Resident Readiness General Surgery Read Online Free Page B

Goodnight Moon for the 120th time. Your time for reading for conferences will often have to wait until the last kiss goodnight or mean getting up an hour earlier in the morning. It will also be important to know when to delegate; this is an especially difficult dilemma with new work-hour restrictions; all good surgical residents loathe the thought of being referred to as “shift workers.” However, many of us have workaholic bents and need to force ourselves to pass off the 6 PM “appy in the ER” to the covering resident if we have a steaming spouse and a screaming child waiting for us.
6. Know when to let go. You will not be able to be involved in the day-to-day activities of your child and trying to will create undue stress for both you and your caregiver. Create a plan with your caregiver regarding updates, phone pictures, and, above all, establish care guidelines in a written, signed contract. Find alternative ways of touching base: Skype in at bedtime from your phone, record your voice reading a favorite bedtime story, or ask your spouse to bring the baby to hang out with you in the call room.
7. Have a mentor. This is perhaps the most important point. Find a surgeon early on who is respected in his or her career and who makes time for family life. This doesn’t have to be a woman, just someone who can give you tips about your career path and sometimes the much-needed perspective that, like most things, residency will eventually end.
8. Know the rules for maternity leave. Rules will depend on your institution, but most programs will allow 6 weeks maternity leave. Per the American Board of Surgery (ABS), no resident can take more than 4 weeks offin any academic year, with the exception of maternity leave, in which the resident can take 6 weeks. Be aware, however, that this includes all time off in a year, including vacation, interviews, and conference time. Per the ABS, “For documented medical problems or maternity leave, the ABS will accept [a minimum of] 46 weeks of training in one of the first three years of residency and [a minimum of] 46 weeks of training in one of the last two years, for a total of [not less than] 142 weeks in the first three years and 94 weeks in the last two years. Unused vacation or leave time cannot be applied to reduce the amount of full-time experience required per year without prior written permission from the ABS. Such requests may only be made by the program director.” Most programs will pay for 4 weeks of vacation and then may allow some sick time. After that, most will pay short-term disability at 80%. Know the updated rules: http://www.absurgery.org/default.jsp?policygsleave , but also check with your GME office.
    TIPS TO REMEMBER
Find a personal and academic mentor early on in surgery residency.
Recognize unhealthy coping skills, such as poor anger management or excessive alcohol use.
Good communication and a good work ethic can help ease some of the logistical issues regarding maternity leave as a resident.
Prioritizing family and friends is essential to maintaining good relationships while in residency.
    COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. What challenges are unique to residency, which make life management more difficult?
A. Difficult personalities
B. Large amount of responsibility
C. Little to no flexibility regarding personal time
D. Not paid much
2. Which of the following people could serve as a mentor for Bill, a surgical resident interested in vascular surgery?
A. The general surgery program director
B. A junior vascular surgery attending
C. A chief surgical resident who did research in neointimal hyperplasia
D. All of the above
3. What are warning signs that residents may be overwhelmed and at risk of burnout?
A. Forgetting their mother’s birthdays
B. Frequently not showing up at get-togethers with friends because they are “too tired”
C. Blaming the nurse practitioner when an attending gets mad at the resident for forgetting to place an important order
D. Routinely late in