Here’s my small contribution to #TipsForNewDocs - ready? YOU DON’T NEED ANY TIPS. IGNORE THIS THREAD. YOU ARE AMAZING! Remember why you’re here and stay true to yourself. You’ll get the hang of it in no time. And if not, reach out to a friend. #sorrynotsorry #tipoverload
Allow me to explain why you should ignore #TipsForNewDocs, or at least set it aside for now (and I mean no offense to the originators, it’s full of really GREAT tips). Seems to me that this thread attempts to address, and ameliorate, the anxiety caused by 2/x
the transition from student doctor to doctor in training (really not that big a jump if you stop to think about it). But it does so with the unintended consequence of contributing to burnout via imposter syndrome and reinforcing a sense of helplessness. 3/x
Perhaps a learned helplessness? I’ve seen lots of great advice on #TipsForNewDocs but the implication is that hidden within all these amazing posts is some secret to success in medicine, and that we should aspire to fulfill all of them 4/x
Yet another unrealistic expectation leading to unnecessary pressure on novice physicians. So that in addition to trying to learn the idiosyncrasies of their EHR, their faculty, their traffic patterns and parking spots, and actual medicine, they must now also 5/x
Aim to be as wise and as mature as some docs who’ve been in the game for a decade or more. It’s as if we’re trying to give them the entirety of our “non clinical” attitudes and skills on day 1. There must some wise quote about this, and I’m hoping someone 6/x
With a better memory will be able to come up with it. But these are lessons that take time to learn, and often they must be individually learned since we all are so different. And many lessons must be learned experientially if they’re going to take. 7/x
So, #newdocs, please take a deep breath, reflect on who you are, stand proud, and realize that the people contributing to #tipsfornewdocs, although wise and well intentioned, did not have all this knowledge in advance. We all stood once where you stand now 8/x
With time you will realize that you have all the answers. You can find your own way. That is part of the adventure. Without it you’ll be stuck forever trying to be someone else, someone you are not, and doubting yourself for it. 9/9
