How much time is spent with co-residents?

[Doc2b_123]

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I am guessing this varies from program to program, but I often hear/read people talking about how close their residency cohort is, often saying they're practically family.

But don't residents from the same class generally have different schedules, meaning you won't generally be rotating with your co-residents?

So, just wondering how much time you actually end up spending with people from the same year as you. Are these tight-knit relationships usually formed just between those who hang out outside of work, or do you spend enough time in program related activities to make close friends?

Random question but just curious, and appreciate any insight.

 

[NilamPatel]

you spend pretty much all your time with your co residents in side of the hospital. outside of the hospital is pretty much up to you and how friendly you want to be. I happen to be in a program with over 90 residents in just IM and we hang out quite a bit and enjoy it. we have regularly scheduled activities by the department and our own.

 

[Crayola227]

eh, a lot of times you end up co-interns on a team

I was on a 1 senior 3 intern team

also, you interact a fair amount with sign outs, noon conference, other didactics, when they're on consult and you consult them

plus even on different teams in a small program you can all end up in the same room in the am prerounding, and then in the afternoon working on notes, so that's a LOT of hours together

that's opportunities for coffee breaks, questions, late afternoon laughter and tears

plus like anything in the medical field, what seems like hours feels like a lifetime (watch the original Terminator movie to get what I mean)

 

[WingedOx]

I'm now a couple years out of residency. When I started I moved to a brand new city where I only really knew a couple people, so the people in residency were my main social group, and in a lot of ways still are for the people who still live here. Strangely enough, I spend more time with friends from the class below mine nowadays.

I played a lot of soccer and was in a couple running clubs just to meet new people and branch out too.

 

[Domperidone]

My co-residents are my social life, for roughly the same reasons the others have mentioned. I see some of them all the time in hospital.

I go home exhausted, after a day of having to be nice to people essentially (patients, staff, families), sometimes the last thing I want to do is socialize 🙁

It occurs to me now..that when we say can't wait to work together on rotation in future, it means we can't wait to 'hang out' together while working on shifts.

Shifts are busy, but they feel so much better with the support of people you enjoy working with and who are at your level (or similar). you know exactly what the other is going through and you have this shared experience. in the lighter moments, outside of all the paperwork, it can feel Scrubs.

A lot of the intense things that we go through, probably bring us closer together. Or just the daily grind, you bond because you're helping each other get through.

I haven't met most people in my 'program' but I'm close with the ones I've either worked with or been in close proximity to.