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I had a giant jerk of an upper level as a third year on Gen surg. Basically made fun of me for literally everything (my race, the fact I wanted to do ob, my height...anything and everything). I would go home and just cry every night. I'm working the OB/Gyn ER my first month of intern year and who do I see in the hallway? This guy (and his wife). I am getting nervous and tell the nurses what happened. They are insistent on accompanying me in the room and give me lots of encouraging words. I go in there and talk to his wife and do everything by the book. This guy goes "oh weren't you a student of mine? You graduated?" in the most patronizing tone. The nurse snaps back with "yeah she did and now she's one of the best doctors here" before I even have a chance to even turn around.

God bless the nurses and god save you if you piss them off.

Be nice to the nurses! I'm doing an off service rotation now where the residents aren't nice to the nurses and it is so much harder to get things done than at my home institution. Definitely wears on people.

This is one of my favorite quotes from the show. I use it quite frequently now.

Oh I know this answer! Ego, ego, ego! The residents here ream the nurses anytime something goes wrong. Consequently, the nurses will take their sweet time getting stuff done for the team. I honestly don't blame them. No one wants to work with someone who berates them all the time. Maybe some people are used to the old school idea that doctors are the bosses for nurses and forget that nurses really run the floor and can make or break your plans.

I am so used to getting along with nurses (friended on fbook and I bring in brownies for the night nurses on L&D) that being at this hospital freaks me out a little. What do you mean, we don't chit chat with the nurses?!

Edit: when you're a fourth year at your AIs, don't forget that some attendings will ask the nurses what their opinion is of you. And when you're about to graduate residency, don't forget that nurses talk to each other and the place hiring you may have their nurse call a nurse at your institution for their opinions. Just a little tidbit for this time of year....

Antonia, what is your favorite cereal? Also, is there anything that you make that your kids hate?