i was 100% set on anesthesiology. had some interviews lined up. then, in comes an ER rotation and i'm liking it. no rounds, no chasing mag and phos, or following patients for a week much like in anesth. also, u can get in procedures like LPs, central lines, intubate. the pay is not near anesth but fair and definetly better than general specialties like FM and IM. i guess the only thing that would push me toward ER med is more patient contact and clinical problem solving.

anyone in ER residency experience a simliar dilema?

I thought about anesthesia until I realized how boring it was. Took all of about 2 seconds. :D

I had quite a dilemma at the beginning of fourth year. I realized that I needed to be in a hands-on specialty during my EM month, particularly after a couple of straight primary care months. I was also considering anesthesia and, to a lesser degree, interventional radiology. In the end, I wound up with EM because I felt that being a physician-level technician to other doctors was going to be too unsatisfying for me, higher compensation aside.

anyone in ER residency experience a simliar dilema?

Not to discourage you, but most people like EM to start because its so different than the other specialities, and seems very exciting to begin with.

EM is a fun specialty, but it does get routine after awhile. Chest pain, belly pain, pregnant vag bleed, drunken blunt trauma, seizure etc all become old hat. Procedures are cool but you'll find that doing procedures slows down your flow so often it's as much of a pain as it is fun.

I recommend don't jump right into EM just because you enjoy one rotation. Really explore the field, pros and cons, before you change your specialty course.

Good post. A good friend of mine just ditched me in OB/GYN for EM after having applied ERAS and already received her interviews. Terrible shame.

But, she is infinitely happier with her choice. I think if you realize that another residency is for you, nothing should hold you back from chasing that. Every field of medicine will feel 'routine' at some point. I would guess EM actually is the least routine of all medicine.