I started today out with a bit of a shock. Turns out my second in-training exam (ITE) was scheduled for this afternoon. This is an annual practice test that is given in any residency program to monitor how each resident is progressing towards being able to pass their board exam. I first took this 3-hour multiple-choice test last summer a mere 2 weeks into residency. The nice part of that first sitting is that there is no expectation that you know basically anything... yet.
But a year in, we are actually judged against each other and our prior selves. Today felt better than last time; I definitely knew more. But I was still doing a lot of shrugging and guessing. ***As a reminder, these tests are designed to be exceptionally difficult and borderline unfair. It is not a measure of your ability to do the basics of the job, but of your mastery of the trickiest elements of your chosen field. Sucking at this exam, does not mean we are bad doctors in our current roles.***
Between remembering that I had an exam and taking said exam, I had another small milestone of seeing patients by myself in the private pediatrics practice I'm working in this month. The whole office is super grateful when residents do this, especially when multiple of the normal docs are out of the office. It is a little intimidating for us though. First of all, they use a different electronic medical record than the hospital. Second, the parents, while happy to get a same day appointment, are usually expecting to see one of the veteran practice partners rather than a green-behind-the-ears resident.
TIL: Hair grooming syncope is a condition that can happen, typically in girls (because of the societal norm of girls having longer hair, not for any biological reason), where a child can faint if their hair is combed, brushed, and/or pulled tight. You can minimize the risk of this or any other fainting with adequate hydration and electrolyte replacement.
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