A Day in the Life of an Internal Medicine Resident
Written by Sawyer Bawek, DO
Each residency day can look very different depending on what rotation you are on, along with what your call schedule looks like. One of the best opportunities for growth during residency is being able to establish a routine and devote some time each day to learning about the topics you saw on rounds. The workflow will also start slow at the start of residency and gradually improve as you become more comfortable with the EMR and also in managing your patients. It is also important to schedule time during each day to enjoy the things that you like to do! Here is what a typical day looks like for me on floors.
0445: Wake up and go to the gym for a quick workout. I have found that working out before work instead of after gives me more energy for the day.
0530: Shower, change, and start listening to a podcast on my walk to the hospital.
I live about a 7-minute walk from one of the hospitals where I do most of my rotations. I highly recommend living close to the hospital in your first year, as you will have more time during the day to do other activities!
0600-0700: Arrive at the hospital. Chart check patients while waiting for sign-out from the night team. Receive sign-out from the night float resident about any new admissions and overnight events.
Sign-out consists of a formal presentation from the night resident on any patients my team will be covering. The night resident also updates me on any calls or concerns about my patients and any orders they placed for the patient.
0700-0800: Pre-round on patients and talk about patients I am covering with any medical students and my senior residents. I will also talk to the nursing staff about any questions or concerns they have about the patients.
0800-0830: In-person morning report. We meet for morning reports in person, with zoom access for residents not rotating at the hospital with the person presenting. Examples of morning reports include going over a challenging case, EKG review, and lectures on specific board topics.
0830-1200: Table rounds or walking rounds with the whole team. Rounds typically begin with unstable patients or any new admissions. Rounds begin with a formal presentation on the patient and are followed up with a group discussion on the care for the patient. The attending also uses bedside teaching on rounds and sometimes the residents or medical students have prepared a topic for teaching during rounds. Orders are also placed for patients while rounding.
1200-1220: Grab lunch.
1220-2000: Complete discharges, call consults, and put in any additional orders needed. I will also talk to family members who are visiting the hospital.
1400-1550: Complete notes, go over notes with the medical students, teach about important topics seen during the day, and call families for daily updates.
1600-1620: Sign out my patients to the resident and senior resident who are covering our short call. If I am on a short call, I will work on any admissions and answer the on-call phone until 1900. If I am not on a short call, I will sign out my patients and leave if all my notes and orders are completed.
1620-1630: Walk back to the apartment complex.
1630-1730: Make food and look over and answer any emails received during the day
1730-1930: Pick up basketball, soccer, hang out with friends, or time designated for MKSAP or research projects.
1930-2100: Review topics seen during morning rounds, call friends and family, and have downtime until bed.
The schedule will also look different with lectures depending on the day of the week. We have an academic half day on Wednesdays where attend lectures from 1300-1600. The academic half-day is protected learning time and residents have free time for the rest of the day following the academic half-day unless they are scheduled to be on call.
