Not really sure what a senior does . . .

[curious30]

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I hope this doesn't sound bad.
I am a third year pediatric resident and I am not quite sure of my roll during rounds, especially when I am on a subspecialty.
I was senior of a subspecialty last year and overall it went well. I took care of my interns - made sure they got to conference, helped out with the sicker kids and H&P's, got them out on time. I wrote all of the orders during rounds and clarified things that were missed. I made sure my med students were prepared and did my best to answer questions and teach.
But I was evaluated as being "quiet", "shy", and "timid" by my attending. I handled codes and high stress situations well. No medical mistakes were made. Overall, the evaluations I recieved during this rotation were not as good as evaluation I recieve when I am on rotations were I present. So I promised myself that this would not happen again and I decided to be more outgoing (as though one can change herself in a couple of months.)

Well I am senior for a second time now. But this time cardiology. I was told I should take it as a compliment because they only put strong residents on tough rotations at the beginning of the year. Yet again, after a couple of days, my attending said "you don't talk a lot." True. But is that my purpose? I don't present, ever. I ask occassional questions but I am not going to try to make any teaching points about cardiology or have opinions about patients I don't know well. I don't understand what my roll is - where do I fit into the team? On subspecialty I feel very superfluous.

I am at a fork in the road. Should I continue to worry about it? Do every I can to fix it? Or should I blow it off and be myself, damn the consequences. "I don't talk alot. @$#%ing deal with it." (Maybe not in those exact words."

 

[BigNavyPedsGuy]

It sounds like you're doing everything right. You just don't make a scene while doing it. I would just try and throw out a few of those teaching points. Sure, you're not a cardiologist, but think how little you knew about it during July of your intern year. You have a lot to offer those behind you.

But overall, the most important thing is that you learn what you need to and are competent. End of story. Screw the games. That's what matters.

 

[rotatores]

I was never a big fan of the "resident game." Learn what you need to learn to practice successfully as a pediatrician (unless you want to go into cards).

 

[bronch007]

Well I'm a 3rd year resident in IM and I had exactly the same problem to begin with but after 2 years they have realised it and when I had my last review with PD he said that people don't say much for 2 reasons - either they know nothing or they know a lot but are by nature quiet and it took 2 years for them to find out I am the latter (well sort of )... so I'm sure they will realise soon just keep doing what is expected of you and things will be fine.