Hey all, so I'm attending this residency. The director (first year running it) wants us to do start checks, prep checks, and finish checks with the attending. This is ridiculous, I didn't go to residency to go back to dschool. I'm not learning how to manage my time like this.
I already have my license in this state! The director claims it's an ADA requirement...I couldn't find this anywhere. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Everyday I'm running 45 minutes behind because I'm sitting waiting 10-15 minutes for the attending to come look at our work. I do excellent work, never cut corners, and am the first person to ask for advice if I have a question.
Basically I'm so disappointed.
Ok. Don't be disappointed. Every residency is different.
First, I just left NY where I taught residents at a major hospital for 2 years. Use your attendings and soak up knowledge like a sponge. Use this time to sharpen your skills. You're fresh out of school and you'd be surprised at what you DON'T know. Rather than just providing treatment, really invest time in getting an understanding of WHY you're doing what you're doing. Learn your drugs, diseases of the body and keep a daily log of all your treatments so you can go back and study your cases. Believe me, it all comes back to you after residency. Get a full understand of what it means to render Comprensive Dental Care.
I did a residency in 2003-2004. Our attendings had a different approach. Each time we sat a patient in the chair, we had to orally present what we were going to do, why we were doing it and they "grilled" us like we were pledging a fraternity or sorority, lol. We thought they were giving us a hard time. They even grilled us when we wrote prescriptions. They asked us "Why?" for almost every letter we wrote on that prescription form, lol, just kidding. But, you get my point. By the third or fourth month, our confidence was built and we were left to treat patients as if we were in private practice and the attendings told us to only come get them if we ran into a problem. Those were moments I learned how to do the best Oral Surgery, Removable Prosthodontics and Restorative.
So, don't take it hard. They mean well. It can feel like a waste but it's not. Remember, it's only a year, keep your focus on the goal to get your certificate and go with the flow. I guarantee in a few years to come, you'll see things differently when you're possibly mentoring someone else who's in school or in a residency.
I've told students I've taught and former residents this bit of advice on a regular basis...A residency is ONLY what YOU make it. You can choose to not do much, you can choose to challenge yourself but most of all, take something from it and push yourself to do those things you fear doing or that you're uncomfortable doing. Best wishes and hang in there.
