Hey all,
I am most of the way through my intern year of medicine. I have done a MICU block and CVICU block now and still find myself fairly nervous/stressed with my critically ill patients, though I don't show it on the outside. Part of the reason is that I feel somewhat inadequate with placing lines; I have only done 2 art lines and 2 centrals at this point in the year. I feel like I could become proficient with them - I'm skilled with US-guided IVs (done like 30, pretty much get it first try each time). I also feel pretty confident with other basic procedures like paras, thoras, LPs, etc., but I just haven't had many opportunities to do lines this year; it is sort of a problem at my program. I also feel like I never know how to manage pressors other than levophed.
Is it normal to feel this way (nervous/stressed) or do things get better with more experience? I want to do cardiology, but obviously I will need to be more competent and confident in critical care management for that to be a realistic goal. I have two more MICU blocks and one CVICU block scheduled for the remainder of my medicine training.
Thank you
I am most of the way through my intern year of medicine. I have done a MICU block and CVICU block now and still find myself fairly nervous/stressed with my critically ill patients, though I don't show it on the outside. Part of the reason is that I feel somewhat inadequate with placing lines; I have only done 2 art lines and 2 centrals at this point in the year. I feel like I could become proficient with them - I'm skilled with US-guided IVs (done like 30, pretty much get it first try each time). I also feel pretty confident with other basic procedures like paras, thoras, LPs, etc., but I just haven't had many opportunities to do lines this year; it is sort of a problem at my program. I also feel like I never know how to manage pressors other than levophed.
Is it normal to feel this way (nervous/stressed) or do things get better with more experience? I want to do cardiology, but obviously I will need to be more competent and confident in critical care management for that to be a realistic goal. I have two more MICU blocks and one CVICU block scheduled for the remainder of my medicine training.
Thank you
