Inside the Life of a First-Year Family Medicine Resident

Congrats! You’ve matched. What should you expect as a First-Year Family Medicine Resident? Resident family medicine! Welcome to the best position in the world! You must be thrilled! But right about now, you begin to have questions.

First-Year Family Medicine Resident

What should I expect? What is expected of me? Is there more than just medicine? One of the most haunting questions I ever had was: “Will I kill someone?” I had the same questions. Except I never got any of the answers.

This hasn’t happened yet. Now I know.

So I’ve decided to share them. I hope this post helps all of you who are about to start your first year of FM. This post aims to alleviate your concerns or potentially spark new ideas.

So what is it like to start a family medicine residency?

And what are the hours like? I will say this.

To be completely transparent, the hours vary based on your current rotation, the attendings you work with, and the specific program you matched into. This is the experience I have had during my program. Ours may differ.

On average, expect to work between 8 and 13 hours a day. You get weekends off during outpatient rotations. And, on inpatient rotations like ICU, Inpatient medicine, which my programme calls adult medicine, and Emergency medicine… You will work six days a week, between 10-13 hours per day.

On outpatient rotations, you have clinic hours, 8 am-5 pm.

There will be days when you have a clinic for half a day, usually in the afternoon. You are in inpatient medicine, so you must go to the hospital in the morning and return after the clinic to do your PM rounds, finish notes, check on patients, and prepare for the next day. These days are the toughest because you have inpatient notes AND clinic notes to finish. It takes time and practice to get better at time management. You’ll get there.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU?

✓

Punctuality:

If you are on the dot…you are late. Be in places 10-15 min early to allow yourself time to set up, turn on computers, and sign on. Etc. Moreover, it shows you respect your position and respect those you work with. Their time is as valuable as yours.

✓ Accountability:

Hold yourself accountable for the commitments you make, especially if you forget, make a mistake, or write something incorrectly. Hold yourself accountable. Admit your mistakes and doubts. This allows others around you to trust you and depend on you to follow through.

✓ Honesty:

If it’s in your notes, please ensure you have completed it. For example, if you say “no lymphadenopathy” in your physical exam, make sure you’ve palpated the lymph nodes. Trust is not only essential but crucial. While defensive medicine may not be ideal, it’s crucial to ensure that your chart accurately reflects your actions in any legal situations. The chances of you remembering what you’ve done at each patient encounter are low. You will one day refer back to these notes to remind yourself of what you saw, felt, and observed/appreciated. So be honest.

✓ Respect:

Be courteous to everyone around you, including cafeteria staff and cleaning staff. The environment you foster will benefit you in the long run. You want to come to work in a pleasant atmosphere. Respect others’ privacy as well as their boundaries! Don’t demand things or “order” them. Request, and then say thank you. You are a team.

✓ Read up on your patients:

The best way to learn is to read up on your patients. This includes treatment plans, options, side effects, and benefits, among other important information. This knowledge will benefit your patients in the future and enable you to assist them more effectively. Also, it will make sure you know how to answer questions if you’re ever pimped.

WHAT TO EXPECT

✓ Long hours:

As mentioned above, some days run as long as 12-14 hours, and if you’re having fun, you may stay later. I’ve done it. The average workweek is about 70 or more hours, with a limit at 80 hours a week. This means that if you reach the 80-hour mark, You must go home.

✓ Some weekends off,

You get one day off a week during inpatient rotations and two weekends off during outpatient ones. Make the best of them. Do what helps you keep your sanity! Whether it ‘s the Gym, outdoor activities, family time, etc… Regardless of the activity, engage in it. Do it and be present.

✓ Vacation days:

Each programme is different. I have about 21 vacation days, including sick days, so I plan wisely. I haven’t used a sick day yet, but let’s not jinx it. Oh, and no vacations during inpatient services (ER, inpatient medicine, and ICU).

✓ Fatigue:

You will get worn out. Very. Personally, when I get worn out, I get emotional and sensitive, and it takes me a bit longer to finish notes and documentation. Know yourself! Know how you react to fatigue, what you need to help it with, and adjust your workday and workflow to account for it. At times, I need a hot bath with candles and meditation music; at other times, I just need a good cry; and sometimes, a quick workout session is exactly what the doctor ordered. Depending on my level of fatigue, I adjust accordingly. I know what I need. It is essential to know these things so that they do not interfere with your work and patient care and that you don’t burn out. So, recognise your fatigue and do something early to help it.

✓ Support:

Lean on those around you. You can rely on your co-residents and your family for support. Your attendings. You are keeping things bottled up, which leads to BURNOUT. Don’t let yourself get to that point. You will be surprised how quickly you bond with your class. You will have a village supporting you whether you ask for it or not. That has been my personal experience at my programme, and I hope it is yours when you start. ✓

✓ Fun:

Medicine is fun. It is detective work. And you will be doing it with other people who share your interest in it. You will find time for fun between patients, work, and while writing notes and presenting patients. You will make friendships with people in the hospital: the nurses, the cafeteria crew, the cleaning crew, your co-residents, and even attendings. Even on your worst day, someone will make you smile. This has been my experience. And you also have weekends off, so you can study and go to the pool, beach, dancing, picnics, get-togethers, etc. Church is something you need and value. The point is. If it’s important to you, there will be time to do it. Discover the amazing health benefits of cardio exercise for longevity.

Now here is a tough question:

WILL I KILL SOMEONE?

A better question is:

Will someone die while I am part of their care team?

The answer is yes. I have lost patience. In my 1stmonth as an intern of the First Year Family Medicine Resident, I lost a patient, and it was tough for me. Lucky for me, I had a family away from my family to lean on, to share. If this happens and you find you’re struggling with it, talk about it with friends, with family, with colleagues, and if needed, with a psychologist or psychiatrist. NEVER let these things fester in silence. You can’t help others if you don’t help yourself.

The bottom line is: “Welcome to the life of a first-year family medicine resident.” My 1styear has flown by! Live the moment and love what you’re doing. Cheers to becoming tadpoles! I am so proud of you. Now go do doctor things!