I'm Feeling The Residency Burnout

I love the scruffy hair!

Hi Shaun: ICU work + STEP3 Prep got be tough… Tough through it and you’ll WIN 😅🎉🎉
Comparing to your toughest class in Med school, how much tougher is the intern ICU rotation? 1x (same), 1.5x, 2x, 3x, … ?
It sounds like you’re experiencing exhaustion and the pressure fur STEP3, which is one of three symptoms of burnout, especially when it becomes chronic. Hope once the ICU rotation and the STEP3 are over, you’d recover and rejuvenate 😊.

I'm an Icu nurse and I dont envy you guys. I work my 3 days a week shift take 6 days off and come back and the same residents are there and haven't had any time off. Oh I couldn't do it.

FY1 doctor in the U.K. (equivalent of PGY1) and I’m currently on a 8 day long set of oncalls. I needed this video rn fr, I feel seen 😔

You knew the job description when you started this journey years ago! Man up!

as someone whos been through residency, yes it burns you out but you should have aspirations that keep it from happening. Find something thatll push you everyday to get to your next stage in life whether it be starting a family or buying a house, that should always be what gets you to wake up the next day.

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I know how you feel about working holidays in healthcare. I have been a nurse for 42 years and retired now but have worked every holiday , every shift at one time or another in those 42 years. Honestly i hated the drive to work wishing i was off but after i was there, it was all fine. I wish you the best in your career. You will be great. I love your personality and your caring for people. Happy Birthday to your Momma and hello to your puppies.

You need to boost your dopamine level —

This video made my day! As a third year medical student, it’s so refreshing to see residents being so genuine. Keep going, brother!

things in the medical field need to change

Keep up the great work a Shaun!!

Shaun no need to apologize. I am not a doctor, but I really enjoy your vlog and admire your commitment and passion. It's inspiring and valuable to see how a doctor navigates through life. Definitely looks overwhelming. However the most important thing is YOU. We tend to forget about ourselves and don't take that time to really relax and breathe. Put a reminder in your phone to constantly remind yourself to take that time to relax. It does wonders when you get that alert. Keep up the vlogs! 👍🏾

My nephew tells me that when life gets hard, “embrace the suck.” Another option: you could be farm animal veterinarian! For the most part, you would be outside taking in the smells of nature, before you would need to conduct pregnancy tests by sticking your gloved arm all the way into a cows “back-end”! At least you would be outside! I hope you know I’m just kidding!

You don't need to keep apologizing for being exhausted and having no downtime. Anybody in your situation would be tired and burnt out.

Get your eyes check

You know you need sunshine when picking up poop is a form of therapy for your mind😅💩

Keeping you prayed up so you can make it one day at the time. I have complete faith this too shall come to an end and you will be ready for the next step.

Highway to hell as the anthem 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I am wrapping up my next to last semester of graduate school. I feel the burnout. But I won't quit and neither will you.

It’s amazing to see how well you manage your time and being consistent with your vlogs! We do appreciate it.
Have a great week! 🙌🏻🙏🏻

You’re going to do beautifully, Shaun.

Was there one thing you learned today in the ICU?

OMG you put so much humor in with your drama that I feel so guilty when I'm laughing. So sorry. You seriously looked so tired. Love how u appreciate the little things in life. Your just so awesome. I pray 🙏 u get some well deserved sleep soon. 😊❤❤❤❤

Hang in there

Im sure it helps to let it out. Remember it's all in the mind. Like picking up poop in the sun😂😂😂

Hi Shaun . I'm sure you are definitely tired, and it is ago to say it without an apology . Your work is very demanding, and we appreciate everything you do . I hope your mother had a wonderful birthday. Try to get as much rest as you can when you can.

You were doing the giving on Thanksgiving… hope to patients who are having the worst possible holiday and pride to your mom in having a doctor for a son.

Shaun, you are an inspiration to your generation . Hats off to your parents they clearly raised you right . Your vlog definitely gives me an insight to what my life may have been had I flowed medicine . I did burn out early and took a different path . Enjoy the ride !! Bst Frank .

It's great to know that this phase in your life is temporary. It may not be easy now, but it will make you a knowledgeable medical doctor in the future! Keep up the great work.
I look forward to watching your vlogs every week!

Having worked in a hospital during 2 times in my life, the only thing about working holidays is the load is usually lighter.

