Tips for New Doctors: Experienced Pros Share Their Advice for Success
While it's natural to feel like you're under an immense amount of pressure to perform as a new doctor, it simply has to be done. Fortunately, asking for advice from those who have gone before—as well as other members of the healthcare team—can make the process a little easier. Below, we've compiled more than a dozen tips from experienced healthcare professionals to help you weather the storm as a first-year resident and beyond.
Managing Your Workload
"Be extremely organized and make sure you make a system for all the things you have to get done during the day, prioritizing those that are most important. If you find you're overwhelmed, ask for help. This is not an easy transition, and your seniors and attendings are always there to support you and help you learn." – Rena Malik, MD, Director of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine
"Ask for help when you need it. While you're eager to prove your abilities, showing humility in the workplace can be more important initially. Your colleagues with more experience will feel valued and respected when asked their opinion, and if you're a new physician, they'll perceive this as maturity rather than weakness. Use your favors wisely, too, so that other employees don't perceive you as someone who is only making more work for them. Who you ask for help is important as well. Nurses, therapists, and midlevel providers can help you be more productive than you can on your own, but they aren't your minions. Don't assume that because you're a doctor, they're going to follow every order you write. If they call you with an alternate suggestion for your patient, listen respectfully. You don't always have to concede to their requests but choose your battles." – Melissa Crickard, MD, contributing journalist for WGRZ news and author of three novels