Reflections on Emergency Medicine Residency
Written by Puja Singh, MD
“Residency is hard. Medicine, specifically EM, is humbling.” “Be confident in yourself. You earned it.” For me, residency was my first official job. Before this, I had only ever had a job as a tutor. Starting residency is overwhelming - emotionally, mentally, and physically taxing. Medicine, in general, is one of the toughest things I have done. The things we witness daily keep me grounded, and humble, and allow me to appreciate my patients, my friends and family, and most importantly. myself. Remember what you have accomplished until this point. You earned this recognition. You earned the two letters: "Dr.". Even now, I am often in disbelief that I am "Dr. Singh"! I remember the first few weeks and months of residency. I remember my dedication, hard work, and perseverance until this point. I regain the confidence that is needed to enter my next patient’s room- eyes open, mind focused and say, “Hi, I’m Dr. Singh, how can I help you?”
“Mistakes will happen.” I remember being terrified of making a mistake at the start of residency. I still am. The thought of accidentally hurting another human was painstakingly scary. It is not expected that you know everything. You will make mistakes. However, it is important to ask your senior residents, nurses, co-interns, and attendings for help. Gracefully, take each mistake or setback as a learning experience. Reflect on the mistakes. Lastly, it's never wrong to apologize.
“Prepare for lifelong learning.” I never truly appreciated this until I started my training. The knowledge we have and the resources we have to access it is growing. There is always more to learn. Find a way that works for you to reflect and learn at least one thing after every shift. Take learning step by step. You have already learned so much so far.
“Compassion, empathy, and humanization.” Remember, behind every patient, there is a person. Somebody's husband, mother, father, sister, uncle, niece, or friend. Treat every patient like they were "your person". Don’t let the nature of medicine, working in a busy emergency department, or the grueling hours of residency let you forget that. Bring compassion, empathy, respect, and kindness to every encounter you have. Take a moment to step into their shoes. This will allow you to grow into the best version of yourself as a physician and person.
“Take care of yourself!” If you do not take care of yourself, you simply cannot care for others. Recognize your own emotional, physical, and mental needs. Find people you can connect with, lean on, and trust. Stay connected to yourself and your people. It takes a village!
“Emergency Medicine is the best field!” I truly believe I have the best job! I would be amiss to not recognize that some days may not feel that way, and I may momentarily forget it. Yet, at the end of the day, this field is the best! To be able to make an impact on people’s lives is the best feeling when I go home every day regardless of how tired and drained I am. Reflecting on how much I know, what I have done, and what I can do is invigorating! EM allows us to advocate for patients, healthcare, and communities. This field has so many opportunities at your fingertips. Find your passion, and don't be afraid to go after it!
