Awkward questions you've always wanted to ask someone who works in a specific job...

[PinocchiosLeftNostril]

I thought this would be a good way for us to get answers to those awkward questions we would never dream of asking someone to their face in their place of work.

These are questions relating to my life that i would love honest answers to.

Hairdressers - When someone with bad dandruff/psoriasis sits on your chair, do you shrug it off, or do you quickly have a look to make sure it's not lice? Are you able to tell the difference right away or does it need investigating? And do you really want to know what my plans are for the day, or would you rather work in silence?

Teachers - do you get annoyed when parents write in homework diaries that a specific piece of homework was too tricky for their child? Do you take it as an insult to your teaching skills?

Waiter/waitresses - do you expect people to offer to clean up their children's mess before they leave, or do you just shrug it off as part of the job? If you're busy and haven't had chance to clean a table yet, and a new customer came up and asked for a cloth to clean it, would you be offended?

I'm a trainee SLT so not quite sure if I'm qualified to answer any questions regarding that line of work yet.

But i have experience working in a Subway sandwich store, a library, a gym and as a cleaner. So i can answer any cleaning, book or sandwich questions that are burning away inside you all.

Geraldine the anaesthetist I had when I was 14 and having a squint corrected made sure my mum was the last person I saw as I went under, and the first I saw as I was coming round :)

I do have a question for physios OT's, SLTs and anyone who can be involved in someone's care for a long time. How does it feel when you see them make real progress and you know you've been a part of it?

For those asking why gynaecologists go into that specialism, I have just had a gynie op, was awake throughout as opted for a spinal block so was talking to the gynie surgeon/consultant as he operated. I asked him why he'd chosen that path and he said that from a scientific point of view the female reproductive system is fascinating, much so more than heart, brain etc. Not sure what answer I was expecting but there again he's unlikely to say its cos he loves looking at fannys all day is he ??

"I have a question for solicitors - do you ever refuse to defend a client because they were caught red handed and there is no way that you can argue that they didn't do it?"

I'm a lawyer although not in the criminal field, but I can answer this as I went through it in my training.

If the client wants to plead not guilty it doesn't matter whether you think he/she did it, you can enter the plea for them and defend them based on the information they give you. You are not the judge and jury - they would be pointless if all lawyers refused to represent people they suspected were guilty. You have to believe that justice will be done, and if you can see through what you believe to be the client's lies, the magistrates or jury will too.

However, if the client says "look right, I did it but want to plead not guilty" you would need to withdraw from the case if you were unable to convince them to plead guilty. They would need to engage another lawyer and figure out that they need to not do the same thing with the new lawyer!

So you can't put forward a defence you know to be untrue, but you don't do the judge and jury's job and refuse to represent someone because you think they are guilty as sin.

The anaesthetist when I had ds was lovely. Firstly I was off my face on gas & air & the poor sod was stopped every time he was trying to do the epidural by me leaning back with a winning smile
Secondly when I had emcs,he was very reassuring & listened when I freaked out because I could feel all the tugging & it was painful. He knocked me out at my request. I did feel guilty about not being awake for ds birth.
He was very kind (I am overweight & was under consultant care).

OP the thing about the woman in a coma becoming pregnant is I am 99% sure true - I grew up in the US and remember a case like that on the news. She was raped by an orderly or something.

Pathologist here; decided that's what I wanted to do before I even got to medical school. I only did a year of treating living people so I never really felt confident about it and I hated cardiac arrests so would have been useless in A&E. As there has been a lot of talk of coping with bodily fluids I will add that poo is the worst for me. Even wearing two pairs of gloves and thorough washing I can still smell it (or think I can smell it) on my hands so I carry round a little tube of hand scrub and moisturiser. Autopsies have an additional set of odours and fluids all if their own which you just get used to.

Really interesting thread, thanks!

Oooooh ginger how interesting! Have you ever found anything really weird in someone's tummy or anything like that?

I've always wondered if a vet judges you if you can't afford the treatment needed for your pet.

My post reads like two seperate occasions,they weren't.

dentists how often do you get bitten? Er, by an adult patient?

Much to my shame I accidentally bit my fabulous dentist last appointment and I'm scared to go back . The kids need check ups, I need to face her again.

I cringe every time I think about it.

Andthatswhat - the secret service does exist - it's called the Security Service (MI5). They even have a website, and you can apply for jobs there! The James Bond one is the Secret Intelligence Servic (MI6), which deals with foreign spying. And most people there aren't sneaking around in dark glasses, but are sitting at desks doing analysis type stuff.

Any questions for a civil servant (central govt / Parliament)? And no, I don't work for the security service!

Re surgeons. I was quite alarmed a few years ago when my surgeon told me my op would take seven hours. What if he needed toilet/coffee/fag? He explained that he would open me up and take out the nasty bit, then the anaesthetist would have the job of keeping me ticking over while he went for a tea and a sandwich. I suppose it was just an ordinary day at work for him

wigeon

How do you feel if you have to work on a policy you absolutely don't believe in?

Revolting, I think the weirdest thing I've ever found inside someone was several twenty pound notes in a plastic bag in the vagina

I'm a transport planner for a local council. Not expecting many questions??...

Another question relating to my recent loss then ginger - can you tell someone has had a pm once they've been prepared by the funeral director or whoever it is that does that, before the family sees them?

My granddad had one and I'm a bit nervous about going to see him, but am nervous about that in general tbh.

Foster Carers- how do you look after a child or baby in your home and not fall madly in love with them?
How do you come to terms with them going onto an adoptive home or back to their parents. Especially if there have been issues at home.

How do you stop yourself from thinking "I wish they could stay with us forever"

ginger, I'm doing a biology degree and have the chance to watch a PM, will it help my studies?

Bowling alley staff - Do you judge a group of adults with no kids present when they ask for you to put up the side bars?

Cinema staff - Do you judge when a group of adults with no kids present go and see a 'kids' film?

Re: talking to patients who have died, always.as a nurse is the last thing you can do for that person and is a privilege.

Periods, not a bother, pads and a change each time you turn them, ever 4 hours.

Store owners, do you feel comfortable when a kid comes in and buys all manner of shit food? Energy drinks? Sweets? Crisps? What do you do if they are there with their parent and the parent obviously buying this stuff for the kid to take as 'lunch' for school?