Pandemic May Have Caused Havoc for Trainees but Also Taught Unexpected Lessons
COVID-19 meant a lot of different things to different people. In the world of medicine and medical education, the ripple effects of COVID-19 live on. Lives were lost and shattered. Those in medicine saw firsthand how the medical system was overtaxed.
Physicians across many specialties, who previously would have been mentors to medical students and residents, were burnt out. Medical students and residents were left with permanent scars as they sometimes understood the pandemic and the virus, along with the precautions they had to follow, in a way that was often very different from that of friends and family. They were oversaturated with death and negativity by the media. At its worst, those training to save lives and alleviate suffering felt the frustration of joining a broken medical system. The already overburdened system was unable to provide fair, equitable medical help and support to people impacted by COVID-19. Trainees experienced a major shift in curriculum and training as programs attempted to meet everyone’s needs. Physicians and staff pivoted constantly to allow training to progress, all while already being spread thin.
Lessons Learned in Caring for Residents During COVID-19 Pandemic
Because of the pandemic, many psychiatry residents have been thrust into stressful new roles and situations. Here are ways to support them and ensure they feel free to seek help when needed.
Resident physicians serve a unique and important role in hospitals nationwide, as they are responsible for providing patient care while simultaneously furthering their own medical education. The overlapping responsibilities present a complex set of mental health concerns. While residency is often a time filled with self-doubt related to competency, added pressures and increased responsibilities related to COVID-19 are exacerbating these fears.