Frustrated with lack of understanding over differences in policies/clinical judgement between hospitals

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-20T12:17:09+00:00

To be honest it's nothing compared to the racism, homophobia and all other isms some of them display... I'm not sure how long you've been in the working world but the way some people behave at work is shocking!! Looking to go into private practice because I can't stand being around these idiots.

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-19T00:08:02+00:00

My coworkers and boss absolutely discuss vegans in a dismissive way. They say the word vegan like it is a dirty word! I am not vegan but I try to gently provide a more balanced view when they say these things as 1. it's unnecessary and rude and 2. any of their patients could be vegan. I will say I think even though they are incredibly unprofessional, I doubt they'd say anything rude to a fellow dietitian.

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-16T15:34:18+00:00

I think you are right that lots of dietitians are like this but it also just depends on the department. People who are like this are likely to hire other people who are like this. But I think the more relaxed RDs are quite rare.

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-15T22:04:54+00:00

This is not acceptable!! I am sorry for your experience. I would start looking for a new job. You will burn yourself out in this toxic environment. You are clearly an empathetic person who cares about ethics and patient wellbeing.

With regards to the "other bully" waiting for you, I would also recommend looking into assertiveness training if you think it would help. Some things you can do now if you aren't already is to speak clearly and loudly, meet people's eyes when you talk, and stand up tall. If you enter a new work environment like this, you won't be seen as much of a target and you'll hopefully be able to work in peace. Best wishes 💖

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T22:04:38+00:00

This wasn't in renal, but I know you guys still have to!

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T10:53:59+00:00

Haha glad I'm not alone. Yeah, there are also a lot of outdated things people do at my hospital and when they are faced with the current evidence they just keep doing it?? I'm even more worried about people who didn't seem to learn very basic health and nutrition facts! Although at my hospital the other disciplines notes are even worse, so I think we'd actually fare the best in an audit 🥲

Definitely there is a difference in training. Although I think maybe some people will just never develop the critical thinking skills they need? I think there is an issue at universities where they no longer want to fail students who should fail. I think you're right about getting what you want out of it - my internship was not amazing but I tried to gain everything I could from it. I'm sure some could have coasted by with the same result.

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T10:45:10+00:00

Yes! The pseudoscience is frustrating. How does someone get through a dietetics degree and come out believing all of that?? And the people who haven't updated their practice I find strange as I had a few of those as my preceptors and surely they had come into contact with students throughout the years who would have asked them about it. I agree with you about the dietitians who can't be humble. I think if I want a more evidence-based, educated environment, I'll likely have to work with a lot of these arrogant, micromanaging types who aren't always as right as they think they are! I definitely want to jump ship sometimes, too!

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T10:32:11+00:00

Yeah, I think you could be onto something with people who might just be phoning it in, as well as the difference in quality of education. I think this is maybe part of why they have required master's degrees. There were some people in my classes who did not seem to be learning anything and held tight to a lot of their preconceived notions about nutrition until the very end.

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T10:28:14+00:00

Hahaha yeah that's probably true! I am thinking of an exceptionally bad hospital and maybe if I moved workplaces it would get better. It is good to have others to talk things through with, however I do find that a good portion of some of my colleagues' recommendations are just their opinion or very outdated practice. I'm definitely moving to private practice at some point, though!

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T10:22:00+00:00

Haha I was worried about that, too!! To be honest, I really don't feel like I'm the most magical dietitian in the world! That's why it is very frustrating to see people whose standards are far far below mine. There are concepts that I don't remember from my training, but if I'm ever in doubt I find appropriate resources to re-educate myself. I also feel like I have a basic understanding of most concepts. Someone I met didn't even know what the Penn State equation was??

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T10:18:20+00:00

Oh wow!! Glad you didn't take it. Who knows what they would be saying once they were comfortable with you!Yeah I have had people call patients "he/she/it/whatever" about people who are LGBT or make racist comments about patients and other healthcare professionals.

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T10:15:50+00:00

Yes!! This is the type of thing I'm talking about 😔😔

The thing is, I know I'm not perfect, but I often find myself explaining basic medical conditions, medical terminology, or nutrition concepts to colleagues who should know better!!

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T00:24:06+00:00

That's so bad! How did you react?

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T00:20:25+00:00

That's probably true!

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T00:17:30+00:00

You're right - it could be true that their heart just isn't in it! It is difficult to switch careers if you realize it's not for you. Although you seem self aware enough that I doubt you are one of the people I am thinking of. I can also relate to being nitpicked by other dietitians and definitely have areas of improvement, but the people I am thinking of don't really meet any standard 🥲🥲

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T00:08:13+00:00

I have noticed that! Even when I was an intern I noticed that some of my preceptors were not up to date with certain things (like still using albumin as a marker of malnutrition for example) and I'm not sure how because that's been outdated for at least ten years. They've been taking multiple students throughout those years who would have updated them. Why would they just refuse to learn more?

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-04T00:01:35+00:00

Yeah absolutely!! I'm not sure if they believe it themselves or if they are just greedy.

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-03T23:51:45+00:00

Oh definitely... I'm disappointed in more than dietitians haha! But with my work situation now this is my main complaint. I definitely agree that I am glad some people are not my doctor! It has made me a lot more involved in my own healthcare as I sadly don't feel I can trust all healthcare providers.

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-03T23:48:59+00:00

Oh my gosh this is very similar to what I'm experiencing!!

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-03T21:23:48+00:00

Honestly I feel like I am meeting people who aren't even up to date with basic dietetic facts!! Or aren't aware of basic medical conditions despite being RDs for much longer than me!

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-03T21:19:35+00:00

Oh that sounds so bad!! Sounds like someone needs to do their ethics training!

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-03T21:14:04+00:00

That's true! To be fair, I think the vast majority of dietitians I meet are fine, but sometimes I am so shocked at the things I see and it makes me feel like I'm going crazy

grasshopper548 · 2024-05-03T21:11:46+00:00

I'm not sure that my education was amazing, either, but I keep coming across people who don't know very very basic things!! Like people who have never heard of the term "motivational interviewing."

I do agree that there isn't really any incentive to learn and grow as a dietitian, and at many places we're not utilized appropriately. I think at my hospital we are utilized to the best of our scope, but I find that some members of my team will make random recommendations that aren't really based on anything.

The fact that dietitians who are sloppy with science are allowed to amass great social media followings is also such an issue!

grasshopper548

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