My debut year in the emergency room

Archana Viswanathan

DNB- Resident, Kauvery Hospital, Tennur, Trichy, Tamil Nadu

Introduction

Emergency Medicine Day feels deeply meaningful to me this year. It marks a full year since I started my journey in a department that has truly shaped who I am. My path here actually began in an ACLS class. Watching the emergency team work with such precision and speed completely drew me in. Their ability to act quickly under pressure turned a quiet admiration into a strong ambition during my internship. So, when it was time to pick my postgraduate department, I only listed Emergency Medicine. And in a moment that felt like a dream come true, I got my top choice.

Stepping into the department, though, I was filled with nervousness being the very first batch, meaning no seniors were there to guide us, the unknown felt huge and daunting. But the incredible team I found there changed everything.

They became my anchor. Every single person embraced the role of mentor, sharing their valuable knowledge without holding back. They patiently guided me, watched me learn new things, and gently corrected my mistakes. We quickly built a strong connection, and what started as professional help soon grew into a true sense of family.

One of the most chilling moments, something I’ll never forget was my first time having to tell a family someone had died. The weight of that news was immense, a sharp reminder of how fragile life is. But with my team right there by my side, their quiet strength and support helped me through it. They taught me not just what to say, but how to speak with kindness and understanding to grieving families – a truly vital skill in our work.

The many night shifts, which often felt like being thrown into the deep end, became my greatest lessons. I vividly recall one time we had a very sick patient with dangerously high potassium levels, clearly visible on the ECG monitor. It was a race against time, watching the critical heart changes reverse as we quickly started treatment, all while my colleague was also securing the airway and getting ready for a special procedure. This kind of coordinated, high-stakes teamwork, often as the sun rose outside, seeing us helping a patient breath or bringing them back to life – these are the powerful images that will always stay with me from my early days in emergency medicine.

But amidst these successes, there were also shifts that shattered my spirit, days when I cried so hard, even after giving absolutely everything, we still lost a patient. Those moments of profound loss, where all our efforts weren’t enough, are the hardest truths of this job. It’s a heavy burden that emergency physicians often carry, a quiet toll that is rarely spoken about but deeply felt. These experiences teach a different kind of lesson, about resilience and the deep emotional toll of caring for others.

Conclusion

Looking back, I am absolutely certain I made the right choice. My first year in Emergency Medicine has been full of learning, growth, and unexpected friendships. Every shift is a chance to learn. No matter how much you know, the ER always brings new challenges, reminding you that there’s always more to learn and improve. I am truly happy with this path and look forward to learning and growing even more with my incredible team.

Kauverian Bookshelf

Applied Medical Statistics

My debut year in the emergency room