"Listen to me: get out of here and move forward.
This never happened. It will shock you how much it never happened." (As quoted from Don Draper, Mad Men Season 02, Episode 5)
The above quote is one that I've had running through my head several times over the last two weeks. It gave me strength, a stiff upper lip and helped me keep my head when I was working in a hostile work environment; I had the unfortunate experience of being bullied by a supervisor during a school social work placement (internship). When I brought it up with my school, they told me simply not to return. I however, didn't think that was right, I committed to doing this placement, it wouldn't be fair for my patients (hospital healthcare setting) nor for my character; I'm an adult and capable of persevering in a difficult situation.
I returned to the placement the next day much to the shock of everyone and perhaps even to the chagrin of my supervisor who also commented they were surprised I returned. I stayed despite little acknowledgement of the former transgression, and certainly no apology. I had tried to deal with it on my own but the power dynamic was too delicate, I became the problem quickly. I waited patiently for the school to mediate in dealing with the issue. Markedly, in the past I've always been the type to deal with matters in a straight forward way; I've never navigated an atmosphere of little trust, intimidation and unpleasantness before. The worst part about this was when the school finally intervened and removed me from the placement, I was asked to leave without the ability to terminate appropriately with my patients.
As students doing our practicum placements, we can find ourselves in precarious situations where power dynamics are unique. One of my longtime mentors, a brilliant child protection worker and supportive staff trainer with a gentle disposition that I can only liken to motherliness shared with me that during her final practicum placement, her social work supervisor told her that she should not be in social work and that she should quit. Who are these awful supervisor!? How is it that they exist in direct contrast to everything that this great profession stands for? Burnout perhaps - let us assume they weren't always this way.
Onward and upward,
Tim.
Onward and upward, indeed. On to the next adventure! :)
ReplyDeleteI feel for you, Tim... Hopefully, your school is arranging for you, as we speak, another placement in which you will have a supportive and mentoring supervisor (what you should have had from the get-go).
ReplyDeleteSounds like my supervisor right now in CYS.
ReplyDeleteOnce you're out practicing, you will be proud of how well you handled that tough situation, and the circumstances around your departure won't matter much.
ReplyDeleteI've met three in two years. (1st yr) The first one had me terminated because she was breaking code of ethics & I was the witness.
ReplyDelete(2nd yr)The sup wanted me take the blame on my head & threatened dire consequences if I informed univ. I did & became the bete noir. The she left and this fella took her place-in the beginning incessantly asked me why I was interning at the agency & evaluates that I lack critical thinking and lack time management skill because my little infant gets sick. Agggrggghhh...
This is from somebody who after working in Gerontology for 3 yrs doesn't know what APS is.....go figur!
If it wasn't for all of us sharing....