Blog Post Focus
This blog post is about residency pulling residents in two directions. One toward being an autonomous physician. One toward a prolonged state of submissive education. Residency may at times empower the resident and promote a sense of adulthood and at others a sense of prolonged childishness.
The Duality of Residency
As residents we may experience a duality: a treatment and respect as adults on one hand and a feeling of endless childhood on another. Sometimes you make your own plans, feel confident in them, and everyone agrees. Sometimes attendings will change your plans or nurses will bypass you to talk to attendings. You have the power to affect lives while in many cases simultaneously require permission and approval for any action.
A History of Prolonged Childishness
Throughout all your government-mandated education you were put in a role where you had to obey authority through the power dynamics of teacher and student. Pretty much your whole life, and then into medical school (while others were doing their adult jobs) and at times in residency. The role of a student is akin to that of a child compared to the authority of a grown up.
Medical Education as a Continuation of Social Norms with Education
As a resident it is jarring. It is another abnormality of the reality of medical education compared to most other occupations. We are supposed to be excellent physicians, but continue to be students, which has always been associated with the child-learner-to-adult-teacher dynamic. To oppose that authority meant in many cases punishment or a fear of some retaliation. Not all residents feel this way, but some do, perhaps many.
A Difficult Transition for Some
Being an adult can be difficult and uncomfortable if we never had a positive role model for it. Also, it is uncomfortable and stressful to never grow up and to experience prolonged childishness. With the seemingly endless medical education and the hierarchy associated with it, physicians have both a prolonged childhood and a sudden-intense adulthood thrust upon them. And, at times this childhood and adulthood fluctuates. It can be an intensely uncomfortable, irritating experience.
Roles Change with Time and Experience
Being a child is fine for the child. Prolonged childishness is not. People do not stay children. With adulthood comes greater freedom and responsibility. It can be nostalgic and rueful to think of the days when we had fewer – if any – responsibilities. However, the responsibilities of adulthood come commensurate with freedom to act. We have control of our lives outside of medical education. If you never had a positive role model for adulthood—someone who embraced it, extolled to you the virtues of freedom coupled with responsibility—listen now.
Conclusion—Embrace Adulthood and Reject Prolonged Childishness
Being an adult is inevitable and a good thing. It is the natural order. You should be in charge of yourself—not submissive to another. When your medical education comes fully to an end you will be ready. Cast off the feelings of prolonged childishness and the sense to need approval from others. You can handle it because you have to handle it, but additionally because you are fully capable.