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Ask the expert: How can I intervene with a disruptive resident?

Residency Program Connection, August 28, 2007

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When dealing with a disruptive resident, practicing the intervention is important because the resident is likely to be difficult, using multiple moves to deflect the purpose of the intervention. The person or people doing the intervention are likely to make one or more mistakes that frequently turn such interventions into, at best, ineffectual wastes of time. Therefore, practice the following essential components of the intervention:

• Begin by referencing your residency program leadership role
• Identify the problematic behavior or incident
• Refer to previously agreed upon expectations or the approved policy
• Invite the resident to provide another side of the story
• Deflect excuses and justifications
• Constantly refer to data
• Focus on the behavior, not the person
• Be persistent
• Keep the intervention time limited
• Close with the resident's commitment and next steps
• Inform the resident how the meeting will be documented

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