Advice to a Young Resuscitationist: It is Up to Us to Save the World

Cliff Reid unites our passion of Critical Care in his SMACC Chicago talk Advice to Young Resuscitationist – It’s up to us to Save the World. Talking us through his advice to his former younger self. Reid sights mistakes, case examples, and essentially provides us with invaluable tips to nudge us along to Resus Mastery.

Reid offers the following advice to his former, younger self;

Your career and speciality is a journey and you chose your destination: Don’t be defied by the expectations of one chosen path. Have an appreciation of what other specialities can add and what you can learn from them. Leave your ego at the door.
Have a balance of confidence and competence.
When something goes wrong you have to change something: Be it either yourself, your colleagues or the system.
Follow up on your hypothesis: You won’t know if you got it right or wrong and will not gain or learn from the experience.
Preserve comfort and dignity for your patients: ‘No one knows how much you know, until they know how much you care’ – Greg Henrey.
Protect yourselves: Think about the people around you and share your experience with them, chose your colleagues and where you work wisely.
Increase team cohesion – it is protective against burnout and compassion fatigue.
Be Aware: look after the tools of your trade, your body and mind. Try and maintain good physical health, and train your mind to be more effective under stress.
Remember society puts their trust in you – you only fail them when you fail to learn in them.
Every patient is a gift/lesson accept it with grace and gratitude.
Behave in the way you want to be remembered.
Keep perspective and enjoy the ride!