Members Of Staff Being Rude, Aggressive Or Inappropriate (inc. Students) Flashcards
Greg is a medical student taking part in a clinical placement with two fellow students, Amy and Marek ; one morning Amy makes an inappropriate joke about Marek and he doesn’t say anything but appears to be upset about it.
How appropriate are the following:
(1) wait until Amy isn’t there and ask Marek how he felt about the joke
(2) immediately challenge Amy about the offensive joke (politely)
(3) immediately report Amy’s behaviour
(1) wait until Amy isn’t there and ask Marek how he felt about the joke - VERY APPROPRIATE - this allowed Marek to speak freely about how he felt without being worried about Amy’s opinion or reaction
(2) immediately challenge Amy politely about her joke - APPROPRIATE BUT NOT IDEAL - as it is important that Amy considered Mareks feelings concerning the joke and knows it’s offensive and could have an impact on Mareks wellbeing but she could also react defensively after being challenged in front of a group
(3) immediately report Amy’s behaviour - INAPPROPRIATE BUT NOT AWFUL- as it removes the option of solving the issue internally, you don’t know if Amy wanted to hurt Mareks feelings on purpose - reporting to senior staff will erode your relationship with Amy.
A junior doctor is at hospital for his first day on the ward and when his supervisor isn’t present he overhears another staff member belittling him.
How appropriate is the following:
(1) discuss the incident with educational supervisor
(1) discuss the incident with an educational supervisor - APPROPRIATE BUT NOT IDEAL- as the supervisor will not have the insight nor similar opinion as the nurse and so it would be more appropriate to approach her directly to have a constructive conversation with her.
Two med students on a ward when one of them is approached by the receptionist saying that the other med student previously bragged to the receptionist about plagiarising an essay in first year. The receptionist has a reputation of being a liar.
How important is the following:
(1) the evidence of the plagiarism
(2) the students feelings if their plagiarism is brought to light
(3) the receptionists reputation as being a liar
(1) the evidence of plagiarism - VERY IMPORTANT - as it would be inappropriate to spread rumours without evidence and if there is no evidence then there would be no validity in an investigation
(2) the students feelings if their plagiarism was brought to light - NOT IMPORTANT - as the student bragged and so is not remorseful and there unfairly cheated which is very much against university and med school policy
(3) the receptionist’s reputation as being a liar - IMPORTANT
One med student is concerned about the behaviour of another and the fact that they are rude and sometimes rough with patients
How important are the following:
(1) how the med students behaviour may affect patients perception of the health profession
(2) the med students potential negative reaction
(1) how the med students behaviour may affect patients perception of the health profession - IMPORTANT - it is important for medical professionals to uphold values of the profession but more important factors are to be considered
(2) the med students potential negative reaction - NOT IMPORTANT - they are potentially introducing a compromise to patient safety and so they’re negative reaction should have no weightage on how you deal with the situation
A med student is being shown around a mortuary by a pathologist who is periodically pulled away from the group to take a call. Another med student (nick) starts to make inappropriate jokes about the dead patients.
How appropriate are the following:
(1) do nothing about nicks inappropriate jokes
(2) tell nick in front of the rest of the group to stop
(1) do nothing about nicks inappropriate jokes - INAPPROPRIATE BUT NOT AWFUL - often individuals ignore offensive behaviour especially when it is in front of a group where they appear to be the only one taking offence
(2) tell nick in front of the rest of the group to stop - APPROPRIATE BUT NOT IDEAL - as it does challenge the inappropriate behaviour but it could cause nick to react defensively as he is challenged in front of a group
Group of students are observing an anaesthetist giving anaesthetic to a young girl who is accompanied by her mother. The mix of anaesthetic contains a small amount of antibiotic but when reading the patients notes a student realises the patient is allergic to this medication.
How appropriate is the following
(1) points out the anaesthetists mistake in front of the patient and her mother
(2) immediately report the mistake to a senior member of staff
(1) points out the anaesthetists mistake in front of the patient and her mother - APPROPRIATE BUT NOT IDEAL - as it could cause panic to ensue, it’s important for the anaesthetist to know of this error and so the best course of action would be to pull her to one side to inform her of this error promptly
(2) immediately report the mistake to a senior member of staff - INAPPROPRIATE BUT NOT AWFUL - it’s inappropriate because it introduces delay into a time sensitive situation however a senior member of staff should know but after the event has transpired
Med student hears a consultant shouting and swearing but at no one. Nearby patient says it happens often and it makes them and other patients uncomfortable.
How appropriate is the following
(1) tell the patient to inform the consultant directly
(1) tell the patient to inform the consultant directly - APPROPRIATE BUT NOT IDEAL - as it is appropriate for the consultant to know how his actions are affecting the emotional wellbeing of patients this relies on patient being comfortable talking to the consultant and for them to witness it happen again
Med student has been asked to shadow a consultant for a week to get an insight into her working life however for the first two days it appears she has only given him administrative tasks.
