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This is normal, right? I mean even the young attendings who were still residents when I started seem like they are in a whole other universe than me, when it comes to knowing things. Is it possible that I am actually ******ed, and I have somehow just gone unnoticed to this point?
I've done pretty well on my in-training exams (70+ percentile on my last 2 years), I matched into a CT fellowship earlier this week (whew!), so I must have some knowledge in there somewhere, right?
To clarify, I will be working as staff for a year at my home institution before moving on to my fellowship. A couple attendings are moving on to other things, and they have asked me to stay on to fill the gaps.
Any advice for me? I am usually pretty relaxed, but this is terrifying.
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UPDATE: I am 4 months into attending-hood, and it turns out I have been pretty well-trained.
Working with residents is about what I expected. Some are very good, and some need a little help.
Working with CRNAs is a little different than I expected. I kind of expected them to be almost entirely self-sufficient. Some are very good, and have been helpful with my transition, while others have been incredibly frustrating. And its not who I would have expected, necessarily, either. There are veteran CRNAs who need to be watched like they're a CA-1, and there are some young CRNAs who are just excellent. And everything in between.
There have been a number of situations where I have had to get people out of jams that I never would have gotten myself into in a million years. It keeps you on your toes for sure.
It is true what they say about your first month too. My first case was an emergency airway ENT case. I think I had to staff about 5 awake fiberoptic intubations (I probably only did 10 in my entire residency), 2-3 stat C-sections, and it seemed like everyone I touched bronchospasmed for no apparent reason. Things have calmed down a bit for me, probably just me getting better at this new role, and I have settled in nicely, I think.
My old staff (now co-workers) kept a pretty close eye on me for the first week or so, but they turned me loose pretty quickly. They are always around if I need them, but to tell the truth, I haven't needed much help.
I have staffed everything including hearts, thoracic, OB, trauma, vascular, and some basic peds. I'm a little uncomfortable if you present a patient to me, and that presentation includes a weight in grams, but I think I am reasonably comfortable doing all but the smallest babies, as long as there is nothing too weird about them. I also have privileges to read TEEs at my institution. It was probably a bit of a reach when they gave me that privilege (based on aptitude, but I do have the numbers from resicency), but I have worked hard at it, and I think I am actually pretty decent for my level of experience at this point. Having to teach the exam to residents has been really helpful for me too.
Anyway, it has been a good experience. I have learned a lot since starting as staff, and the new role can be kind of fun. The paycheck is nice a nice change too, although it will be short-lived, since I start fellowship in July.
I've done pretty well on my in-training exams (70+ percentile on my last 2 years), I matched into a CT fellowship earlier this week (whew!), so I must have some knowledge in there somewhere, right?
To clarify, I will be working as staff for a year at my home institution before moving on to my fellowship. A couple attendings are moving on to other things, and they have asked me to stay on to fill the gaps.
Any advice for me? I am usually pretty relaxed, but this is terrifying.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: I am 4 months into attending-hood, and it turns out I have been pretty well-trained.
Working with residents is about what I expected. Some are very good, and some need a little help.
Working with CRNAs is a little different than I expected. I kind of expected them to be almost entirely self-sufficient. Some are very good, and have been helpful with my transition, while others have been incredibly frustrating. And its not who I would have expected, necessarily, either. There are veteran CRNAs who need to be watched like they're a CA-1, and there are some young CRNAs who are just excellent. And everything in between.
There have been a number of situations where I have had to get people out of jams that I never would have gotten myself into in a million years. It keeps you on your toes for sure.
It is true what they say about your first month too. My first case was an emergency airway ENT case. I think I had to staff about 5 awake fiberoptic intubations (I probably only did 10 in my entire residency), 2-3 stat C-sections, and it seemed like everyone I touched bronchospasmed for no apparent reason. Things have calmed down a bit for me, probably just me getting better at this new role, and I have settled in nicely, I think.
My old staff (now co-workers) kept a pretty close eye on me for the first week or so, but they turned me loose pretty quickly. They are always around if I need them, but to tell the truth, I haven't needed much help.
I have staffed everything including hearts, thoracic, OB, trauma, vascular, and some basic peds. I'm a little uncomfortable if you present a patient to me, and that presentation includes a weight in grams, but I think I am reasonably comfortable doing all but the smallest babies, as long as there is nothing too weird about them. I also have privileges to read TEEs at my institution. It was probably a bit of a reach when they gave me that privilege (based on aptitude, but I do have the numbers from resicency), but I have worked hard at it, and I think I am actually pretty decent for my level of experience at this point. Having to teach the exam to residents has been really helpful for me too.
Anyway, it has been a good experience. I have learned a lot since starting as staff, and the new role can be kind of fun. The paycheck is nice a nice change too, although it will be short-lived, since I start fellowship in July.
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