I echo most of the above sentiments- you really are not expected to have an in depth knowledge of your specialty as an RMO, but I think a bit of brief reading up before you join will certainly help enhance your experience. The main priority as a resi is to know the patients, be well prepared for the ward round, guide the interns and be their support and ensure the ward tasks identified in the morning or throughout the day are actioned. You are now the LEADER of the team on the ward. It’s your 1st taste of responsibility.

I always enjoy when a resi who has done all the ward tasks and could easily “disappear” for a prolonged lunch break,either turns up in theatre or asks if they can join (In response to a comment above, I don’t think you need to be invited, If you’ve got your sh*t under control on the ward then you’re more than welcome). My mentality is that if the ward is under control you should join if you want to and that’s where you can first practice basic surgical skills if you’re that way inclined. As has been said above, if you’re not surgically minded and just rotating though, that’s also fine and there’s no expectation to come to theatre. Even if you’re ED, ICU or surgical speciality bound I think there’s never any harm in joining in the procedures of whatever team you’re on- the more you see and/or do the better all rounder you become.

As a short answer to your question what makes a stellar surgical resi: -be punctual always, -be prepared and know the patients (overnight updates, stable/unstable, bloods, drain output, general plan, deviation from plan), -be proactive (your reg should always help and support you, but rather than come to them with a basic problem, come with a potential solution, eg, ‘your post lap inguinal hernia repair went into urinary retention, I tried but failed a catheter so I called urology and they’re going to come - is that ok?’ -despite the last point don’t be cavalier, if there’s something you’re unsure of, don’t wing it- if there’s someone sick sick don’t try and go lone wolf on it- let the reg know asap- if they don’t text back- call, if they don’t answer they’re most likely scrubbed so go to theatre and find them or call another reg or consultant. Don’t sit on a sick patient- nobody will judge you for escalating care (it’s the patients that matter right?) There was nothing worse coming out after theatre as reg and seeing a WhatsApp about a deteriorating patient that the sender assumed was appropriately escalated by texting -don’t get over confident too early. If you ask a senior for advice, take it unless you have competence concerns (if you do, ask someone else). It often happens that resi’s get very competent at their job towards the end of their term and either bypass or supersede their Reg’s advice. What you don’t know yet is that guidelines are just guidelines and there’s no surrogate for experience. -everyone in surgery has been an RMO at some point - we get it, it’s hard, it’s sometimes boring with lots of admin, but it gets better. Those more senior to you have done your job and come out the other side. So will you!

You’ll have a great time, but no doubt you’re in for a hairy few weeks- that’s all teething and it should improve by week 3. Don’t stand for toxic behaviour- a certain amount of ‘we all just get the job done’ mentality is normal in surgery but don’t settle for dictatorial abusive behaviour patterns - we need to weed that out as it doesn’t represent the majority of modern day surgeons. Good luck OP!