Central PA Medicine Spring 2018 - 4

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From the Editor

It's Just Called
Being Nice

A

few years back, I made my first trip to New York City as an adult. I walked
the streets with a friend who was much more familiar with city life. I was
continuously nodding my head and mouthing "Hi" as I strolled through the
city. He finally said, "Nobody does that here. Too big and too many people.
They probably think you are strange." I guess I understood but it didn't stop me from
continuing "being strange."

Joseph F. Answine, MD, FASA
Central PA Medicine Editor-in-chief

facebook.com/dauphincms

Dauphin@pamedsoc.org

Dauphin County Medical Society
777 East Park Drive, PO Box 8820
Harrisburg, PA 17105

Recently, memos circulated throughout my hospitals describing how to be nice
to people. You were to make eye contact as you approach and say hello when close
enough to be heard. If you were in a teaching role, don't yell or speak in a condescending manner. Don't belittle the student for incorrect responses. Provide a nurturing
atmosphere for education.
Awesome! Strange is the new good! However, it is sad, in a way, that we must provide
guidelines to professionals on the art of being kind and nurturing. It is my guess that
those that need such instruction won't be reading it anyway. I think those of us who
have traveled through the ranks have forgotten what it was like in the beginning; or
maybe some haven't. Sometimes a beaten puppy becomes a mean dog. Regardless, those
of us with some level of authority need to realize that teaching and interacting with
compassion will likely have a more positive outcome. Students, residents, and even
patients quit listening after being yelled at or chastised for some egregious offense such
as missing a question about the innervation of the trachea or the vascular supply to
the gallbladder. Everything a student hears after "That is a stupid answer!" is like the
teacher in the Charlie Brown series; "Whaa, whaa, whaa whaa." Furthermore, it is easy
to get mad at a patient or family member for being a little angry or standoffish. They
are only dealing with cancer or a heart attack.
Acting in a friendly manner is also better for patient care. Demonstrating an interest
in others' opinions will likely lead to interactions and suggestions that may prove to
be highly beneficial in high stress situations such as cardiovascular and pulmonary
resuscitations.
It is great to be a little older and "long-in-the-tooth" as a physician. I can say to those
other people of authority, "You know, I remember when you were a student or resident.
You were good, but not perfect." Usually, the response is "Yes, but...." I smile and say that
if it starts with a "but," I may not like the response. But I won't yell or say it was stupid.
Now don't confuse "nice" with "politically correct." Politically correct means nonbiased, neutral, or nonpartisan so as not to offend. Nice means showing compassion
for others' feelings. If you are nice, you can still be non-neutral, partisan and biased;
and still not offend.
So, let's all go throughout our day being just a little strange.

4

Spring 2018 Central PA Medicine


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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central PA Medicine Spring 2018

Central PA Medicine Spring 2018 - 1
Central PA Medicine Spring 2018 - 2
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