One of the phrases I hear often in the hospital is this:

Nurse 1: Is he the resident?

Nurse 2: No, he’s the intern.

Last time I checked, an intern is a first-year resident. I suppose that at my current hospital, there is unspoken hierarchy among the nursing and ancillary staff that the “intern” is the dumbass carrying the team pager while the “resident” is the one who should be called in an emergency.  The atrocities do not end there, mind you.There are many variants including:

Patient: May I speak to the doctor? (This is my ward patient; I am standing outside of her room)

Nurse: The doctor isn’t in right now, let me get the resident. 

[see walks into the hallway and sees me]

Nurse (to the patient): Oh, here’s the intern, is that okay?

Are these notions propagated on broadcast television? Is that what happens on Gray’s Anatomy or House?  Perhaps Scrubs, I believe. Unfortunately there isn’t much in power to rectifythis   Today in dermatology clinic, I overheard this:

Patient: Are you going to be a doctor? (To one of the other medical interns, who was wearing a long white coat with her name embroided prominently in front of the chest pocket)

Intern: I’ve already finished medical school. I’m doing my residency now.

Nurse: She’s one of our interns.

Patient: Oh okay. I wish you the best of luck in becoming a doctor!

I guess one thing I’m looking forward to when I become an attending is being addressed as “doctor”.

medicine medicine, rant