Filling holes in training

[WalterDonnie]

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So I've seen it said before, and experienced during interviews, that most all residencies have "holes" in their training. Maybe a certain population that isn't well represented, or you see heavier groups from one side of the socio-economic spectrum. So can reading adequately fill these holes? I'm trying to figure out if I am proactive enough if I can overcome certain weaknesses of a program. thanks

 

[notdeadyet]

So can reading adequately fill these holes? I'm trying to figure out if I am proactive enough if I can overcome certain weaknesses of a program. thanks

Reading, no. But there is little in residency that you can't get paid experience doing after residency, if you're flexible and willing to work for it.


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[WalterDonnie]

So you mean just taking a job I may be ill-prepared for and kind of learning as I go?

 

[splik]

So you mean just taking a job I may be ill-prepared for and kind of learning as I go?

you don't stop learning once you finish residency. most of the real learning happens after probably. also you can do various moonlighting gigs to give you exposure to settings you're not otherwise getting.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

So you mean just taking a job I may be ill-prepared for and kind of learning as I go?

Most residencies also have a wide open 4th year curriculum. If there is a certain population you haven't had a chance to work with or that you'd see yourself working with this is a great time to fill in these "holes". Fellowships are also available, of course you'll never know everything about everything.

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[notdeadyet]

So you mean just taking a job I may be ill-prepared for and kind of learning as I go?

Yep. No one is going to hire you to do DBS off the street, but that's not what you're really asking.

You asked about specific patient populations. Plenty of county program graduates go on to work for Kaiser and small private practices. Folks from places that focus on the weller/insured end of the spectrum get jobs in county PES. You may find a job that uses a modality you're unfamiliar with that you'll need to scramble to come up to speed on.

This happens a lot in something like psych. You can see it as an exciting opportunity to constantly expand and be a lifelong learner or play to your strengths and become a faster swimmer in a smaller pond. Either way is all good and up to you.

So spread your wings, dabble, and skill up in residency, but don't worry too much that missing a certain elective or a weaker rotation is going to significantly hamper you. Not likely.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I've been an attending for about 4 months now (took a little vacation after completing fellowship) and already encountered tons of things I either never saw during training, or saw very little of. You recognize these areas, acknowledge that it's ok to have weaknesses or gaps in knowledge/experience, then fill those gaps by reading or conferring with colleagues and implement new knowledge into practice. I think that's the fun part of completing training. Dealing with things you know well and are quite familiar with is pretty boring.

Plus, if you get yourself really comfortable and confident with the really severe things we may encounter, you can chill out and enjoy all the other stuff.

 

[WalterDonnie]

Thanks for all your responses guys. Its weird how things are never really how you expect them to be. I guess I assumed that when I finished residency most of the uncertainty would have been trained away. lol becoming a doctor is an odd process.