Are you getting any exercise? Get in a quick run? Standing with you brother..😊

I can so relate to this video Shaun even though I'm not in medicine I worked in the I.T. industry and I was literally On Call for 15 years straight. I'd work a regular 8 or 9 hour day and then on my way home I'd get a page and have to race home to log in and fix something. Then I'd get paged at 11pm (right before bed) and be on the laptop for an hour or two then finally fall asleep only to be woken up in the night with another call. Back up again in the morning to start it all over again and for me trying to have a drink or two, going out of town or being too far away from service areas was out of the question in case I had to log in or physically go back into work. This went on around the clock 7 days a week except when I could take a week's holidays but even then they wanted me available and required numbers I could be reached at (I was called at my hotel in Mexico once). I can honestly say I was burned out and completely exhausted and ended up wishing I would break a leg so I could have some time off and wouldn't you know it months later I shattered my ankle and broke my tibia. It did give me a bit of a break but as soon as I was out of surgery and back home the calls started up again even though I was on hydrocodone for the pain. I ended up being fired in 2017 because I just didn't care anymore and it showed and after the initial shock I was glad. I haven't gone back to work and took early retirement and it was the best thing for me. I loved my job but it literally gave me PTSD and I now have a real hatred of the phone I hate it when it rings. But what I do want to say is keep pushing through because you're young, you have a passion for what you are doing and you are going to succeed. Once you reach your goal be sure to set boundaries for yourself and don't let your job take over your life post residency. It's okay to push really hard towards something you want but remember to live a little while doing it. I know you are going to be a great Anesthesiologist and you're going to pass that board exam with flying colors.

thanks for being so honest in your posts! it has really helped me as a premed to see what life will look like one day. i always look forward to these vlogs!

Sir can computer engineers in California earn more than anesthesiologists in usa because my elder brother is a PhD graduate computer engineer in California? Please reply. Thanks a lot.

Love you Shaun aka Dr. Andersen.
Keep making videos. You’re doing amazing. You’re going to be an amazing anesthesiologist.
Keep it up. ❤❤
—Clint

I think this is one of the few times where we've seen more car footage than any other vlog lol. It's going to suck when you leave Vegas. Like almost a huge life chapter closing.

Why do medical schools and residency programs do this? Like what is the underlying reason? If it's a curriculum time crunch issue where you have to have so many hours or patients in, why not just extend the program a few months so students and residents can get some rest and sleep and get the requirements in? Like use some common sense! Nursing is just as screwed up, but on other things...just because it's been done for years a certain way doesn't mean it's right or even ethical. Keep doing these videos Dr. Shaun, so people are aware of the problem. I never knew that doctors had burnout until I started watching you and Dr. Kevin. I thought it was just us nurses. Keep pushing on!

My husband works in the Restaurant world. So, no Thanksgiving day until next week. Thanksgiving week is Hell week. His Restaurant does pies and dinners to-go. His stores did 5200 pies in 5 days. And I don't know how many dinners. He has Psoriatric Arthritis and Stenosis of the Lumbar, which affects the sciatic nerve pain. It's harder to recover as you get older. Life is about waiting. Your always waiting for something i.e. lab results, xray reports or someone i.e. mom, brother, or friends. Settle in. It's a long ride young Jedi.. 😊

Just curious if you know any residents who are moms are how they're doing?

I feel so bad you could see it in your eyes your extremely tired, please don’t post if it feels like too much, mental health is everything and your work already takes up a lot so take care of yourself and sleep as much as you can, thank you for posting tho and keeping up with yourself 🫱🏼‍🫲🏻

Thank you so much for sharing your time to us, even though you have such a hectic schedule. You’re doing great, and you’ll get through everything well. & Happy belated birthday to your gorgeous mom! I’m sure she is so proud of you. 🍀

I've been watching your content for a while. I just subed. You're valid and truly an inspiration. Keep it up.

Man’s a badass

I think its kind of crazy that residents are only given 1 day off when you are working 12 hour shifts. Its not like we are unaware of the negitive health benifits of lack of sleep and high stress. Its like you are forced to sacrifice your own health to take care of others... it just doesn't have to be that way! Man you are a rock star! If you can get through the next few weeks, you can get through anything!!

oh yeah that's why I only work 7 days a week for like half of the year and 3 days a week for the rest so it balances out

Omg , just saw your video first time , it’s giving me energy I need to continue my long day today

Guys… I’m tired 😢 sorry if I complained a lot in this week’s vlog. Also, make sure to leave a LIKE and COMMENT! It really helps the algorithm and I’d appreciate it so much 🙏🏻❤️