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CUTTING REMARKS
The foul language feeds the vortex of negative descent. Here, the surgeon, as captain of the ship, needs to stop, breathe and return the room
to a positive state. If a sales representative curses in my room, I immediately call him on it. Needless to say, I think less of his character (and
probably his product). If he continues, I remind him that I am a former
boxer and we will finish this outside.
Terms of disrespect
Nothing, I mean nothing, gets my Irish up more than when a staff
member or resident speaks of a patient in less than dignified terms.
Terms like "gomer," "dirtbag" or "junkie" are met with a sharp
reproof. The gomer is someone's grandfather. The dirtbag probably
never had a break and may suffer from a mental illness and the
junkie likely was endowed with genes and social factors that created
a perfect storm for addiction. When these terms continue, you
guessed it … time to step outside.
Slang
Philly slang abounds in my OR, because we are located in an inner-city
hospital. I have received a real education in cityspeak. Such talk relaxes, and is often quite humorous. Laughter restores calm and raises
energy. As long as the slang doesn't cross the line, I welcome it, provided I understand the meaning. So the next time I hear the next patient is
trippin', I have to recognize that he is overreacting, not stumbling in
the PACU. Or, if I hear that the new, single scrub tech was hollering at
some recovery room nurse, I have to know he is trying to ask her out,
not yelling at her. Or, if I hear that the last patient was jammed up, I
now know that she is feeling down, not constipated! OSM
Dr. Kelly (johndak4@gmail.com) is an orthopedic surgeon/ sports-shoulder
specialist who practices in Philadelphia, Pa.
A U G U S T 2013 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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