What is medical residency

After graduating from medical school, newly licensed doctors go through several
more years of post-graduate training in a specialty of their choice, known as a medical
residency. The specialty chosen dictates how long the residency will last. The
residency program, which takes place at a hospital or academic center, is created to
give both hands-on experience and technical training to resident doctors in order to
prepare them to become fully licensed physicians and practice without supervision. In
general, physicians cannot practice medicine without first completing residency.
What is the purpose of residency?
Residents work at hospitals or doctors' offices to continue their education and training in
a specialized field of medicine. A resident may work like this for three to seven years, a
period known as residency. During their residency, doctors provide direct care.

How to Succeed as a Resident?

While each residency will be highly variable, several rules for success can be
followed in order to succeed. These include:

 Stay motivated: It's no secret that residency is challenging and requires long
working hours. With a demanding schedule, it can be hard to stay motivated.
However, in order to get more out of residency and learn the most possible, it is
important to stay motivated and work hard.
 Find time to read/study: With a busy schedule, finding time to spend studying
may be challenging. However, a lot of learning will occur during residency,
and a portion of the education will need to be self-motivated learning.
Therefore, it is essential to continue to find time to study to avoid falling
behind in gaining the necessary knowledge.
 Learn to communicate properly: Communication is one of the most essential
skills one must master during residence. It is important to learn to properly
communicate not only to patients but also to coworkers, nurses, other
physicians, and staff. When physicians are communicating such vital
information related to a patient's health or wellness, it is imperative that no
miscommunications occur.

As a medical resident, your tasks may include:

 Initial and ongoing assessments of patient’s medical status

 Performing patient histories and physical examinations

  Performing rounds

 Developing assessment and treatment plans

 Recording admission notes, progress notes, procedure notes, and discharge summaries

 Ordering tests, studies, and medications

 Interacting with the family of the patient

How to succeed in residency?

 Keep learning — It’s important to keep growing and learning as a physician. Make sure
you seek out learning opportunities and take the time to continue your studies in your
own time to balance out the practical skills you are learning on the job.

 Be professional — Remember that as a doctor, you often see people in pain, struggling,
and at a bad time in their lives. Residency is often the first job for newly qualified MDs,
and it’s vital that you remain professional, even during challenging moments.

 Stay motivated — Moving onwards into a residency program can be a change of pace
for doctors who have recently qualified. You are no longer graded on your educational
achievements. You’ll still receive feedback on your work, but it will be based on
becoming a better doctor rather than an educational grade.

 Take care of yourself — It’s essential to make sure you look after your physical and
mental wellbeing during your internship and the following residency. Looking after your
diet, sleep, hygiene, and daily exercise can keep you in a positive frame of mind and
prevent burnout.

 Connect with your community — Remember that you’re not alone. Other interns,
residents, and doctors can help you along your path and provide teaching moments,
support, and mentorship.