TENMHO SERIES: TOXIC BOSSES
There were bosses…bossy bosses
By now you’d guess I particularly dislike toxicity. A toxic environment is a VERY unhealthy one.
My first major experience of workplace toxicity was during my externship. Interestingly, it helped me prepare for housejob, especially mentally.
Well let’s talk about housejob.
I’m yet to understand why some senior colleagues think bullying or intimidation is an expression of authority. It baffles me when an adult, sometimes old enough to be your parent, will decide that the only way he/she can express authority is to intimidate you. I mean you are older, obviously higher in rank and all that, so why do you think there’s still a point you have to prove?
The house officer is the least on the medical cadre and usually bears the brunt of the unit’s weight. He/she is often the first responder in a unit or department except when you are blessed with special registrars who would take more off your plate.
The HO is often the errand boy or girl in the unit.
“HO, get blood from the blood bank”
“HO, correct the potassium of Mr A for surgery”
“HO, take the samples of a, b, c, d and e and send to the lab.”
“HO, retrieve patients’ investigation results from the lab.”
“HO, site the IV line of this patient.”
“HO, watch the mechanic repairing my car”
“HO, buy food from the cafeteria for me”
“HO, collect samples for my research”
HO…HO…HO
These are some of the activities a house officer may be required to do, both official and unofficial.
He/she may be required to carryout the duties of a nurse, lab technician or orderly whenever either of them is unable to do so for whatever reason.
Sometimes your registrar or SR can even lend you to his/her colleague to run errands because his colleague does not have an HO.
You hear statements like “Don’t worry, I will send my HO to do ABC for you”
Oh my days!
This happens up the ladder as well, some consultants can lend their registrars to their colleagues for errand-running too.
Worthy of note is the tone in which these instructions are given. It’s different if you politely ask someone to do what you might be unable to do at the moment for whatever reason but that is not the case here.
The manner in which some seniors communicate with juniors- consultants to SRs to registrars to HOs (who usually bear the brunt of it) is despicable.
The registrars are often the worst hit during departmental presentations. The seniors believe that the registrars are being prepared for external examinations, thus should be ruthlessly traumatized as preparation.
Does education have to be laced with condescension?
What makes it more appalling is that it has become a culture that even the abused have adjusted to it and sometimes carry on the “legacy”.
Why do we have to live by toxicity? You definitely can impart knowledge without hostility.
The job is demanding enough why add to the troubles?
Gratefully, they were not all sour experiences.
I have had some beautiful memories of working with senior colleagues.
I remember the first consultant who pronounced my name correctly. I didn’t even know he was a consultant at the time. It was my first day in his unit and we were in the theatre. Till this day I still hold him in high regard. He treated HOs like a vital part of his team. He was so kind and approachable.
I remember another consultant, he was elderly consultant and referred to as the father of the department. He was so kind, he even gave me a souvenir from a conference! I thought that was really sweet and it somehow made me feel I could achieve great things because I respected him so much.
Yes, it was that deep!
There was another consultant, actually this department was my favourite rotation during my housemanship because the people I worked with were such joy to work with. It was a busy and demanding unit but it did not matter because the registrars, senior registrars and consultant were such kind and respectful people. My use of respect does not refer to the sir/ma kind of respect, rather having due regard for people; in this context, working as a team. You know when a consultant genuinely asks for your opinion about a patient?
Yo! You feel like a part of the team and your contribution is welcome. It’s called respect, and the receiver does not have to be older to be given it.
I must add that those warm experiences positively influenced my training and achievements in those units.
Gratefully, my positive experiences were so strong that whenever the sadness of the negative steals in, the brightness of the positive overshadows it.
Gratefully, my positive experiences were so strong that whenever the sadness of the negative steals in, the brightness of the positive overshadows it.
Kindness should not cost a thing.
Dear HO, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll meet and work with some very bossy bosses.
You may also be served a wild dose of toxicity, but always remember that if you made it to becoming a doctor you can also progress to becoming the best doctor you can be.
Aaaannnndddd…those bosses were once HOs like yourself.
Don’t allow their attitude kill your dream.
Make friends with the kind ones, learn from them and spread the kindness.
Have you worked with toxic bosses? How did you handle it?
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