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The “What I Wish I Knew” series of articles is a service of CPNP’s Resident and New Practitioner Committee. Articles are intended to provide advice from experts for students, residents, and new practitioners. Articles are not intended to provide in-depth disease state or pharmacotherapy information nor replace any peer-reviewed educational materials. We hope you benefit from this “field guide” discussing approaches to unique problems and situations.

Now the fun begins… sort of. If by “fun” you mean “working long hours doing a job with a high level of difficulty and low level of experience while having less sleep and more stress than you have likely ever felt in your life.” It is no secret that residency training can be challenging. So why do we choose to put ourselves through these arduous years of self-induced educational purgatory? Deliberate introspection on this tremendous endeavor is vital; it solidifies the commitment level and justifies the amount of effort and sacrifice you are making. Celebrating small accomplishments along the way brings positive reinforcement that in return pushes you forward. Keeping sight of your ultimate career goals is critical. It can also help to maintain perspective on the finite amount of time that goes toward this intense learning and growing experience. The one or two years of residency will fly by at an incredible pace, and in the grand scheme of things are a small price to pay for thirty-plus years of being able to do what you truly love in your career.

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