What’s It Like to Be a New Attending

Transitioning from residency to becoming an attending physician is exhilarating—but also daunting. These days, I often feel overwhelmed, even by tasks I remember handling with ease during training. My brain seems to short-circuit over things I used to do seamlessly. There’s a new weight that comes with being the provider for my patients. It’s an honor they trust me, but it also underscores the seriousness of this role.

One of the toughest parts of attendingship has been the sheer volume of documentation. With double the patients comes double the notes, and I’m constantly trying to balance writing enough information without overloading the chart or seeming like I’m not managing appropriately. Sometimes, resident notes can be bogged down and hard to interpret because they’re still working through understanding the physiology and the rationale behind decisions.

Adding to this adjustment, I’m a new working mom, and I no longer have the luxury of time to comb through every detail in my patients’ charts. I used to dive deep, but now, I’m learning to let go—letting residents take the lead and encouraging them to get curious and dig into their patients’ stories. It’s not easy for a self-proclaimed control freak, but it’s essential.

I heard it takes around five years to really find your rhythm as an attending. Right now, I’m seeking that rhythm, balancing the responsibility of teaching residents with the reality that I’m still learning myself. I remind myself that it’s okay not to have all the answers. Instead of always getting back to residents with the answer myself, I’m working on empowering them to look it up and report back.

Becoming an attending is full of learning curves, and adding motherhood to the mix makes it even more intense. But, I’m grateful for the journey, and I’m finding ways to grow into the role—one patient, one day at a time.