you're the doctor now
The last few months have been a whirlwind: graduating from medical school, packing, leaving S, moving to V, starting residency. I don't feel like I've processed any of it.
I'm on emergency medicine right now. Intern year is no joke, and I'm suffering. My attending on my first day was frustrated by me, I think, and repeatedly told me, "You're the doctor now."
You're the doctor now.
I feel like a fraud. Even the nurses call me Dr. It's a lie. I have no idea what I'm doing. Clearly. Every day is a struggle just to show up, let alone practice medicine. At least I caught an acute L1 fx yesterday, though barely. A stroke of luck that I caught it. I almost missed it, and I hate myself for it.
You're the doctor now.
I feel sick.
Watch the first episode of Scrubs. I rewatched the first season so much during internship.
All of us feel this way.
You'll survive. I think it remains the hardest year I ever had as a doctor. As an intern you're meant to be supervised, and it's okay to miss or not know things. There's no way to know everything your first weeks (or even months to years) of training. Hence working in teams and swiss cheese models.
Also remember, always tell your patients to return to the ED if their symptoms don't go away or get worse/change. And there's always an attending or consultant family physician (in most cases) who will be following up on their patients after they leave the ED.
If you're not sure ask.
whoever told you "you're the doctor now" when you're a new intern is a total fucking dickhead
















