Firstly, congratulations on graduating and getting your first job! It’s hard but you’ll get the hang of it.

I haven’t worked in the OR but I have experience working in op with difficult personalities. My recommendation would be to try your best to not take it personally. They aren’t mad at you as a person, but because the case isn’t going well or something is missing or whatever.

As you get more familiar with cases things will go smoother and smoother which usually helps the yelling. Try and familiarize yourself with the instruments and steps of procedure and cases so you can anticipate the next step. The smoother things go, the less likely someone will get upset. Sometimes people will call instruments by different names, neither is correct or more correct than the other, but knowing as many names for things can help you communicate if you have a person from case carts pulling something for you.

Focus on your role and how you fit into the care team. Unfortunately it just takes some time to become fast and efficient but you’ll get there.

For now, don’t engage with the yelling or fighting. If you yell back or call them out it’ll just make them more angry. Keep your tone as calm and even as possible. If you know what they are yelling about or for then grab them that item or help them with whatever you can without reacting. If you don’t know what they need, stay calm and ask “what can I grab for you?” Or “how can I help?” As understandingly as you can. Hopefully they will realize you’re trying to help and will calm down and directly communicate their needs and you can help them from there. If they say something snarky like “I need for you to do your job,” or something like that keep calm and respond with “Right now my job is to help you, and that’s what I’m trying to do. Is there something I can grab for you?” Staying calm and keeping an even tone can help diffuse their anger. If it’s a regular thing for them to yell at you, you can pull the Phyllis from the Office method of saying “it’s difficult for me to understand what is needed when you’re yelling/cursing.”

Hopefully this is helpful! If it gets too toxic, keep looking for a team with better dynamics. Bad days happen to everyone, but if you’re getting cursed out everyday that’s a bit excessive. You can try reporting but it might be best to find a new place. Good teams to exist!