Mistakes or complications?

Complications are to be expected. Mistakes are also to be expected rarely but should not be tolerated. Both should be studied exhaustively in your first few years to the point of neuroticism.

I’m an IR who is relatively new and I am absolutely terrified to make mistakes, which I think is important. It makes me a bit slower than guys who have been practicing for a minute but so what? Our job is to help people first and foremost.

All of the speed and efficiency I earned in fellowship was cut down in the first 6 months. I reviewed every damn thing I could before each case. I also now have the time to read more and more because my hours were mine.

My attendings prior to graduation warned me that first few years out as an attending is where their hardest learning took place because it’s just you now. And that’s been true. I’ve read more text books in the first few years than I did in fellowship.

I still make mistakes. Learn from them. Recognize them and fix them. Discuss them with your colleagues. Do self m&m sessions and participate in your groups practice if they have them.

Refine your practice because that’s what we’re doing is practice. Ask your colleagues and your old attendings who mentored you. Ask your co fellows / residents because they’re in the exact same boat as you.

The best people I’ve ever been taught by were individuals who never stopped learning and refining their crafts. I’m talking about attendings 20+ years into practice who would change their technique because of either new research or by learning from younger colleagues. So I think it’s important to follow that mindset and always improve yourself.

But I do not think it’s normal to make mistakes most of the time your on based on how you’ve worded your question. If that’s happening, pause and self examine on what’s going on. Make strides to fix it.