The beginning of residency is equal parts exciting and terrifying. My experience got better and better as I picked up a handful of key lessons. Here's what I wish I knew before my first day on the job.
1. You will make mistakes.
Some will be big and some will be small, but you will have many, many missteps throughout residency. In the beginning, I thought a "good" resident was a resident who knows it all and never messes up. Now I know that couldn't be further from the truth. No one will think less of you if you slip up; it's an expected and normal part of training! But people will take notice and think more of you if you are able to learn and grow from your mistakes.
2. Trust your exam.
In neurology, the physical exam rules all. Period. It carries more weight in our diagnostic processes than any labs or imaging. Never discount your exam findings — your attendings and fellows rely on them more than you know.
3. You will have some truly awful calls.
A neurology call can get stressful before you've even had a chance to drink your coffee. There will be calls where the stroke code and consult pagers just don't stop going off.
