you say youre going to do something, do it; if you havent done something (and should
have) admit it.
Corollary A. Lying is the only mistake that is irremediable.
Rule #2 Work Hard.
The housestaff ork a lot harder than you do. !en"e there is genuine a##re"iation for
medi"al students ho ork hard and are illing to hel# out the team. There is little
sym#athy for medi"al students ho hine.
Corollary A. $ont make unne"essary ork for your intern%resident.
Corollary &. 'ne(u#smanshi# is usually froned on.
Corollary C. 'bse)uious faning is almost alays #unished in the absen"e of hard ork.
Rule #3 Know wen to ask for el!.
*ou are not e+#e"ted to kno mu"h about the "lini"al management of hos#itali,ed #atients (hy should
you-), so ask early and learn )ui"kly.
Rule #" Be as self#dire$ted as !ossi%le.
*ou are e+#e"ted to have a good fund of knoledge and to kno ho to resear"h information to solve
#roblems. Curbside advi"e is freely given, but you should try to anser involved )uestions for yourself
before asking for hel#.
Corollary A. Try to read at least the Ce"il%!arrison%."iAmer Cha#ter on your #atients
#roblem before rounds the ne+t day. If the servi"e is )uiet, read more.
Rule #& 'earn ow to !resent $ases $learl( and $on$isel(.
Listening to bad #resentations is like s"rat"hing fingernails on a bla"kboard. Listening to
long bad #resentations is torture.
Rule #) *istakes are ine+ita%le, in tat sense te( are e-!e$ted.
!oever, to #ara#hrase The !ouse of /od, do not make too many mistakes at the same time or the same
mistake more than on"e.
Corollary A. Com#li"ations of #ro"edures are not ne"essarily mistakes.
Corollary &. A"knoledge mistakes hen ne"essary; never try to "over them u#.
Rule #. /e ousestaff are not alwa(s rigt.
There are better and orse interns%residents. If you kno more than another member of your team, be
di#lomati". In any hierar"hy, it is diffi"ult hen 0unior members outshine their su#eriors.
Corollary A. If you are asked to do something "om#letely unreasonable, s#eak
u#. The #er#etrator may be interested to kno hether you have the "ourage to
stand u# for yourself.
Corollary &. .elf(res#e"t is more im#ortant than any evaluation.
Rule #0 1ont worr( a%out (our e+aluation.
If youre smart, they ill kno; if youre not, you ont be able to hide it. 1ork hard and you ill
get the benefit of the doubt.
Rule #2 Ha+e fun.
2edi"ine is an an"ient and noble #rofession. 2ost #eo#le ho do it like many as#e"ts of it.
3ind out hat e+"ites and fulfills you.

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