How appropriate are the following:
(1) complete tasks without mentioning they are irrelevant to his clinical development
(1) complete tasks without mentioning they are irrelevant to his clinical development - INAPPROPRIATE BUT NOT AWFUL - it shows a lack of initiative and commitment to his clinical development but it likely doesn’t have major or severe consequences
Med student runs a group called “innovation within healthcare” every Wednesday at 6pm, after the meeting, the next day another med student approaches him to say that she was locked out the building when she came late and felt like he deliberately exclude her from the meeting.
How appropriate is the following
(1) “I’m sorry can I ask why you felt like I deliberately excluded you”
(2) “I’m sorry I thought you would have known the building automatically locks at 18:15”
(1) “I’m sorry can I ask why you felt like I deliberately excluded you” - APPROPRIATE BUT NOT IDEAL - whilst it’s offers comfort he didn’t do it on purpose it would be better to remain objective at this time.
(2) “I’m sorry I thought you would have known the building automatically locks at 18:15” - VERY APPROPRIATE - it offers reassurance that is objective and opens discussion for changing this so other group members may come late if needed.
Junior doctor is being asked to accompany a patient to theatre however the ward they are working on is very busy and he knows if he leaves his colleagues will struggle to take care of his patients. His supervisor told him not to leave the ward today because of the high volume of patients
How important are the following
(1) his supervisors instructions
(1) his supervisors instructions - VERY IMPORTANT - it is extremely important for the junior doctor to consider his supervisors instructions
A junior doctor is observing a consultant on a ward round. The consultant uses sexist and patronising language towards a female patient. She appears to be shocked.
How appropriate is the following
(1) talk to another senior member of staff about the consultants language
(1) talk to another senior member of staff about the consultants language - VERY APPROPRIATE- the consultants language towards the patient was inappropriate but it isn’t the junior doctors place to reprimand him and it would be appropriate for the junior doctor to inform a senior member of staff.
Dental student Marley is shadowing a dentist in a dental clinic, Dr Povey, who is currently trying to fit a crown on a patients tooth, he tells Marley that he has recently been working with a newly qualified technician who isn’t very good and he’s had trouble fitting crowns with her. He preferred his old technician.
How appropriate is the following
(1) will you report the technician
(2) maybe it would be helpful to ask other dentists if they are having similar problems with the technician
(3) can you go back to the previous technician
(1) will you report the technician - VERY INAPPROPRIATE - Marley doesn’t have the insight or experience to know the actual cause of the problem and likely cannot or shouldn’t make a comment on this
(2) maybe it would be helpful to ask other dentists if they are having similar problems with the technician - APPROPRIATE BUT NOT IDEAL - as it encourages Dr Povey to make a jump that the technician is the root cause of the problem
(3) can you go back to the previous technician - is INAPPROPRIATE BUT NOT AWFUL - as it likely shows a naivety but isn’t malicious but does present the new technician as the cause of the problems
A med student notices a poster that is to advertise a society has a rude and potentially offensive way to referring to people from below average income backgrounds. They think it may be offensive and they are uncomfortable however when raising their concerns in a meeting no one seems to share their concerns.
How important are the following
(1) the this may reflect badly on the clinic
(2) whether other students are from low income backgrounds
(1) the this may reflect badly on the clinic - VERY IMPORTANT - the reputation of the clinic is partly due to the option and respect of patients regardless of financial background
(2) whether other students are from low income backgrounds - MINOR IMPORTANCE - as it could be found offensive by any student regardless of financial status
Leah is a medical student performing an in home visit with another medical student, Ethan , they visit the patient when the patients large dog appears and is very aggressive, Ethan attempts to calm the dog when it bites him causing him to shout at the patient.
How appropriate are the following
(1) asking the patient if he is offended by Ethan’s shouting
(2) explain to the patient that Ethan is just angry because he was bitten and he normally wouldn’t talk to the patient like this
(1) asking the patient if he is offended by Ethan’s shouting — INAPPROPRIATE BUT NOT AWFUL - as whilst getting a gauge of the patients standing could be useful it is likely to have offended him and so the asking if it has offended him could worsen the situation
(2) explain to the patient that Ethan is just angry because he was bitten and he normally wouldn’t talk to the patient like this - APPROPRIATE BUT NOT IDEAL - as it is trying to reassure the patient that Ethan isn’t aggravated at the patient but it does try and excuse inappropriate behaviour which should be addressed.
Malcolm and Rosalina are med students working at the same practice, when rosalina is supposed to have a patient consultation, Malcom overhears Rosalina speaking on the phone and the patient looks angry, neither Rosalina nor the patient see Malcolm.
How appropriate is the following
(1) after the consultation privately inform Rosalina of what he saw and remind her that it breaks conduct
(2) Report her to the supervising consultant
(1) after the consultation privately inform Rosalina of what he saw and remind her that it breaks conduct - VERY APPROPRIATE - as it reminds her of the code of conduct and doesn’t undermine her in front of patients
(2) Report her to the supervising consultant - INAPPROPRIATE BUT NOT IDEAL - it’s better to try and solve the issue internally instead of bringing it to senior staff, additionally this course of action would erode their working relationship
