Medical residency is a postgraduate program for medical students to gain practical skills in a specific medical discipline. It lasts 3-7 years, and students apply for programs they are interested in. The first year is known as an internship, and residents work long hours under supervision. Reforms were made to manage residency programs due to concerns about sleep deprivation. After completing residency, students can take qualifying exams to become licensed physicians.
The medical residency is a postgraduate training program for medical students that enables them to further their education in a particular medical discipline and practical skills in a real-world environment. Residency is an important part of training for physicians and lasts three to seven years, depending on the specialty. It can also be a very stressful time, as medical residents traditionally work long hours in sometimes very busy environments.
In medical school, a future doctor acquires great general knowledge. Towards the end of medical school, students typically rotate to experience different medical specialties for short periods, usually a few weeks. During these rotations, students can see if a particular specialty is of interest. Students then apply for programs in the discipline they are interested in. If the program interests the student, he will offer an interview.
After applying and interviewing for multiple programs, a medical student presents a ranking of programs, while residency programs present lists of ranked students. These lists are managed through a central computer which is supposed to match students to programs. The goal of the match is to get every student on a training program, but not all medical students and programs match. If this is the case, students are forced to apply for the remaining open positions, which can sometimes result in a change of medical field.
In the first year of residency, a student is known as an intern. Technically, he’s licensed as a doctor, but he’s not yet licensed to practice. Under the supervision of qualified doctors, the student learns about the chosen specialty and begins to perform the basic procedures. Medical training is hands-on, and as a final year many residents are largely self-employed. Some students are being asked to stay on for another year to care for young residents. All medical residents are supervised by an attending physician.
Residence can be an all-consuming business, as residents are constantly available and expected to work long, sometimes grueling hours. Reforms in the way residency programs were managed were undertaken in the late twentieth century, due to concern about sleep deprivation negatively impacting residents’ ability to function. After completing the residency, a student is eligible to take the qualifying exams. A successful pass allows the resident to become a full-fledged physician, licensed to practice in the state or province in which the exams were taken.
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