I know I’m most likely sharing the obvious, but let’s talk about how important it can be to have a great, collaborative team. Right now, I’m on inpatient internal medicine at the VA, and I really love my team. That can be vital to one’s experience.
I have one upper-level PGY-2 Internal Medicine resident and an intern/resident hybrid who is a second-year Med-Peds resident physician. Both of them are absolutely awesome. We recently started on November 1st, but we spend a significant chunk of time together because of how often we are at the hospital—very early mornings, late nights, and call every 3 days!
It’s near impossible not to have the opportunity to get to know each other. I realized very early that I lucked out with a great team. It is so key. We share responsibilities. It can be frustrating when other staff members don’t do their job, but we have each other. Otherwise, that would make for a very miserable month. I’m really proud of how my co-residents are always helpful. Neither of them ever really complains. They’re great doctors.
I get to see how great doctors are made. We encourage each other and complement each other. That’s important as we continue our journey to becoming attending physicians. My co-residents this month not only just practice medicine, but they do it well. That can be really important for patients and their families. That’s a beautiful thing how kind and caring they are.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the month will play out because, at this rate, it feels like an eternity away. Shall I repeat—call EVERY 3 DAYS + only 4 days off the entire month. Man oh man, residency is a process, and I’m grateful to be chugging through!
Thoughts from a psychiatry resident physician,
Dr. AKP
