A Doctor’s First Day

I arrived at the hospital, white coat and stethoscope in hand. It was my first day as a doctor, and I was filled with a nervous mix of optimism and excitement.

I walked up to the medicine team room, entered the code on the door and introduced myself to the other residents — some of them newly minted doctors like me. I was about to receive handoff from the night team for the patients assigned to me. Years of school had led up to this point. I had dreamed about this moment. I was about to care for patients as a doctor for the first time.