I sat down with Cam Elgie (PGY-1, NOSM) for a fantastic conversation that covers:
- The immense shift in responsibility upon starting residency in the OR and ward (MS4: help out, R1: take ownership)
- The importance of humanizing patients when providing care
- Key advice for staying well during call shifts (DRINK WATER!)
If you're going to listen to any episode, this is the one. High yield, high energy, and clearly listed responsibilities make this a must-listen for incoming R1s.
Timestamps:
0:00 to 3:00 - Unique highlights of NOSM (small program, excellent nature, early responsibility)
3:00 to 5:15 - Learning how to be a doctor (being responsible for patient safety, taking ownership of patients)
5:15 to 6:15 - Ward management (Pain, Medications, Disposition, Followup)
6:15 to 8:00 - Daily responsibilities (Rounding, Prioritizing, Organizing Dispo/FU, Preventing Complications), Keep the service moving
8:00 to 8:30 - Preoperative optimization (ABx, pRBCs, NPO, Meds), Follow patients postop
8:30 to 9:30 - Clinic (Injections, Autonomy, Documentation)
9:30 to 10:30 - Pre-OR Checklists (NPO, Meds, ABx, ACO, Cardiac risk, pRBC), Growth from Assisting to Ownership
10:30 to 12:15 - OR Mentality (Planning, Equipment, Table, Positioning, Tourniquet, Meds, TXA, Ancef, Allergies, Incision, Approach), Specifics (Incision, Retraction, Layers), Postop (Splint, Followup, Recovery)
12:15 to 14:25 - Time Management (Juggling pages, consults, cases, imaging on OR days), Teeing things up (Prioritize, Call Ahead)
14:25 to 15:00 - Having the confidence to attempt procedures, reductions, injections (Safely!)
15:00 to 16:30 - The difference between a poor resident and a great resident, treating patients like humans
16:30 to 17:45 - OR Advice: Mindful watching (Position, Body, Needle, Bite Size), Volume & Repetition
17:45 to 20:00 - Overcoming setbacks: feeling amateurish, difficulty seeing planes, having to "know everything", being handed the knife
20:00 to 21:15 - Cam's Golden Rule for Staying Well On Call!
