ENTtoday
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • Practice Focus
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Departments
    • Issue Archive
    • TRIO Best Practices
      • Allergy
      • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
      • Head and Neck
      • Laryngology
      • Otology/Neurotology
      • Pediatric
      • Rhinology
      • Sleep Medicine
    • Career Development
    • Case of the Month
    • Everyday Ethics
    • Health Policy
    • Legal Matters
    • Letter From the Editor
    • Medical Education
    • Online Exclusives
    • Practice Management
    • Resident Focus
    • Rx: Wellness
    • Special Reports
    • Tech Talk
    • Viewpoint
    • What’s Your O.R. Playlist?
  • Literature Reviews
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Events
    • Featured Events
    • TRIO Meetings
  • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Triological Society
    • Advertising Staff
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Rate Card
  • Search

How To Survive the First Year of Medical Residency

by Renée Bacher • September 24, 2017

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version

Be organized. One of the most important traits for first-year residents is organizational ability. “If you’re good at time management and [are] well organized, it enables you to be more productive and get out earlier to spend time with your family,” said Dr. Takashima. “Those who are organized clearly shine, partly because they’re on top of things and well prepared for cases.” What’s the clearest path to organization? At Baylor, first-year residents are assigned to mentors, and teachings focus on efficiencies. These may include logistics such as getting scans to the operating room in advance of surgery.

You Might Also Like

  • 9 Tips For Surviving the First Year of Medical Residency
Explore This Issue
September 2017

Ask for help. Whether it’s not fully grasping a particular procedure or protocol or struggling with a personal problem, it’s best to get help sooner rather than later. First years can and should talk to a trusted chief resident, program director, or faculty member if difficulties arise. “Don’t feel you have to overcome everything by yourself,” said Dr. Bumpous. “Get advice. Take constructive criticism. When you ask, ‘How do I do this better?’ be a good listener and accept people’s advice. The people who isolate themselves and don’t engage others in trying to stay on the best path are the most vulnerable to getting into a chronic problem or more serious trouble.”

Put the patient first (and do it with compassion). Physicians burn out when they lose touch with their own humanity. “Remember that you’re part of the human condition,” Dr. Bumpous said. “The person on the other end of your otoscope or scalpel is a human being—a mom, a dad, a sister, or a brother. Don’t let yourself become too removed from that.” Dr. Bumpous suggested residents learn at least one little thing about each patient as an important way to let patients know they are cared for. What do they do? Where are they from? What do they like to do? “That goes a long way toward helping people heal,” he added.

Relax before residency begins. If possible, future residents should spend any time off after med school enjoying life, whether that means relaxing with family or traveling. “It’s my personal belief that when [residents] start there is ample opportunity for them to learn what they need to learn and acquire the skill set they will need,” said Dr. Wax. “Trying to start reading or shadowing before residency is not going to really help them in the long run. Doing more things to prepare may put them ahead a month or two, but by the middle or end of the first year, everyone is at the same place, no matter what they did.”

Pages: 1 2 3 4 | Single Page

Filed Under: Departments, Medical Education, Resident Focus Tagged With: med school tips, medical residents, medical students, otolaryngology residency, residency, residents, tips for residencyIssue: September 2017

You Might Also Like:

  • 9 Tips For Surviving the First Year of Medical Residency

The Triological SocietyENTtoday is a publication of The Triological Society.

The Laryngoscope
Ensure you have all the latest research at your fingertips; Subscribe to The Laryngoscope today!

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Open access journal in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery is currently accepting submissions.

Classifieds

View the classified ads »

TRIO Best Practices

View the TRIO Best Practices »

Top Articles for Residents

  • Do Training Programs Give Otolaryngology Residents the Necessary Tools to Do Productive Research?
  • Why More MDs, Medical Residents Are Choosing to Pursue Additional Academic Degrees
  • What Physicians Need to Know about Investing Before Hiring a Financial Advisor
  • Tips to Help You Regain Your Sense of Self
  • Should USMLE Step 1 Change from Numeric Score to Pass/Fail?
  • Popular this Week
  • Most Popular
  • Most Recent
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Rating Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Severity: How Do Two Common Instruments Compare?
    • Neurogenic Cough Is Often a Diagnosis of Exclusion
    • What Happens to Medical Students Who Don’t Match?
    • Complications for When Physicians Change a Maiden Name
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • What Happens to Medical Students Who Don’t Match?
    • Rating Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Severity: How Do Two Common Instruments Compare?
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • Neurogenic Cough Is Often a Diagnosis of Exclusion
    • Why We Get Colds
    • Are the Jobs in Healthcare Good Jobs?
    • What Really Works in Functional Rhinoplasty?
    • Is the Best Modality to Assess Vocal Fold Mobility in Children Flexible Fiberoptic Laryngoscopy or Ultrasound?
    • Three Primary Treatment Strategies Show No Differences in Swallow Outcome for Patients with Low- to Intermediate-Risk Tonsil Cancer

Polls

Do you have physician assistants in your otolaryngology practice?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Preferences

Visit: The Triological Society • The Laryngoscope • Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

Wiley
© 2023 The Triological Society. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN 1559-4939