I didn’t expect to be BFFs, but

Today was a moderately busy day at my “home” hospital (which equates to a slow-ish day at my "training" hospital). I worked with a colleague – let’s call them Dr. T.

Up until today when I have worked with Dr. T it has been SLOOOOOOOOW. They seemed fairly quiet but overall okay.

Not today.

Dr. T got behind on surgeries (and was freaking out during said surgeries over a million little things). There were also drop-off patients to be seen.

Me, after watching one surgery I hadn’t seen before (which a specialist came in to perform): “Hey, once this surgery is done I can start on the drop-offs while you keep going on surgeries.”

Dr. T: “I can help you.”

Me: “Okay.”

Then, while Dr. T’s next surgery patient is on the table ready to be induced, s/he decides to deal with 2 drop-off patients. Then s/he dithers about whether or not to deal with one of those 2 drop-off patients and asks me to take it. I say yes, then s/he says “No, I’ll take it.”

WTF?

Then 5 minutes later Dr. T asks me to take that same patient again, saying “because I can’t be doing everything.”

Again, WTF??

I’m pretty sure I didn’t give a look or other indication that I didn’t WANT to take that patient.

So I take that patient AND all but two of the drop-offs AND several more appointments while Dr. T hovers over a dental cleaning (that s/he is not performing, s/he just gets “nervous” about anesthesia and hovers THE ENTIRE TIME even though RVTs are there!)

Then while I’m in yet another appointment, s/he asks me if I’m already in an appointment and if I could take one that just rolled in.

At this point I said “Yes, I’m with Fluffy right now. Would you like me to take Spot as well?”

S/he took that appointment after all.

I have no tolerance for passive-aggressive types. Don't say you can take something and then play it like I'm slacking.

I’ve decided screw it – no more trying to be nice and defer to the “senior” doctor by asking if s/he wants to take an appointment. If one comes in and a tech asks who can take it, I’m your girl.

Of course I guarantee that Dr. T will get pissed off about that too.  Fortunately I will only have to work with them one day a week going forward.