One of the most common questions I hear from early-career doctors is, “What’s the best way to ease into practice?” Should they approach it gradually or jump in headfirst, tackling the most complex cases they worked on during training? The answer is not straightforward, but one must recognize a few key factors: the setting, the resources available to them, and the importance of mastering the fundamenals.
The training environment is vastly different from the realities of independent practice. Stepping up to the task of patient care without the backup you’d grown accustomed to is a milestone to be proud of. To explain this, I often share an analogy with my trainees—one they have almost universally experienced: driver’s education.
Independent practice allows you to sit in the driver’s seat without an instructor next to you, which can be quite overwhelming. The safety net of someone with an extra brake pedal is gone, and you are fully responsible for navigating every decision.
The urge to recreate the confidence of training by immediately diving into the most challenging “highways” of medicine can be tempting; however, taking the time to start on familiar roads and build your confidence in new settings is often the wisest path.
