Technical difficulties

[DrRobert]

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So anesthesiology is a highly technical field - many of us chose it in part because of this.

Practice makes perfect, but some people just simply don't have the ability to become good at certain procedures no matter how hard they try.

So has anyone witnessed fellow residents who had to quit or were fired or just plain struggled on a daily basis throughout their training with procedures?

I did ok as a student with intubations, art lines, IVs but that does not guarantee that I will become good at them - or any other procedures like central lines, fiberoptics, etc.

Maybe it's because internship is starting in a couple weeks, but I'm starting to freak out that I won't be able to get good at one or more procedures required in anesthesia. 👎

 

[UTSouthwestern]

So anesthesiology is a highly technical field - many of us chose it in part because of this.

Practice makes perfect, but some people just simply don't have the ability to become good at certain procedures no matter how hard they try.

So has anyone witnessed fellow residents who had to quit or were fired or just plain struggled on a daily basis throughout their training with procedures?

I did ok as a student with intubations, art lines, IVs but that does not guarantee that I will become good at them - or any other procedures like central lines, fiberoptics, etc.

Maybe it's because internship is starting in a couple weeks, but I'm starting to freak out that I won't be able to get good at one or more procedures required in anesthesia. 👎

Two years from now, you'll look back at this post and shake your head in disbelief that you actually wrote this.

You will have plenty of opportunity to become amazingly good at any and all procedures so just wait and relax.

 

[Monty Python]

So anesthesiology is a highly technical field - many of us chose it in part because of this.

Practice makes perfect, but some people just simply don't have the ability to become good at certain procedures no matter how hard they try.

So has anyone witnessed fellow residents who had to quit or were fired or just plain struggled on a daily basis throughout their training with procedures?

I did ok as a student with intubations, art lines, IVs but that does not guarantee that I will become good at them - or any other procedures like central lines, fiberoptics, etc.

Maybe it's because internship is starting in a couple weeks, but I'm starting to freak out that I won't be able to get good at one or more procedures required in anesthesia. 👎

It's like learning to ride a bicycle. The first couple of times you need training wheels ... then when they come off you're wobbly, you fall and scrape your knees a few times (perhaps a few stitches along the way). Then one day it all just clicks and off you go, giving Lance Armstrong a run for his money.

If you can walk and pat your head simultaneously you have the requisite psychomotor ability needed for anesthesia. One thing worth cultivating is patience with yourself, especially when under time pressure. While it's human nature to feel stress and handle it according to your personality makeup, getting overtly frazzled won't make the art line, Cordis, tough epidural, etc, go in any easier or faster. Probably the hardest thing to cultivate is "grace while under fire." It will carry you a long way!

Don't let them see you sweat and you will be king.