Overview

Upon initiating service as a resident you should recognize that your position requires you to simultaneously wear three hats, namely, medical apprentice, hospital employee, and committed physician. As a consequence, you have obligations toward your treatment team colleagues, the department chairperson who represents the institution that hired you, and the patients who have been placed in your care. All of these obligations put heavy demands on you, which in turn may generate tension and anxiety that can lead to stress. Obviously this can impact a resident's professional performance negatively. The overall issue of functioning effectively under the pressure of multiple obligations will therefore be the main topic of discussion in this chapter.

Keys to patient care

The extent of a resident's clinical responsibilities obviously depends on his/her stage of postgraduate training. It also is governed by the status of the patients namely, whether they are classified as private or public. In the former case, a resident's responsibilities toward the patient will be limited. For public patients, residents have greater supervisory responsibilities and thus can establish a more in-depth relationship with them. In either case, it is essential that you develop strong communication skills, which will improve your interpersonal relationships with individual patients, who undoubtedly will come from a wide variety of backgrounds.

To enhance your interaction with patients. The following suggestions should prove helpful:

• Always seek to practice good medicine. Although your time is very limited, be sure to take an adequate history and perform a reliable physical exam. Shortcuts may jeopardize the accuracy of your findings and preliminary diagnosis.

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